Subaru Solterra vs Toyota bZ – Joint-venture twins
Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ (short for bZ4X) are near-identical electric twins. They were developed together by Subaru and Toyota, share the same platform, battery, and many parts. But each brand has tuned its version for a different type of driver.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Subaru Solterra | Toyota bZ |
| Standard Drivetrain | AWD Only (Dual Motor) | FWD (Standard) / AWD (Optional) |
| Standard Power | 233 hp (338 hp in XT trims) | 168 hp (FWD) to 338 hp (AWD) |
| Max Range | Up to 288 miles | Up to 314 miles (FWD Plus) |
| Ground Clearance | 8.3 inches (Off-road focus) | 8.1 inches (Urban focus) |
| Steering Wheel | Squared-off (better view of screen) | Traditional round |
| Off-Road Tech | Dual-function X-MODE with Hill Descent | Basic X-MODE on AWD trims only |
| Warranty (Battery) | 8 years / 100,000 miles | 10 years (Toyota) |
| Free Maintenance | Not offered | 2 years/25,000 miles (ToyotaCare) |
1. Drivetrain – AWD vs FWD Choice
| Question | Answer |
| Standard AWD? | Subaru Solterra (all trims) |
| Has FWD option? | Toyota bZ (standard on base models) |
| More powerful (top trim)? | Both – up to 338 hp with AWD |
Winner: Solterra for standard AWD. bZ for FWD efficiency.
2. Range – Toyota Wins for Efficiency
| Question | Answer |
| Longer max range? | Toyota bZ FWD Plus (314 miles) |
| Solterra range? | Up to 288 miles (AWD only) |
Winner: Toyota bZ (FWD version goes farther).
3. Off-Road Capability – Subaru is More Rugged
| Question | Answer |
| Higher ground clearance? | Subaru Solterra (8.3 inches) |
| Better off-road tech? | Subaru Solterra (Dual X-MODE, Hill Descent) |
| More adventure-focused? | Subaru Solterra |
Winner: Subaru Solterra.
4. Interior and Steering
| Question | Answer |
| Unique steering wheel? | Subaru Solterra (Squared-off) – gives better view of instrument screen |
| Traditional steering? | Toyota bZ (Round) |
| Both have large screen? | Yes (14-inch in Solterra, also in bZ) |
Winner: Solterra for unique steering wheel. bZ for traditional feel.
5. Charging – Very Similar
| Question | Answer |
| Fast charging (10-80%)? | Solterra: ~28 minutes |
| Fast charging (10-80%)? | bZ: ~30 minutes |
| Max DC charging speed? | 150 kW (both) |
Winner: Tie (very close).
6. Warranty and Maintenance – Toyota Offers More
| Question | Answer |
| Longer battery warranty? | Toyota bZ (10 years) |
| Free maintenance plan? | Toyota bZ (ToyotaCare – 2 years/25,000 miles) |
| Solterra battery warranty? | 8 years / 100,000 miles |
Winner: Toyota bZ.
Discover more from CarSide
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
