Compare the2024 Subaru SolterraVS 2024 Volkswagen ID.4

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Solterra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Solterra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ID.4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Subaru Solterra is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen ID.4, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Solterra. But it costs extra on the ID.4.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The ID.4 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Solterra and the ID.4 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

The Subaru Solterra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The ID.4 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

The Solterra’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the ID.4’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Solterra’s reliability 18 points higher than the ID.4.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 58 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 21 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 14 more horsepower (215 vs. 201) and 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 229) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra Premium gets better mileage than the ID.4 Pro (114 city/94 hwy vs. 108 city/96 hwy MPGe).

The Subaru Solterra has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the ID.4 (112.2 inches vs. 108.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is .6 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the ID.4.

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the ID.4 (8.3 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Solterra has 1 inch more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the ID.4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The ID.4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the ID.4 (1045 vs. 959 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 58% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 29th.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Solterra has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Compared to the Volkswagen ID.4, the Subaru Solterra eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The ID.4’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Solterra will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Solterra will retain 51.28% to 52.31% of its original price after five years, while the ID.4 only retains 45.85% to 47.55%.