Compare the2024 Ford Mustang Mach-EVS 2024 Subaru Solterra

Both the Mustang Mach-E and Solterra have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Mustang Mach-E 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 Mustang Mach-E and the Solterra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and driver alert monitors.

There are almost 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang Mach-E’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

The Mustang Mach-E’s standard electric motor produces 49 more horsepower (264 vs. 215) and 138 lbs.-ft. more torque (387 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Mustang Mach-E ER’s standard electric motor produces 75 more horsepower (290 vs. 215) and 138 lbs.-ft. more torque (387 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Mustang Mach-E eAWD’s standard electric motors produces 110 more horsepower (325 vs. 215) and 251 lbs.-ft. more torque (500 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Mustang Mach-E ER eAWD’s standard electric motors produces 150 more horsepower (365 vs. 215) and 251 lbs.-ft. more torque (500 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Mustang Mach-E GT Performance/Rally’s standard electric motors produces 265 more horsepower (480 vs. 215) and 451 lbs.-ft. more torque (700 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mustang Mach-E ER eAWD electric motors is faster than the Subaru Solterra:

The Mustang Mach-E can travel longer on a full charge than the Solterra on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Mustang Mach-E’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Solterra:

The Mustang Mach-E stops shorter than the Solterra:

For better traction, the Mustang Mach-E GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (245/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Mustang Mach-E’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 Mustang Mach-E GT’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 Mustang Mach-E has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium.

The Mustang Mach-E offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Solterra’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mustang Mach-E’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Solterra (117.5 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Mustang Mach-E has 5.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Solterra (101.1 vs. 95.7).

The Mustang Mach-E has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom and 8.4 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

The Mustang Mach-E has a much larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (29.7 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

The Mustang Mach-E 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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Mustang Mach-E’s exterior PIN entry system. The Solterra doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its STARLINK Safety and Security can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Mustang Mach-E’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.

The Mustang Mach-E’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Solterra Premium’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Mustang Mach-E has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the Mustang Mach-E’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Solterra’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Solterra.

The Mustang Mach-E 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 the Ford Mustang Mach-E, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Subaru Solterra isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Mustang Mach-E third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Solterra isn’t in the top three.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Mustang Mach-E as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Solterra has never been chosen.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E outsold the Subaru Solterra by almost five to one during 2023.