BMW iX vs Subaru Solterra: Specs Compared

Also searched as Subaru Solterra vs BMW iX specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The Subaru Solterra is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 120 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the BMW iX, a 23 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.

Across 4 measured categories, the Subaru Solterra leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2022–2026

BMW iX

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 35 configurations

97mpg combined (best)
All BMW iX specs

2023–2027

Subaru Solterra

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 10 configurations

120mpg combined (best)
All Subaru Solterra specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricBMW iXSubaru Solterra
Best combined MPG97 mpg120 mpg ✓
Best city MPG99 mpg131 mpg ✓
Best highway MPG94 mpg109 mpg ✓
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$800$650 ✓
Lowest CO2 outputNot availableNot available
Engines offeredNot availableNot available
TransmissionsAutomatic (A1)Automatic (A1)
DrivetrainsAll-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesElectricityElectricity
EPA classStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Years covered2022–20262023–2027
Configurations on record3510

Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.

BMW iX vs Subaru Solterra dimensions and size

The BMW iX is 10.2 inches longer than the Subaru Solterra on a wheelbase 5.9 inches longer, and 1,322.8 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.

BMW iX versus Subaru Solterra exterior dimensions
DimensionBMW iX (2026)Subaru Solterra (2026)Difference
Length194.9 in184.6 in10.2 in
Width (excl. mirrors)77.2 in73.2 in3.9 in
Height66.5 in65 in1.6 in
Wheelbase118.1 in112.2 in5.9 in
Curb weight5,688 lbs4,365 lbs1,323 lbs

Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.

BMW iX vs Subaru Solterra: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Subaru Solterra burns about $650 of fuel annually against $800 for the BMW iX. That $150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $750 over five years and $1,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Subaru Solterra leads in both cycles — 131 mpg city and 109 mpg highway against 99 and 94 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW iX is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Subaru Solterra with All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

iX vs Solterra: common questions

Which is better on gas, the BMW iX or the Subaru Solterra?

The Subaru Solterra is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 120 mpg combined versus 97 mpg for the BMW iX, a 23 mpg advantage and costs about $150 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Subaru Solterra runs about $650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $800 for the BMW iX — a difference of roughly $150 per year.

What engines do the iX and Solterra offer?

BMW iX: no engine data on record. Subaru Solterra: no engine data on record.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the BMW iX as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Subaru Solterra as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More iX comparisons

More Solterra comparisons

Comparison id: bmw-ix-vs-subaru-solterra