Compare the2025 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Volvo EX30

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Servicing Ease
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 EX30 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 EX30.

Both the Solterra and the EX30 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 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 EX30 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the EX30. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the EX30 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is rated below average.

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 Volvo With 47 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 19 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Solterra has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The EX30 doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Solterra’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the EX30:

	Solterra	EX30
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.7 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 EX30 are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the EX30 (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx has standard 20-inch wheels. The EX30’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the EX30 (112.2 inches vs. 104.3 inches).

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 EX30 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has .2 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EX30.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The EX30’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EX30 with its rear seat up (23.8 vs. 11.2 cubic feet). The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EX30 with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 27.8 cubic feet).

The Solterra’s cargo area is larger than the EX30’s in almost every dimension:

	Solterra	EX30
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	38.3”/73”	28.1”/57.9”
Max Width	50.4”	n/a
Min Width	38.1”	39.1”
Height	29.8”	22”

Payload

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the EX30 (1045 vs. 992 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 28% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 23rd.

Ergonomics

The Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx’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 EX30 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Solterra’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The EX30’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

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 EX30 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Solterra has standard extendable sun visors. The EX30 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Solterra’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The EX30’s power mirror controls are embedded in the infotainment system, seriously distracting drivers who have to adjust them while driving.

The Solterra has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the EX30. The Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the EX30.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Solterra Touring/Onyx keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The EX30 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Solterra has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The EX30 doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Solterra has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the EX30 Plus/Ultra.

Both the Solterra and the EX30 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 EX30 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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