Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Subaru Solterra

As of 2026 the Subaru Solterra is the cheaper way in. Its base AWD grade lists at $67,520 driveaway in New South Wales for a private buyer, with the Touring at $73,820. The Ford Mustang Mach-E opens higher at $73,394 driveaway for the rear-drive Select, climbs to $88,619 for the long-range Premium and tops out at $108,535 for the GT. So the Solterra's two-grade range sits almost entirely below where the Mach-E's begins, and even the loaded Touring costs about the same as the cheapest Ford. On price alone the Subaru is the easier case, though the Ford answers with a longer-range Premium and a performance flagship the Solterra does not offer.

The cheaper Solterra out-ranges the cheaper Ford, but the Mach-E Premium tops the field. At the entry point the Subaru Solterra AWD wins comfortably, claiming 566 km on the WLTP cycle against the Mach-E Select's 470 km. Step up, though, and the picture flips: the Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium claims 615 km, the longest figure across either range, while the Solterra Touring drops to 517 km on its heavier 20-inch wheels. The dual-motor Mach-E GT sits between them at 515 km. So if outright distance is the priority the Mach-E Premium is the one to beat. Both are laboratory figures, so expect real-world range below them in cold weather or at highway speed.

The Subaru Solterra is the more frugal electric SUV. Its base grade uses a claimed 146 Wh/km, and independent Australian testing has returned real-world figures close to the claim. The Ford Mustang Mach-E Select uses 186 Wh/km on the same cycle, and even the most efficient Mach-E Premium at 177 Wh/km stays thirstier than the least efficient Solterra Touring at 160. On the same electricity tariff, that gap makes the Subaru the cheaper of the two to keep charged over a year. Servicing is line-ball, with both cars on 12-month or 15,000 km intervals, and both carry a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

On a DC fast charger the two are evenly matched. Both peak at 150 kW, and a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes about half an hour either way, 30 minutes for the Solterra and 32 for the Mach-E Select. Neither reaches the higher peaks some newer rivals now hit. The Solterra's real edge is at home, because its 22 kW three-phase AC on-board charger is double the Mach-E's 11 kW, so with three-phase power it refills far quicker overnight or at a destination charger. For most owners home charging covers daily driving, and there the Subaru is the easier car to keep topped up.

Both wear a five-star ANCAP rating. Each comes with a deep active-safety suite as standard, from autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist to adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. They earn the stars differently. The Ford Mustang Mach-E scores higher for adult occupant protection at 92 per cent and child occupant at 88, while the Subaru Solterra leads on vulnerable road user protection at 80 per cent against 69, and carries the fresher 2025 test date. One caveat matters for Ford buyers: the five-star rating covers the Select and Premium only. The high-performance GT is currently unrated by ANCAP, so treat its crash safety as untested.

For loose surfaces the Subaru Solterra is the clear pick. Every grade is dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard, backed by Subaru's X-Mode terrain control and 212 mm of ground clearance, so gravel roads, boat ramps and grassy campsites are comfortably within its remit. It is also the only one of the two rated to tow, at 1500 kg braked, where Ford publishes no tow rating for the Mach-E. The Ford is rear-wheel drive on the Select and Premium, with all-wheel drive reserved for the 434 kW GT, and that GT is built for tarmac pace rather than terrain. If your weekends involve unsealed roads or a light trailer, the Solterra fits.

For most families the base Subaru Solterra AWD is the sensible default. It costs thousands less to buy, comes with standard all-wheel drive and a fresh five-star rating, uses less energy, and its 566 km range settles the anxiety that dogged the first car. The Ford Mustang Mach-E makes the counter-argument for families who want more: the Premium's 615 km is the longest range here, its cabin is rated a clear step above the class norm on materials, and it adds a 49-litre front boot on top of its 402-litre rear one. The Solterra's 421-litre boot is slightly larger than the Ford's rear bay but has no frunk. Budget usually decides it.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the driver's car of the two. The Australian press consistently rates it the more engaging mainstream electric SUV, rear-driven and willing to rotate under power in a way that nods, faintly, to the coupe sharing its badge. It also holds the performance trump card in the 434 kW, 955 Nm GT, a dual-motor flagship the Solterra has no answer for. The Subaru Solterra reads as sensible rather than sporty: comfortable, easy and secure, its standard all-wheel drive delivering traction rather than thrills. Reviewers note the Mach-E GT rides firmly, so enthusiasts should drive before they buy, but for outright involvement the Ford is the one.

As of 2026, on the Ford side the Premium is the pick for most buyers. For about $15,000 over the Select it swaps in the 88 kWh battery and lifts claimed range to 615 km, the longest in either range, while keeping the same 212 kW rear-drive powertrain, so the money buys distance rather than pace. The GT is a $108,535 halo for the 434 kW performance. On the Subaru side the logic runs the other way: the base Solterra AWD is the one to have, because the step up to the Touring buys equipment but costs range, dropping from 566 km to 517 on bigger wheels. Unless the panoramic roof and ventilated seats are must-haves, the cheaper Subaru wins.