Compare the2024 Acura ZDXVS 2024 Subaru Solterra

Both the ZDX and Solterra have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ZDX 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 ZDX and the Solterra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 and available around view monitors.

The Acura ZDX weighs 935 to 1698 pounds more than the Subaru Solterra. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The ZDX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Subaru is ranked 6th.

The ZDX A-Spec’s standard electric motor produces 143 more horsepower (358 vs. 215) and 75 lbs.-ft. more torque (324 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The ZDX A-Spec AWD’s standard electric motors produces 275 more horsepower (490 vs. 215) and 188 lbs.-ft. more torque (437 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The ZDX Type S’ standard electric motors produces 285 more horsepower (500 vs. 215) and 295 lbs.-ft. more torque (544 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

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

For better stopping power the ZDX Type S’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Solterra:

For better traction, the ZDX has larger standard tires than the Solterra (265/50R20 vs. 235/60R18). The ZDX Type S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (275/40R22 vs. 235/60R18).

The ZDX A-Spec’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The ZDX Type S’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ZDX A-Spec has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium. The ZDX Type S’ 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

The Acura ZDX’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Subaru Solterra only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The ZDX 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.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires standard on the ZDX can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Solterra doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The ZDX 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 ZDX’s wheelbase is 9.6 inches longer than on the Solterra (121.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the ZDX is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the Solterra.

The ZDX has 11.7 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, 21.5 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Solterra.

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the ZDX’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Solterra doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ZDX Type S’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under 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 ZDX has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Solterra has no towing capacity.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Subaru. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 19% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 16th.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Solterra Limited/Touring, the ZDX Type S has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The ZDX Type S has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information 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 ZDX’s standard Keyless Access System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Solterra doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Keyless Access and Start is not available on the Solterra Touring.

The ZDX’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 ZDX’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 ZDX has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

The ZDX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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

The ZDX Type S has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Solterra doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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