Compare the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5VS 2023 Subaru Solterra

Both the Ioniq 5 and Solterra have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Ioniq 5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Solterra’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Both the Ioniq 5 and the Solterra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ioniq 5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Solterra has not been fully tested, yet.

The Ioniq 5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq 5 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Solterra. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Solterra ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ioniq 5’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Solterra’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq 5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

There are over 30 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Ioniq 5’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

The Ioniq 5 Standard Range’s standard electric motor produces 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Ioniq 5 Long Range’s optional electric motor produces 10 more horsepower (225 vs. 215) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Ioniq 5’s optional electric motors produces 105 more horsepower (320 vs. 215) and 197 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric motors is faster than the Subaru Solterra:

The Ioniq 5 can travel longer on a full charge than the Solterra on a full charge:

The Ioniq 5 has a standard locking charge port with a power release on its key fob. The Solterra doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The Ioniq 5 stops shorter than the Solterra:

For better traction, the Ioniq 5 Limited AWD’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (255/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Ioniq 5’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Ioniq 5 Limited AWD’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ioniq 5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium.

The Ioniq 5 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Solterra doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Ioniq 5’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the Solterra (118.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ioniq 5 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Solterra.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Subaru Solterra.

The Ioniq 5 has 10.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Solterra (106.5 vs. 95.7).

The Ioniq 5 has 1 inch more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, 8.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Solterra.

The front step up height for the Ioniq 5 is 1.3 inches lower than the Solterra (16.6” vs. 17.9”). The Ioniq 5’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Solterra’s (17” vs. 18”).

The Ioniq 5’s cargo area is larger than the Solterra’s in almost every dimension:

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Ioniq 5’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Solterra doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Ioniq 5 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity. The Solterra has no towing capacity.

The Ioniq 5 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Solterra uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Ioniq 5 Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Ioniq 5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Solterra’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ioniq 5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Solterra doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Ioniq 5 Limited’s Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Ioniq 5 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Solterra doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Subaru Solterra, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ioniq 5 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2022. The Solterra has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Hyundai Ioniq outsold the Subaru Solterra by over 29 to one during 2022.