Compare the2026 Subaru Solterra VS 2026 BMW i4

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 i4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Solterra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The i4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the BMW i4, which scored “Poor” - the lowest rating - in these critical safety features.

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 i4.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Solterra’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The i4 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 i4 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and i4 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Solterra has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The i4’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Solterra and the i4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 i4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the i4 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 i4 eDrive40 electric motor:

	Solterra	i4
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	13.5 sec

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the i4:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
i4
	RWD	eDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motor	121 city/115 hwy
		eDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motor	112 city/105 hwy
	AWD	xDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motors	99 city/103 hwy
		19" Wheels Electric Motors	99 city/96 hwy
		xDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motors	93 city/95 hwy
		20"Wheels Electric Motors	82 city/80 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the i4 on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
i4
	AWD	xDrive40 18" Wheels Electric Motors	287 miles
		19" Wheels Electric Motors	278 miles
		xDrive40 19" Wheels Electric Motors	268 miles
		20"Wheels Electric Motors	232 miles

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the i4 (235/60R18 vs. 225/50R18).

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the i4’s (36.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The Solterra is 3.9 inches shorter than the i4, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Solterra has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the i4 (97.5 vs. 90).

The Solterra has .6 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the i4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The i4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Solterra has a higher standard payload capacity than the i4 (1045 vs. 933 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.

The Solterra’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The i4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 i4 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Subaru Solterra stands out above the BMW i4 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 i4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.