Compare the2025 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Audi Q6 e-tron

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Audi Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Subaru Solterra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Solterra has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 Q6 e-tron.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Solterra and the Q6 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q6 e-tron. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q6 e-tron ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 82 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

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 Audi With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 7th.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Q6 e-tron:

The Solterra Premium’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q6 e-tron Ultra’s standard 65 series front tires.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Q6 e-tron’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Subaru Solterra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 900 pounds less than the Audi Q6 e-tron.

The Solterra is 3.2 inches shorter than the Q6 e-tron, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Q6 e-tron doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Solterra has .3 inches more front headroom and 2.3 inches more front legroom than the Q6 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The Q6 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q6 e-tron with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 60.2 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

The Subaru Solterra outsold the Audi Q6 by almost seven to one during 2024.