Compare the2024 Subaru SolterraVS 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Ergonomics

Safety

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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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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

Both the Solterra and the Kona Electric 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.

The Subaru Solterra weighs 463 to 915 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona Electric. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Solterra is safer than the Kona Electric:

	Solterra	Kona Electric
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	105	251
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.51 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.22 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	870 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	212	282
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.63 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	647 lbs.	759 lbs.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 82 more horsepower (215 vs. 133) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The Solterra’s electric motors produces 14 more horsepower (215 vs. 201) and 61 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 188) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited’s standard electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

		Miles
Solterra
	Premium Electric Motors	227 miles
	Limited/Touring Electric Motors	222 miles
Kona Electric
	SE Electric Motor	200 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Solterra	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.8 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 Kona Electric are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

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

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kona Electric’s 60 series tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (112.2 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (8.3 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

Ergonomics

The Solterra has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Solterra’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona Electric Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or 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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric’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 Kona Electric’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 Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Solterra has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/Limited. 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 Kona Electric.

Both the Solterra and the Kona Electric 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 Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.