2021 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance due to its carryover styling from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru's decision to maintain the boxy, upright shape was likely a nod to its popularity among SUV shoppers. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which significantly enhanced its visual appeal, especially in complementary colors like Dark Blue Pearl. The interior followed a no-nonsense design with durable materials, and the Sport trim added orange accents and cross-stitching. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims featured leather upholstery and additional amenities like heated front seats.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches and introducing revised front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and sporty new character lines. The new alloy wheel designs and lower body cladding added to its sophisticated look. Inside, the instrument panel and center console were separated to create a more spacious feel, complemented by new ambient lighting and a rear USB port. The addition of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, including body-color cladding, rocker panels, and exclusive interior features like black seats with red stitching and alloy sport pedals. The Kona N further elevated the sportiness with wide fenders, 19-inch alloy wheels, and N sport bucket seats.

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 1,500-pound towing capacity and featured Trailer Stability Assist. While the power was adequate for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for quick highway merges or overtaking. The suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll and bounce on uneven surfaces. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available for different driving conditions. The Forester also offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance and hill-descent control on higher trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of powertrains. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The new Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N also featured performance enhancements like launch control, a variable exhaust system, and an electronic limited-slip differential. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line, delivered spirited performance with its turbo engine and AWD, offering a composed and sporty driving experience.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also contributed to excellent outward visibility. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. The center console and cupholders were well-sized, but the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging was not available. The Forester's interior featured large knobs for audio and climate control, but the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, provided comfortable front seats with ample headroom and legroom, even with the optional sunroof. The rear seats, however, were less accommodating due to small door openings and limited space. Rear-seat legroom was reportedly increased for 2022, but it remained tight. Cargo space was also limited, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet with them folded. The Kona's interior featured a well-designed layout, but rear-seat comfort and cargo capacity were compromised by its compact dimensions.

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. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, but the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays in the dashboard and instrument cluster provided secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more tech features, starting with an 8-inch display on the base SE trim, which included a six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth. The SEL trim added SiriusXM, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and an optional Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona also offered a digital instrument cluster, wireless device charging, and Hyundai Blue Link services. The infotainment system was intuitive and easy to use, with seamless smartphone connectivity.

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. Standard safety features included Subaru's EyeSight suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system to prevent distraction.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a solid array of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Kona received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in all IIHS crash tests. However, it did not achieve Top Safety Pick status due to the "Marginal" rating for child-seat anchors.