Compare the2026 Subaru Solterra VS 2027 BMW i5

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The BMW i5 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW i5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Solterra achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The BMW i5 has not been tested.

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 i5.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The i5 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 BMW i5 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and the i5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 around view monitors.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the i5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 83 percent more Subaru dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. BMW is ranked fifth.

As tested in Motor Trend the Solterra XT is faster than the i5 eDrive40 electric motor:

	Solterra	i5
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	13.6 sec

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the i5:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
i5
	RWD	19" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	120 city/113 hwy
		20" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	109 city/102 hwy
		21" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	103 city/95 hwy
	AWD	19" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	101 city/98 hwy
		M60 19" Wheels Electric Motor	100 city/98 hwy
		20" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	98 city/94 hwy
		M60 20" Wheels Electric Motor	96 city/92 hwy
		21" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	95 city/90 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the i5 on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
i5
	RWD	21" Wheels eDrive40 Electric Motor	280 miles
	AWD	19" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	283 miles
		M60 19" Wheels Electric Motor	277 miles
		20" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	273 miles
		M60 20" Wheels Electric Motor	266 miles
		21" Wheels xDrive40 Electric Motors	262 miles

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the i5 eDrive40’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.4 feet). The Solterra’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the i5 M60 xDrive’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Subaru Solterra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 700 pounds less than the BMW i5.

The Solterra is 1 foot, 2.6 inches shorter than the i5, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Solterra has .8 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the i5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The i5’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the i5 (1045 vs. 948 lbs.).

The Solterra has a higher maximum payload capacity than the i5 (1045 vs. 957 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, BMW is ranked 10th.

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 i5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Solterra has standard extendable sun visors. The i5 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Subaru Solterra stands out above the BMW i5 by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility.

The Solterra Limited/Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The i5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.