2027 Kia EV3 vs. 2027 Subaru Solterra

TrueCar says if starting price matters most, the Kia EV3 has the edge, at a $31,385 MSRP against $39,945 for the Subaru Solterra, a $8,560 difference, and CarSorted says everything in the EV3 range except the GT-Line sits below the cheapest Solterra, with the EV3 Air Standard Range undercutting it by $14,390. Choose the EV3 for the lower price if all-wheel drive is not a requirement; choose the Solterra for standard all-wheel drive.

Which to choose, and why

Price

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says choosing between the Kia EV3 and the Subaru Solterra comes down to price up front versus miles per charge, and that if starting price matters most, the Kia EV3 has the edge, with a $31,385 MSRP against $39,945 for the Solterra, a difference of $8,560. CarSorted (opens in a new tab) says everything in the EV3 range except the GT-Line sits below the cheapest Solterra, and the EV3 Air Standard Range undercuts it by $14,390.

Weight and all-wheel drive

CarSorted says to buy the Kia EV3 if all-wheel drive is not on your list, and otherwise not to buy the trim that matches the Solterra on price, and notes the EV3 Long Range's 1,930 kg tare is only 70 kg under the Solterra's 2,000 kg, despite being a segment smaller.

Questions buyers ask

Which is cheaper, the Kia EV3 or the Subaru Solterra?

TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says the Kia EV3, at $31,385 against $39,945 for the Solterra, an $8,560 difference.

Does the Kia EV3 come with all-wheel drive?

CarSorted (opens in a new tab) advises buying the EV3 only if all-wheel drive is not required, implying the Solterra's standard AWD is an advantage there.

Side-by-side matrix

The published fields that can change the decision.

Kia EV3: 4 records · Subaru Solterra: 2 records.

Decision field	Kia EV3	Subaru Solterra
Exact EPA records	4	2
Model / option labels	4	2
Drive layouts	All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive	All-Wheel Drive
Engines / propulsion	Electric motor / not listed	Electric motor / not listed
Transmissions	Automatic (A1)	Automatic (A1)
Fuel types	Electricity	Electricity
EPA classes	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD	Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Combined efficiency	103–117 MPG/MPGe	117–120 MPG/MPGe
Electric range	221–321 miles	278–288 miles
Annual fuel / energy estimate	$650–750 per year	$650 per year

Background on each vehicle

What public sources say about the Kia EV3 and the Subaru Solterra.

2027 Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is a battery electric (C-segment) compact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Kia since 2024. It is the fourth model in the manufacturer's "EV" line-up and Kia’s second dedicated electric vehicle to feature the 400-volt architecture after the EV5.

Safety: The EV3 has Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) safety package combined with Electric Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (eDTVC) feature, Digital Key 2.0 which allows consumers to use the smartphone instead of a physical keyfob, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and the first Kia model to debut their i-Pedal 3.0 regenerative braking feature.
Awards: 2025 Korea Car of the Year World Car of the Year — 2025 World Car Awards

Source: Kia EV3 (Wikipedia)

2027 Subaru Solterra

The Toyota bZ4X (marketed as simply the Toyota bZ in North America and Ireland since 2025) is a battery electric compact crossover SUV manufactured by Toyota. A Subaru version is marketed as the Subaru Solterra. Lexus also offers a sibling model of the bZ4X, the Lexus RZ.

Safety: On 23 June 2022, Toyota and Subaru recalled 2,700 bZ4Xs and 2,600 Solterras due to the possibility that wheels could come loose. They also halted production and sales of any new models. On 6 October 2022, Toyota reported it has found a fix to the loose wheel recall and has resumed production of the bZ4X and Solterra.

Source: Toyota bZ4X (Wikipedia)

NHTSA rated the 2025 Subaru Solterra overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.

Recent recalls (3 campaigns across the latest model years)

June 2026, Electrical System:Propulsion System. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Toyota BZ, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra battery electric vehicles. The electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the high voltage battery may experience a fault, resulting in a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
October 2025, Back Over Prevention:Display Function. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview… Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
September 2025, Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2025 bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra vehicles. During certain HVAC system faults, such as electrical compressor failure, the defroster and defogger system may become inoperative. Consequence: An inoperative defroster and defogger system can decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Subaru Solterra, most often about visibility/wiper (1), power train (1), electrical system (1).

Open both dossiers

Resolve the exact engine, drive and EPA ID.

01 · 2027Kia EV34 configurations →02 · 2027Subaru Solterra2 configurations →

Comparison answer desk

13 answers for this exact pairing.

Q01Which is more efficient: the 2027 Kia EV3 or the 2027 Subaru Solterra?

Efficiency

The 2027 Subaru Solterra lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (118.5 vs. the 2027 Kia EV3's 110 MPG/MPGe).