Compare the2026 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Ioniq 6 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Ioniq 6 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 Ioniq 6.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Ioniq 6 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 Hyundai Ioniq 6 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and the Ioniq 6 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.

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 Hyundai Ioniq 6:

	Solterra	Ioniq 6
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	207
Neck Stress	240 lbs.	246 lbs.
Neck Compression	10 lbs.	60 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	130 lbs.	143 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	223/195 lbs.	442/446 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Hyundai Ioniq 6:

	Solterra	Ioniq 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.4 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	86 lbs.	133 lbs.
Hip Force	237 lbs.	242 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	9 inches	10 inches
HIC	315	327
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Hyundai With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Hyundai.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

Engine

The Solterra has more powerful engines than the Ioniq 6:

	Horsepower
Solterra electric motors	233 HP
Solterra XT electric motors	338 HP
Ioniq 6 Standard Range electric motor	149 HP
Ioniq 6 Long Range electric motor	225 HP
Ioniq 6 electric motors	320 HP

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Ioniq 6:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
Ioniq 6
	RWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	123 city/100 hwy
	AWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motors	111 city/94 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Ioniq 6 on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
Ioniq 6
	RWD	Standard Range Electric Motor	240 miles
	AWD	SEL/Limited Electric Motors	270 miles

Brakes and Stopping

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 Ioniq 6 are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the Ioniq 6 (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Ioniq 6’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

Chassis

The Solterra is 6.5 inches shorter than the Ioniq 6, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Solterra has 1.1 inches more rear headroom and .6 inches more rear legroom than the Ioniq 6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The Ioniq 6’s rear seats don’t recline.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 66% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 30th.

Ergonomics

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 Ioniq 6’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Solterra’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Ioniq 6’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.

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 Ioniq 6 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 Ioniq 6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Solterra’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Ioniq 6’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Ioniq 6’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 Ioniq 6 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Solterra’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Ioniq 6’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

Both the Solterra and the Ioniq 6 have standard heated front seats. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Ioniq 6.

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 Ioniq 6 SEL/Limited offers wireless charging, and only charges one device.

Recommendations

The Subaru Solterra outsold the Hyundai Ioniq 6 by 140 units during 2024.

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