2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson had a more conventional styling compared to its futuristic successor. Its upright layout provided a commanding view of the road, and the interior featured a modern, attractive dash design. Tech features were seamlessly integrated, making every button and dial easy to find. The Tucson came in six trim levels: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and more advanced tech and comfort options.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for 2020, retained a familiar and comfortable feel. Its interior was fresher than the smaller Crosstrek, especially in trims above the base, which featured a bright and sharp 11.6-inch portrait display. Quality was evident in the materials used, and higher trims like Limited and Touring offered two-tone leather upholstery and contrast stitching. The Onyx Edition XT featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery with lime green stitching. The exterior had gray cladding on wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, with a few chrome flourishes. The Outback's styling remained smooth and plain, with adaptive LED headlights becoming standard in 2021.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, with a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine struggled to move the Outback's weight, especially when loaded. The XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing a significant performance boost. The turbo engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the base engine. The Outback's fuel economy was 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway for the turbo XT, compared to 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for the base engine. The Outback excelled in ride comfort and off-road capability, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru's legendary AWD system.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. The Tucson's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with solid headroom and legroom. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults. The Tucson also featured plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76 cubic feet with them folded. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive wheel arches. The Outback provided ample headroom and legroom in all seating positions, with superb outward visibility. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's best feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim featured an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older technology. The central screen in the instrument panel was particularly outdated. However, the Outback's adaptive cruise control had four settings, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The optional navigation system was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system relied on forward-looking cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions compared to systems that also use radar.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor were available on specific trims. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and for the rollover test.