Compare the2026 Subaru SolterraVS 2026 Nissan Leaf

The Solterra offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Leaf doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The Subaru Solterra’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and Leaf 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 Leaf’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Solterra and the Leaf 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, 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 2025 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 Leaf has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 3 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’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

The Solterra’s standard electric motors produces 59 more horsepower (233 vs. 174) than the Leaf S’ standard electric motor. The Solterra’s electric motors produces 19 more horsepower (233 vs. 214) than the Leaf +’s standard electric motor. The Solterra XT’s standard electric motors produces 124 more horsepower (338 vs. 214) than the Leaf +’s standard electric motor.

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

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
Leaf
	FWD	SV+ Electric Motor	122 city/105 hwy
		Platinum+ Electric Motor	110 city/96 hwy

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

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
Leaf
	FWD	Platinum+ Electric Motor	259 miles

The Solterra stops shorter than the Leaf:

	Solterra	Leaf
70 to 0 MPH	183 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the Leaf (235/60R18 vs. 215/55R18).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Leaf (112.2 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Leaf (8.3 vs. 5.3 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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 Leaf doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Solterra has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (97.5 vs. 92).

The Solterra has 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

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

The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Leaf with its rear seat up (23.8 vs. 20 cubic feet). The Solterra has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Leaf with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 55.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 10th.

The power windows standard on both the Solterra and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Solterra is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Solterra’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Solterra the driver can close all of them 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 Leaf can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Solterra’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 Leaf’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Solterra has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Leaf doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Solterra’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf Platinum+.

Both the Subaru Solterra and Nissan Leaf offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Solterra offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Leaf’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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

The Solterra’s 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. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Solterra has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the Leaf SV+/Platinum+ offers wireless charging, and only charges one device.

The Solterra Limited/Touring’s Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Subaru Solterra outsold the Nissan Leaf by 19% during 2024.