Kia EV5 GT-Line AWD vs Subaru Solterra Solterra AWD

The Subaru wins this one clearly at grade level: 566km WLTP against the Kia GT-Line's 470km, a 96km margin, and it manages that on a smaller 74.7kWh battery. The reason the flagship EV5 trails is its second motor; the single-motor Air Long Range version is rated at 555km WLTP, almost matching the Subaru. So the range gap is really about the GT-Line trading reach for all-wheel-drive grunt, not the EV5 nameplate being short on range. If you want the longest legs at this money and stay in this grade pairing, the Solterra AWD is the pick.

The Subaru, on both counts. On a DC fast charger it peaks at 150kW for a 10-to-80 per cent top-up in about 30 minutes, where the Kia GT-Line peaks at 141kW and takes roughly 38 minutes. The larger everyday difference is alternating current: the Solterra's 22kW three-phase on-board charger is double the EV5's 11kW, so if you have three-phase power at home or use a destination charger, the Subaru refills far quicker. Neither is an 800-volt rapid-charging star, so on a road trip both trail the quickest rivals, but between these two the Solterra is the easier car to keep topped up.

They are closely matched. Both carry a current five-star ANCAP rating with identical 88 per cent adult and 86 per cent child occupant protection scores, and both come with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. The Subaru edges the margins: eight airbags to the Kia's seven, and 80 per cent vulnerable-road-user protection against 74 per cent. The Solterra's rating applies to cars built from October 2025 and was assessed via the closely related Toyota bZ4X. For most buyers the two are functionally as safe as each other, with the Subaru holding a narrow advantage on paper.

At $75,990 driveaway the GT-Line is $8,470 dearer than the $67,520 Solterra AWD as of September 2026, and the money goes on cabin kit, not driving range. It adds an augmented-reality head-up display, a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats the base Solterra does without at this grade, plus a 513-litre boot that beats the Subaru by 92 litres and a 67-litre frunk. It also brings a seven-year warranty and eight-year roadside to Subaru's five and one. What it does not buy is efficiency: the GT-Line uses more energy, travels 96km less and charges slower. You are paying for the loaded cabin, not the better EV.

The Kia is the more practical of the two. Its 513-litre boot holds 92 litres more than the Solterra's 421, and it adds a 67-litre front boot, or frunk, for charge cables and small items. Both are five-seat SUVs of a similar footprint, with the Solterra fractionally longer in the body and wheelbase, so rear-seat space is close. But for luggage, prams and the weekly shop the EV5's bigger boot and frunk make it the easier car to live with. If cargo room ranks high on your list, the Kia takes it.

The Subaru, and it is not especially close. Every Solterra runs symmetrical all-wheel drive, 212mm of ground clearance and X-Mode terrain settings, so gravel roads, grassy campsites, boat ramps and light snow are well within its remit. The Kia GT-Line is all-wheel drive too, but its 166mm clearance and on-road-biased tune are happier on sealed roads, and its drive modes are calibrated for grip, not true off-road work. Neither is a serious four-wheel drive, and both weigh over two tonnes, so keep expectations sensible. But if your driveway turns to dirt or you head for the snow each winter, the Solterra is the more natural fit.

It splits. The Kia has the longer safety net, a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and eight years of roadside assistance against Subaru's five years and one, and its capped-price servicing is a touch cheaper at about $2,000 over five years to the Solterra's $2,400. Both service every 12 months or 15,000km. The Subaru pushes back on the energy bill: at 146Wh/km against the Kia's 210 it will use noticeably less electricity for the same distance, which adds up over a few years of charging. So the Kia is cheaper to cover and service, the Subaru cheaper to run. Neither has a clear overall win.

The Kia EV5 GT-Line makes the stronger practical case for family duty: a 513-litre boot plus a 67-litre frunk, a loaded cabin with ventilated seats and a panoramic roof, and a seven-year warranty with eight-year roadside that suits a car you plan to keep. The Subaru Solterra AWD counters with the longer 566km WLTP range, lower running costs, an extra airbag and standard all-wheel-drive traction for wet or unsealed roads. Read the EV5 as the pick if boot space and ownership cover matter most; read the Solterra as the pick if range, efficiency and all-weather security top your list.

For most value-focused buyers the base Subaru Solterra AWD is the smarter play. It costs $8,470 less than the GT-Line, travels 96km further, uses far less energy and charges quicker, so it wins the fundamentals a first EV should nail. The Kia EV5 GT-Line only rewrites that maths if you specifically want its flagship kit, the head-up display, panoramic roof and ventilated seats, plus the bigger boot and longer warranty. Put simply, the Subaru is the better electric car for the money, and the Kia is the more lavish one. If the features list matters less than range and cost, take the Solterra.