2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2023 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Subaru Outback received a facelift, featuring a redesigned front end with new LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray cladding. This gave the Outback a more aggressive look, especially with the addition of a simulated skid plate and fog lights. The Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the bold design changes, making it more appealing to those who preferred a sportier appearance. The Outback offered six trim levels, with the Onyx Edition becoming more accessible due to its availability with the base powertrain.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle aesthetic, showcasing a grille similar to the Ioniq 5 and a single-piece LED headlight. The Kona's larger size was evident, yet it maintained a recognizable silhouette. The new design included creased doors and substantial black body cladding, with the N-Line trim featuring body-colored wheel arches. Standard LED lighting and a seamless horizon taillight added to its modern look, while the interior boasted a driver-oriented center stack and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured a standard 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. While it offered a characteristic Subaru feel, the power was lacking, especially for passing and climbing. The turbocharged XT models provided a more satisfying 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, though at a higher cost. The Outback's AWD system and X-Mode traction system enhanced its off-road capabilities, but the standard engine's fuel economy was disappointing at 25.6 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a 2.0-liter engine for SE and SEL trims and a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine for N-Line and Limited trims. The base engine delivered 147 horsepower, while the turbo offered 190 horsepower. The Kona's eight-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous seven-speed DCT, and AWD was available for an additional fee. The Kona's fuel economy was slightly better, with AWD models achieving 26 mpg combined.

The 2023 Subaru Outback emphasized utility with features like a robust roof rack and practical interior storage. The Touring trim offered luxurious touches such as Nappa leather seats and heated front and rear seats. The Outback provided ample cargo space, with 32.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 75.6 cubic feet with them folded. However, wind noise and limited practical storage were noted drawbacks.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from increased rear-seat legroom and cargo capacity, with 25.5 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded. The interior featured a handy dashboard shelf and a power hands-free liftgate on the Limited trim. The Kona's seating options included cloth for lower trims and leather/suede for higher trims, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard on the Limited.

The 2023 Subaru Outback offered a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all but the Base trim. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the voice recognition system was lacking. Additional tech features included a digital rearview mirror and a front-view camera, but a surround-view camera was unavailable.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto promised via an OTA update. The Kona featured a Bose audio system, multiple USB-C ports, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services. Dual 12.3-inch screens were available on higher trims, enhancing the tech experience.

The 2023 Subaru Outback was praised for its safety, earning top marks from the IIHS. It included EyeSight technology with adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional features like a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian detection.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona included standard safety features like Safe Exit Warning and blind-spot collision avoidance. The Limited trim added advanced features such as a Surround View Monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist provided smooth lane-keeping, enhancing the driving experience.