Compare two new cars by price, estimated monthly payment, fuel economy, and other specifications. Data comes from the CarPayCheck.com catalog and uses your selected financing terms.
| Q5 | Solterra | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Audi | Subaru |
| Starting price | $52,800 | $38,495 |
| Monthly payment | $614 | $448 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline | Electricity |
| Fuel economy | 24.0 mpg | 28.4 kWh/100 mi |
| CO₂ emissions | 369 g/mi | — |
| Annual maintenance cost | — | — |
Common-issue data is not available yet.
The pre-facelift Subaru Solterra (2023-2025) suffers from severe thermal throttling in its battery management system, causing DC fast charging speed to drop dramatically and often requiring up to an hour to reach 80% charge. Additionally, the system limits drivers to a maximum of three DC fast charging sessions per day to protect the battery, which significantly reduces practicality for long-distance travel. The 2026 model year refresh addressed this with an improved charging curve and a battery pre-conditioning feature, but no permanent retrofit for earlier models is documented.
Audi Q5 and Subaru Solterra suit different driving needs. The main differences below cover price, monthly payment, fuel economy, and running costs.
Q5 starts at $52,800; Solterra starts at $38,495. The difference is $14,305, making Solterra about 27% cheaper before financing.
Estimated monthly payment: Q5 — $614; Solterra — $448. The difference is $166 per month, with Solterra lower.
The models use different powertrains: Q5 — Gasoline; Solterra — Electricity. The better choice depends on your daily route and access to charging.
The final choice is about more than numbers: annual distance, city or highway use, and the space your household needs all matter. Use the CarPayCheck.com calculator to apply your financing terms and evaluate both cars in your situation.
Want to compare other models? Return to the full catalog or calculate financing using your own terms.
