Compare the2027 Audi Q6 e-tron SportbackVS 2026 Subaru Solterra

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Solterra doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q6 e-tron Sportback and Solterra have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q6 e-tron Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Solterra’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q6 e-tron Sportback has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Solterra doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the Q6 e-tron Sportback and the Solterra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback weighs 792 to 1039 pounds more than the Subaru Solterra. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Q6 e-tron Sportback is safer than the Solterra:

	Q6 e-tron Sportback	Solterra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	225/652 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	225/652 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	360/337 pounds	517/1371 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 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, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Solterra is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Warranty

The Q6 e-tron Sportback comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Solterra’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q6 e-tron Sportback for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 1 visits). Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

Engine

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s standard electric motors produces 223 more horsepower (456 vs. 233) than the Solterra’s standard electric motors. The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s electric motors produces 118 more horsepower (456 vs. 338) than the Solterra XT’s standard electric motors. The SQ6 e-tron’s standard electric motors produces 171 more horsepower (509 vs. 338) than the Solterra XT’s standard electric motors.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q6 e-tron Sportback can travel longer on a full charge than the Solterra on a full charge:

			Miles
Q6 e-tron Sportback
	AWD	Electric Motors	325 miles
		SQ6 e-tron Electric Motors	285 miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles

Transmission

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Solterra doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Solterra:

	Q6	SQ6	Solterra
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	14.8 inches	12.9 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.8 inches	12.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (F:255/50R20 & R:285/45R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s standard 255/55R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6’s optional 255/45R21 front and 285/40R21 rear tires have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q6 e-tron Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Solterra Premium. The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

Suspension and Handling

The Q6 e-tron Sportback offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Solterra’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback Prestige/SQ6 has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Solterra doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q6 e-tron Sportback’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Solterra (113.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q6 e-tron Sportback is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Solterra.

Passenger Space

The Q6 e-tron Sportback has .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Solterra.

Cargo Capacity

The Q6 e-tron Sportback has a much larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (26.1 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q6 e-tron Sportback. The Solterra doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The Q6 e-tron Sportback uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Solterra uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Q6 e-tron Sportback (except Premium) offers an available heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Solterra doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s power window, power lock and power mirror switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Solterra’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q6 e-tron Sportback to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Solterra doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Q6 e-tron Sportback has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Solterra’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Q6 e-tron Sportback offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Solterra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q6 e-tron Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Solterra doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Solterra has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback SQ6 has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Solterra.

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the Solterra.

The Q6 e-tron Sportback Prestige’s Park Assist Pro can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Park Assist Pro will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

The Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback outsold the Subaru Solterra by 63% during 2025.

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