Compare the2024 Hyundai Kona ElectricVS 2024 Subaru Solterra

Both the Kona Electric and the Solterra 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, 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona Electric the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 207 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Solterra has not been fully tested, yet.

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Solterra. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Solterra ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona Electric’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Solterra’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

There are over 30 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona Electric’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the Solterra:

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

The Kona Electric has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Solterra doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Kona Electric’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Solterra’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Subaru Solterra.

The Kona Electric is 1 foot, 1.1 inches shorter than the Solterra, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kona Electric has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Solterra (99 vs. 95.7).

The Kona Electric has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 7.6 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

The Kona Electric has a much larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (25.5 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Kona Electric’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Solterra doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kona Electric has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Kona Electric Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Subaru Solterra by almost 9 to one during 2023.