Compare the2026 Subaru Solterra VS 2027 Kia EV3

The Subaru Solterra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The EV3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Kia EV3 has not been tested.

The Solterra has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EV3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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 EV3.

The Subaru Solterra’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia EV3 does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and the EV3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, 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.

The Solterra’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the EV3 runs out after 100,000 miles.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 10th.

The Solterra has more powerful engines than the EV3:

	Horsepower
Solterra electric motors	233 HP
Solterra XT electric motors	338 HP
EV3 electric motor	201 HP
EV3 electric motors	261 HP
EV3 GT electric motors	288 HP

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the EV3:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
EV3
	FWD	Wind/Land Electric Motor	131 city/104 hwy
		Electric Motor	127 city/103 hwy
	AWD	Electric Motors	110 city/96 hwy
		GT Electric Motors	112 city/94 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the EV3 on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
EV3
	FWD	Electric Motor	221 miles
	AWD	Electric Motors	280 miles
		GT Electric Motors	280 miles

For better stopping power the Solterra’s brake rotors are larger than those on the EV3:

	Solterra	EV3	EV3 4x4
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.2 inches	12.8 inches

The Solterra’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the EV3 are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the EV3 (235/60R18 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the EV3. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the EV3 GT-Line/GT.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the EV3 (112.2 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a 2.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the EV3 Wind/Land (8.3 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Solterra’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the EV3 GT-Line (8.3 vs. 6.2 inches).

The Solterra has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear headroom than the EV3.

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EV3 with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 56% lower rating, Kia is ranked 27th.

The Solterra’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EV3’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Solterra’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The EV3 Light/Wind/Land’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 EV3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Solterra has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the EV3 Wind/Land/GT-Line/GT. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the EV3.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Solterra has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the EV3 Wind/Land/GT-Line/GT offers wireless charging, and only charges one device.