Compare the2024 Subaru SolterraVS 2023 Chevrolet Bolt

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Chevrolet Bolt doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Bolt doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Solterra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Bolt doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Solterra has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Bolt doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Solterra has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Bolt doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Solterra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Bolt’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Solterra has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Parking Support Brake automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Bolt and the Bolt’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Solterra’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bolt doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Solterra and the Bolt have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Subaru Solterra weighs 730 to 889 pounds more than the Chevrolet Bolt. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Subaru Solterra achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Bolt has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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 30 points higher than the Bolt.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 14 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 15 more horsepower (215 vs. 200) than the Bolt’s electric motor.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Solterra is faster than the Chevrolet Bolt:

	Solterra	Bolt
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.3 sec

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Solterra’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bolt:

	Solterra	Bolt
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	10.9 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	10.4 inches

The Solterra’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Bolt are solid, not vented.

The Solterra stops shorter than the Bolt:

	Solterra	Bolt
60 to 0 MPH	135 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the Bolt (235/60R18 vs. 215/50R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Bolt. The Solterra Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Solterra has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Bolt has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Solterra has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Solterra flat and controlled during cornering. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 9.8 inches longer than on the Bolt (112.2 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Bolt.

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Bolt (8.3 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Solterra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Bolt doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has 3.1 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bolt.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bolt with its rear seat up (23.8 vs. 16.6 cubic feet). The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bolt with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 57 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Solterra easier. The Solterra’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the Bolt’s liftover is 30 inches.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Solterra Limited/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Bolt doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Solterra Limited/Touring, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Bolt doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bolt doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Solterra’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Bolt’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Solterra the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Subaru service department.) The driver of the Bolt can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Bolt’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Solterra’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Bolt’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Bolt doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Solterra Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Bolt’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Solterra has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bolt. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bolt.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Solterra Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bolt doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Solterra’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Bolt doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Solterra and the Bolt offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Solterra has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bolt doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Bolt doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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