2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Hyundai Kona was designed with an electric vehicle focus, evident in its sleek, modern appearance. Its grille resembled the Ioniq 5, featuring a single-piece design typical of EVs. The front end was dominated by a skinny LED headlight, part of the "seamless horizon" styling seen in other Hyundai models. Despite being nearly 6 inches longer than its predecessor, the Kona maintained a familiar silhouette. The doors featured a new "parametric surface," and the black body cladding on various trims was more pronounced. Standard LED lights and varying wheel sizes across trims added to its updated look. Inside, the cabin was revamped with a driver-oriented center stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., embracing crossover trends with chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design was rugged, aimed at off-road adventures, and complemented by a Crimson Red Pearl paint and black leather interior. Subaru focused on buyers needing off-road capabilities, a strategy that paid off with its popular Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback models. The 2025 Outback saw no major changes, with trims offering various upholstery options and features like a power moonroof and advanced tech in higher trims. The Touring XT trim boasted Nappa leather and ventilated seats, while the exterior design balanced ruggedness with a well-executed interior.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for SE and SEL trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The N-Line and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, now paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were available on higher trims. During a test drive, the turbo engine's pickup was slightly slow, but the steering and handling were appreciated. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,500, affecting fuel economy slightly.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a Boxer engine in two forms: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used a CVT and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, though not sporty. The Outback's ground clearance and X-Mode enhanced off-road capabilities, with the Wilderness model offering even more. The ride was smooth and comfortable, with light steering and powerful brakes. Some drawbacks included the stop/start technology and CVT's slow response during transitions.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona's increased length improved rear-seat legroom to 38.2 inches and cargo capacity to 25.5 cubic feet with seats up, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet with seats down. The cabin featured a handy shelf and a guardrail for the wireless charging pad. Seating options varied by trim, with ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard on the Limited trim. Heated front seats were available from the N-Line trim.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and a lower roof height for loading. It provided 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with seats up and 75.6 cubic feet with seats down. The passenger volume was 109 cubic feet, larger than some crossovers. Buyers were advised to test different trims due to varying driving experiences. The towing capacity increased with the turbocharged engine.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen standard across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto promised via an OTA update. N-Line and Limited trims had wired connections for now, along with wireless charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Dual 12.3-inch screens were optional, and Hyundai’s Bluelink services were standard.

The 2025 Subaru Outback had an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons but a slow Starlink system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity except for the base model. The Harman Kardon audio system was effective, though navigation alerts limited audio to rear speakers. The dashboard had a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a CD player included in the Touring trim.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona came with standard safety features like Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist and adaptive cruise control were standard on higher trims. The Highway Driving Assist suite impressed with smooth lane-keep assist.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight technology with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and more. While effective, the lane-keeping had more side-to-side movement. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned top safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA.