Compare the2025 Nissan LeafVS 2025 Subaru Solterra

The Leaf has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Solterra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Leaf and the Solterra 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available daytime running lights, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Leaf is safer than the Subaru Solterra:

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Leaf is safer than the Subaru Solterra:

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

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Leaf for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Nissan 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 66 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Leaf’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is rated lower.

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

The Leaf stops shorter than the Solterra:

The Leaf S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires.

The Leaf 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 Leaf S’ turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Solterra’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.7 feet). The Leaf SV PLUS’ turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Solterra’s (36.2 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

The Nissan Leaf may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 850 pounds less than the Subaru Solterra.

The Leaf is 8.2 inches shorter than the Solterra, making the Leaf easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Leaf has 2.4 inches more front headroom and 5.2 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

The Leaf’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Solterra Premium’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Leaf owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Leaf will cost $1425 to $2925 less than the Solterra over a five-year period.