Compare the2025 Nissan AriyaVS 2025 Subaru Solterra

The Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Solterra doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Ariya 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Ariya is safer than the Subaru Solterra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Ariya is safer than the Subaru Solterra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ariya for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Nissan will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

There are over 68 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ariya’s warranty.

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 Ariya’s reliability 15 points higher than the Solterra.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

The Ariya Evolve+’s standard electric motor produces 23 more horsepower (238 vs. 215) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Ariya Engage’s standard electric motors produces 120 more horsepower (335 vs. 215) and 164 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+’s standard electric motors produces 174 more horsepower (389 vs. 215) and 193 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors is faster than the Subaru Solterra:

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

For better stopping power the Ariya + e-4ORCE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Solterra:

The Ariya stops shorter than the Solterra:

For better traction, the Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (245/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Ariya’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 Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Ariya has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium.

The Ariya 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.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than the track on the Solterra.

For better maneuverability, the Ariya’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Solterra’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Solterra doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Solterra (101.2 vs. 95.7).

The Ariya has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 7.7 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

The Ariya has a much larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

The Ariya’s cargo area is larger than the Solterra’s in almost every dimension:

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Ariya Platinum+’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.

Maximum trailer towing in the Subaru Solterra is limited to 0 pounds. The Ariya e-4ORCE offers up to a 1500 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx, the Ariya Platinum+ has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Ariya has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, 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 Ariya’s standard Intelligent Key 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/Onyx.

The Ariya’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 Ariya’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of 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 Ariya has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

The Nissan Ariya has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx.

The Ariya 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/Onyx.

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

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Subaru Solterra isn't recommended.

The Nissan Ariya outsold the Subaru Solterra by 52% during 2023.