Compare the2026 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Nissan Ariya

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

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.

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

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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Solterra is much safer than the Ariya:

	Solterra	Ariya
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD

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 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 Ariya is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 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	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
Ariya
	FWD	Engage Electric Motor	216 miles
	AWD	Engage+/Evolve+ Electric Motors	272 miles
		Platinum+ Electric Motors	267 miles
		Platinum+ 20" Wheels Electric Motors	257 miles
		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.

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).

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

	Solterra	Ariya
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	47”/75”	38.3”/74.8”
Max Width	50.4”	54.6”
Min Width	38.1”	43.3”
Height	36.5”	26.9”

Servicing Ease

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.

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

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.”

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 Ariya doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Subaru Solterra stands out above the Nissan Ariya by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility. Both vehicles also offer Qi charging for the rear passengers.

The Solterra Limited/Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Ariya doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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