Compare the2026 Nissan LeafVS 2025 Subaru Solterra

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, 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 front parking sensors.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Leaf for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for tire rotations, 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’ 2025 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 11th.

The Leaf S’ standard electric motor produces 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (254 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors. The Leaf +’s standard electric motor produces 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (261 vs. 249) than the Solterra’s electric motors.

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

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

For better stopping power the Leaf’s front brake rotors are larger than those on 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 Platinum+’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring/Onyx’s 50 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.

The Leaf Platinum+ handles at .83 G’s, while the Solterra Touring pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Leaf’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Solterra’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

The Nissan Leaf may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 400 pounds less than the Subaru Solterra.

The Leaf is 11.2 inches shorter than the Solterra, making the Leaf easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Leaf has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and 6.7 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Leaf’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under 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.

The Leaf Platinum+ has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Leaf’s standard 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.

The Nissan Leaf has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located for the driver. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the Solterra.

The Leaf Platinum+ has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Solterra doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.