Subaru Solterra vs Tesla Model Y: Specs Compared
Also searched as Tesla Model Y vs Subaru Solterra specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the Subaru Solterra, a 18 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Tesla Model Y leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2023–2027
Subaru Solterra
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 10 configurations
2020–2026
Tesla Model Y
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 27 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Subaru Solterra | Tesla Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 120 mpg | 138 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 131 mpg | 148 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 109 mpg | 129 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 | $550 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2023–2027 | 2020–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 10 | 27 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Subaru Solterra vs Tesla Model Y dimensions and size
The Tesla Model Y is 3.9 inches longer than the Subaru Solterra on a wheelbase 1.6 inches longer, and 2.2 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Subaru Solterra (2026) | Tesla Model Y (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 184.6 in | 188.6 in | 3.9 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 73.2 in | 78 in | 4.7 in |
| Height | 65 in | 63.8 in | 1.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in | 113.8 in | 1.6 in |
| Curb weight | 4,365 lbs | 4,363 lbs | 2 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.
Subaru Solterra vs Tesla Model Y: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Tesla Model Y burns about $550 of fuel annually against $650 for the Subaru Solterra. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 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 Tesla Model Y leads in both cycles — 148 mpg city and 129 mpg highway against 131 and 109 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Subaru Solterra is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Tesla Model Y with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-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.
Solterra vs Model Y: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Subaru Solterra or the Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 138 mpg combined versus 120 mpg for the Subaru Solterra, a 18 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Tesla Model Y runs about $550 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $650 for the Subaru Solterra — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the Solterra and Model Y offer?
Subaru Solterra: no engine data on record. Tesla Model Y: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Subaru Solterra and the Tesla Model Y as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
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