Compare the2024 Subaru SolterraVS 2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Solterra are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Subaru Solterra is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Solterra has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Solterra’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Solterra and the Q8 e-tron Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Subaru Solterra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Q8 e-tron Sportback is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q8 e-tron Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q8 e-tron Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Solterra’s reliability 17 points higher than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 77 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 13 places higher in reliability than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Q8 e-tron Sportback:

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Q8 e-tron Sportback on a full charge:

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s (36.7 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Subaru Solterra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1300 to 1450 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The Solterra is 8.9 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback, making the Solterra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Solterra has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Solterra’s rear seats recline. The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Subaru 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Subaru Solterra outsold the Audi e-tron by 321 units during 2023.