Kia EV6 vs Subaru Solterra: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Kia EV6 burns about $650 of fuel annually against $650 for the Subaru Solterra. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 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 versus highway split: the Kia EV6 is the stronger commuter at 136 mpg city, while the Subaru Solterra pulls ahead on the interstate at 109 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Drivetrain and class: the Kia EV6 is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, 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 Small 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.