2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite a redesign in 2019, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely carrying over from its previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim level appeared plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors like Dark Blue Pearl.

Underneath, the Forester shared the Subaru Global Platform with other models like the Impreza and Outback, maintaining its rugged SUV marketing despite shared underpinnings with sedans and hatchbacks. The interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated features. The Forester's interior was functional, with a mix of cloth and leather options depending on the trim level.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the original Ioniq, which debuted in 2016. The Ioniq 5 was the first vehicle in Hyundai's new Ioniq sub-brand, dedicated solely to EVs. The exterior design was a blend of minimalistic character lines and intricate Parametric Pixel design elements, giving it a concept car-like appearance. The extensive use of pixelated LEDs in the headlights, taillights, and other lighting elements was both fascinating and overwhelming.

The Ioniq 5's interior, in contrast, was a serene "Living Space" with a focus on comfort and sustainability. Available in black, gray, and dark green hues, the cabin featured stain-resistant cloth or leatherette upholstery, recycled materials, and bio-materials. The interior design was practical, with a moveable center console and a modern take on the retro front bench seat, allowing for easy entry and exit. The seats were comfortable and supportive, making the Ioniq 5's cabin a pleasant place to be.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability. The Forester had a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and featured Trailer Stability Assist. While the power felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for quick highway merges or overtaking. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a lot of body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement.

All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard on the Forester, a hallmark of Subaru's identity. The drivetrain included X-Mode for different surfaces, with Sport models getting Dual X-Mode. Higher trims featured hill-descent control and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making the Forester capable of handling mud and dirt better than many compact crossovers. However, for serious off-road capability, alternatives like the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk were recommended.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered three trims (SE, SEL, and Limited) and three powertrains. The base SE Standard Range had a single 128-kW rear motor producing 168 horsepower and a 220-mile range. The extended-range variants featured a 168-kW rear motor with 225 horsepower and a 303-mile range. The AWD models had a dual-motor system with a total output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, but the range dropped to 256 miles.

The Ioniq 5's performance was typical for a midsize crossover, with RWD providing better dynamics. The AWD Limited trim handled well on various terrains, with four drive modes including Sport, which added excitement but reduced range. The paddle shifters adjusted regenerative braking levels, enhancing the driving experience. The Ioniq 5 was quiet, thanks to noise-reducing features like acoustic tires and sound-deadening materials.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing competitors like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. The Forester featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging was not available. The power-adjustable driver's seat was only available on higher trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), offered a spacious interior with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade. The Ioniq 5 had a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, exceeding competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The rear cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet, less than its rivals, but the passenger volume was a generous 106.5 cubic feet. The interior featured soft touch points, a moveable center console, and a modern front bench seat. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, making the Ioniq 5's cabin a pleasant place to be.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and front-row USB ports. Higher trims added an 8-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon audio, navigation, and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, but the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also had a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured advanced technology, including a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% battery capacity in 18 minutes, and could charge other devices or EVs. The Ioniq 5 offered a redesigned Blue Link app, digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, virtual assistant compatibility, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant and intuitive, with an anti-glare coating for easy readability.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, ensuring drivers remained attentive.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 included Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) with features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also had Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. A head-up display with augmented reality overlays was available, though it could be distracting. The Ioniq 5 was expected to earn high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.