More automakers are switching to EVs, and Subaru is no exception. The Japanese manufacturer is set to release the Solterra for the 2023 model year, and the reviews are positive so far. But it faces stiff competition from electric vehicles like the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4. However, one feature elevates the Solterra above its crossover rival.

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 at a glance

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 starts at $40,760, but Volkswagen says buyers can file for a federal EV tax credit to lower the price to $33,260. Consumers can also check with their state to learn about other possible tax credits for electric cars.

The 2022 ID.4 comes equipped with a single rear electric engine or a dual-motor setup with optional all-wheel drive. Car and Driver reports the ID.4 produces 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. Its acceleration isn’t mind-blowing, taking 7.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

The ID.4 Pro model gets 280 miles on a single charge, while the Pro S gets 268 miles. With AWD, the Pro can go 251 miles, and the Pro S goes 245 miles. 

One of the great things about the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 is that drivers can charge it at home with an optional Level 2 home charger. The charging speeds are 135 kW, a jump from the 2021 model, which took 125 kW to charge. 

The 2022 model also offers driver’s aids such as adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and lane assist. 

The 2023 Subaru Solterra boasts 1 perk over the ID.4

The 2023 Subaru Solterra will probably hover around $37,000.

It will come equipped with two electric motors that generate a combined 215 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. And thanks to one performance feature that elevates the Subaru above the Volkswagen ID.4 — standard AWD — drivers can take every Solterra model off-road. 

However, charge times are unavailable at this time. The Solterra’s driving range should exceed 220 miles, but Subaru hasn’t released exact numbers as of this writing. Speed and acceleration times are also unknown.

What we do know is that the 2023 Solterra will boast a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a wireless phone charger standard.

As for safety features, buyers should expect a 360-degree camera system, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

But the ID.4 still tops the Solterra

Providing AWD standard at a significantly lower price is a feather in the Subaru Solterra’s cap. The fact that the wireless phone charger also comes standard is another plus. But that’s where the benefits end.

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 stands out in too many other ways. For example, until we gain more up-to-date data about the Solterra, we can only assume the ID.4 gets more range than its Subaru rival. The ID.4 Pro can go 280 miles on a single charge, while the Solterra is rumored to get more than 220 miles. 

Also, although AWD comes standard on the Solterra, as it does on all Subarus, you can still opt for AWD on the ID.4. To sweeten the deal, you’ll also get more horsepower and torque by upgrading.

The ID.4 also has more cabin space. The dimensions are 101 cubic feet of passenger space and 30 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Solterra has only 95.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, although it ties the ID.4 in cargo space. 

So although the Subaru Solterra will doubtless receive plenty of attention as the new kid on the block, it still has a ways to go before it can top the Volkswagen ID.4.