Compare the2025 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Nissan Ariya

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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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 Ariya 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Solterra. But it costs extra on the Ariya.

Both the Solterra and Ariya have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Solterra has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Ariya’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Solterra and the Ariya 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 Subaru Solterra is safer than the Nissan Ariya:

	Solterra	Ariya
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	179
Neck Injury Risk	35.3%	45.3%
Neck Stress	240 lbs.	387 lbs.
Neck Compression	10 lbs.	57 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	227	314
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	43.4%
Neck Stress	130 lbs.	226 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	34 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	223/195 lbs.	293/289 lbs.

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Solterra is safer than the Nissan Ariya:

	Solterra	Ariya
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	86 lbs.	155 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	899 lbs.	1022 lbs.

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

The Subaru Solterra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Ariya is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 11 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Solterra’s electric motors produces 1 more horsepower (215 vs. 214) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 221) than the Ariya Engage’s standard electric motor. The Solterra’s electric motors produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (249 vs. 221) than the Ariya Evolve+’s standard electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Ariya:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	114 city/94 hwy
		Limited/Touring Electric Motors	111 city/93 hwy
Ariya
	FWD	Engage Electric Motor	109 city/94 hwy
		Evolve+ Electric Motor	105 city/91 hwy
	AWD	Engage+/Evolve+ Electric Motors	97 city/86 hwy
		Platinum+ Electric Motors	93 city/87 hwy
		Platinum+ 20" Wheels Electric Motors	89 city/84 hwy
		Engage Electric Motors	101 city/89 hwy

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

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	227 miles
		Limited/Touring Electric Motors	222 miles
Ariya
	FWD	Engage Electric Motor	216 miles
	AWD	Engage Electric Motors	205 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Solterra	Ariya
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.33 inches

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Ariya (112.2 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Ariya (8.3 vs. 6.7 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 Ariya doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has .7 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Ariya.

Cargo Capacity

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Ariya with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 59.7 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 Ariya’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 16th.

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 Ariya doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Ariya can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Ariya’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 Ariya doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

The Solterra will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Solterra will retain 51.28% to 52.31% of its original price after five years, while the Ariya only retains 49.41% to 50.01%.

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