Automakers have been partnering to develop and produce new automobiles for many years, and the custom continues within the EV age. The Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra, and Lexus RZ are the results of such an effort, with every bringing cheap vary, tech, and luxury in a tidy, compact crossover physique. Although they share a platform and several other different elements, and all are made at Toyota’s Motomachi meeting plant in Japan, there are variations between the three value discussing.
The Solterra and bZ4X are most related, competing in opposition to one another in the identical section. That similarity makes them ripe for comparability. This write-up will cowl the principle variations between the 2 and assist you make an knowledgeable resolution when it’s time to start out buying.
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Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Worth
Regardless of their similarities, the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra promote at completely different worth factors, with the bZ4X undercutting its counterpart by nearly $2,000. The bottom bZ4X XLE begins at $43,070 earlier than vacation spot, and the highest Restricted trim at $47,180. Each variants see a $1,350 vacation spot cost tacked on on the backside line, and all-wheel drive is on the market. Subaru costs $44,995 for the bottom Solterra Premium, $48,495 for the midrange Restricted trim, and $51,995 for the range-topping Touring mannequin. All variants have a $1,345 vacation spot cost, and all-wheel drive is normal.
These costs aren’t low-cost, however the cash buys loads of normal options for each fashions. The bZ4X comes normal with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and extra. It additionally will get Toyota Security Sense 3.0, which brings pane departure alerts, lane maintain help, computerized excessive beams, adaptive cruise management, pedestrian detection, and extra. Toyota equips blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, entrance and rear parking help, and protected exit alerts for each trims.
The Solterra comes normal with an 8-inch touchscreen, however the Restricted and Touring trims step as much as a 12.3-inch unit with navigation. Each screens deliver wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Subaru additionally equips a protracted listing of ordinary security gear in its EyeSight expertise bundle, together with adaptive cruise management, ahead collision warnings, computerized emergency braking blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, computerized excessive beams, and extra.
Word that lease offers between the 2 differ wildly. Toyota has been providing aggressive incentivized leases on the bZ4X, making it at occasions one of many least expensive vehicles to lease within the nation. As of July 2024, it is nonetheless cheaper to lease than the Subaru, although that is the front-wheel-drive model. incentives change month-to-month, so take note of our month-to-month lease deal tracker.
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Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Vary
Subaru claims 227 miles for the Premium trim, 222 miles for the Restricted trim, and 222 for the Touring. Because the Solterra solely comes with dual-motor all-wheel-drive, it loses some vary to the front-wheel drive variations of the Toyota. The bZ4X is able to 252 miles within the base XLE trim and 236 within the Restricted.
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Effectivity
The Toyota bZ4X has a bonus over the Subaru due to its front-wheel drive normal configuration. The bottom mannequin returns 131/107/119 metropolis/freeway/mixed MPGe (miles per gallon equal). The entry-level Solterra is rated at 114/94/104 MPGe. Stepping as much as the bZ4X Restricted with all-wheel drive and bigger wheels modifications that image, because it returns 112/92/102 MPGe. Electrical automobiles are very delicate to wheel sizes, tires, and different exterior situations.
Whereas it’s true that going electrical can get monetary savings on gasoline prices, the bZ4X and Solterra are removed from being essentially the most environment friendly EVs. The associated Lexus RZ is the EPA’s eighth best EV, returning 125 MPGe on the EPA’s mixed cycle, however the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Lucid Air are essentially the most environment friendly, at as much as 140 MPGe mixed.
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Cost Time
Subaru stated the Solterra can cost from 10 to 80 % in 35 minutes on a 100kW DC quick charger, and a full cost on a Stage 2 residence charger takes about 9.5 hours. The 2024 bZ4X bought some tweaks that improved its DC quick charging time, with the SUV now able to reaching 80 % from a low battery warning in half-hour on a 150kW charger. Charging on a Stage 2 charger takes 9.5 hours, and reaching a full cost on a 120-volt residence outlet takes round 50 hours.
These charging occasions are nearly common, as there are far faster- and slower-charging fashions on sale. It’s vital to notice {that a} vary of things affect charging occasions, together with the start state of cost. EVs cost slower as their state of cost (SoC) rises, and it slows significantly after 80 %. Temperature additionally performs a big function. Batteries return their finest efficiency for vary and charging occasions in temperate climates. Many new fashions have strong battery administration methods that embody heating and cooling parts to enhance vary and charging, however exterior temperatures are a giant deal,
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: 0-60 MPH
Neither automobile is especially fast, and no one ought to anticipate to win many drag races, however the bZ4X and Solterra are greater than highly effective sufficient for many drivers. In front-wheel drive kind, the Toyota runs 0-60 mph in about 6.7 seconds. Shifting to an all-wheel drive configuration cuts that quantity to simply below six seconds, which is a lot fast for many driving eventualities. Subaru quotes a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time for the Solterra, and its normal all-wheel-drive helps get energy to the bottom.
Aggressive driving can shortly minimize an EV’s vary, however the immediate torque from the electrical motors helps make the bZ4X and Solterra really feel faster than they seem on paper. Electrical motors don’t take revs to generate torque, giving them a livelier really feel than gasoline engines, which take a while to achieve their peak torque numbers.
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Prime Pace
Neither the bZ4X nor the Subaru Solterra have awe-inspiring prime pace numbers, however the reality is that they’re each able to exceeding all public pace limits in the US. The Toyota is restricted to a prime pace of 100 miles per hour, whereas the Subaru can attain 110 mph. Whereas these numbers are low in comparison with sportier gasoline vehicles, electrical automobiles are about as residence at excessive speeds as an elephant in Antarctica, with their vary and effectivity falling drastically as speeds climb.
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Driver-Help Methods
These two EVs are very carefully matched on security gear. The Solterra comes normal with Subaru EyeSight tech, which brings adaptive cruise management, ahead collision warnings, computerized emergency braking, emergency steering help, entrance cross-traffic alerts, lane change help, and visitors jam help. Extra security tech contains blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, driver distraction mitigation, and computerized excessive beams.
Toyota Security Sense 3.0 comes normal for each bZ4X. The bundle contains computerized emergency braking, ahead collision warnings, adaptive cruise management, lane maintain help, lane departure alerts, a proactive driving help system, pedestrian detection, and street signal recognition. The SUV additionally will get blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, protected exit alerts, and entrance/rear parking sensors with computerized braking.
The bZ4X missed out on an Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security Prime Security Choose award, however the Solterra earned one for 2024. The Subaru dropped barely from 2023, when it earned a Prime Security Choose + designation, due partly to the IIHS’ up to date testing routine, which incorporates extra intense side-impact crash assessments and extra scrutiny on rear passenger security.
2024 Subaru Solterra inside
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Inside
The Toyota and Subaru present their household roots inside, the place the management layouts and different design parts are practically similar. Subaru equips fabric upholstery and heated entrance seats as normal, however greater trims add artificial leather-based, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated entrance seats. Each bZ4X variants get artificial leather-based, however heated seats will not be normal. The highest trim will get heated and ventilated entrance seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and a radiant leg hotter within the entrance.
2024 Toyota bZ4X inside
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Construct High quality
Since they share a lot below the pores and skin, the bZ4X and Solterra are remarkably related inside and outside. Each really feel strong and planted on the street, they usually provide a quiet, refined driving expertise. The outside panel fitment is great for each, and the outside finishes are sharp. Inside, the cabin supplies aren’t fairly as premium as both automobile’s price ticket suggests, however the construct high quality is great. There are sufficient upscale supplies to make them really feel good, and the pair will get distinctive finishes to make the inside look particular.
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Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Driving Dynamics and Trip Consolation
Each SUVs commerce sporty efficiency for journey consolation, as each greater than simply clean out all however the worst street imperfections. Even so, they handle physique roll effectively and might deal with a nook with out a lot problem. The Subaru’s normal all-wheel drive supplies assured traction in most conditions, which requires an added-cost choice for the Toyota. Each automobiles can be found with bigger 20-inch wheels that minimize into the journey high quality and might really feel harsh at occasions.
Toyota bZ4X vs. Subaru Solterra: Skilled Opinions From InsideEVs
Nonetheless uncertain which one to get? Let the consultants at InsideEVs assist along with your resolution. Listed here are a few of our editors and reporters to weigh in:
My car-buying recommendation is normally “Purchase the one you want one of the best, and might get one of the best deal on.” That basically applies to the Solterra vs. bZ4X debate. These vehicles are so remarkably related that any driving variations between the 2 is likely to be nearly imperceptible, particularly if you wish to get an all-wheel-drive EV like so many American patrons do. I reviewed the bZ4X earlier this 12 months and really fairly loved the automotive, even when I discovered its fast-charging, plug-finding and route-planning expertise to be effectively behind the competitors. That may maintain true for the Solterra as effectively, and you could wish to take into account the bZ4X’s front-wheel-drive model to maximise vary. That stated, these are higher vehicles than you could suppose, and if you could find one which’s cheaper than the opposite, take note of the deal—not the model. –Patrick George, Editor-in-Chief