2024 Hyundai Kona vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark gray cladding contrasted beautifully with the Autumn Green Metallic color of the Touring XT model, which was described as a "green-tinged dark khaki." The Outback's exterior varied across trims, with tasteful chrome accents on the Touring trim and different wheel designs, including black 17-inch alloy wheels standard and matte black for the Wilderness trim. Inside, the top-trim Touring XT impressed with its luxurious Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, while other trims offered a mix of leather and synthetic materials.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Kona showcased a modern design, emphasizing its electric vehicle roots. The front grille resembled the Ioniq 5, and the "seamless horizon" styling with a single LED headlight gave it a futuristic look. Despite its increased size, the Kona retained its recognizable silhouette, with new creased "parametric surface" doors and substantial black body cladding on most trims. The interior featured a driver-oriented center stack, a relocated gear shift, and a curved display housing both driver-information and infotainment screens. The Kona's cabin updates included improved storage solutions and refined climate controls.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a choice between two engines. The base model featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a Lineartronic CVT were standard across the lineup. The turbocharged engine provided a better driving experience, managing the vehicle's weight effectively, while the CVT mimicked the feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback's suspension and ground clearance, especially in the Wilderness trim, made it a capable off-road choice.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona retained its predecessor's engine lineup, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. The N-Line and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The previous seven-speed DCT was replaced with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters were available on the N-Line and Limited trims. The Kona's front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional fee. The turbo engine provided decent performance, though pickup was slightly slow. The Kona's intuitive steering and nimble handling were appreciated during city driving.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered generous interior space despite its sleek design. It provided more headroom up front compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Outback excelled in front-row legroom and rear-seat legroom compared to the RAV4. Cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with all seats in place and 75.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Outback's feature availability included dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat starting from the Premium trim. The Touring trim offered ventilated front seats, while the Onyx Edition included a heated steering wheel. The hands-free power liftgate was optional on the Premium trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona benefited from its increased length, providing 38.2 inches of rear-seat legroom, three inches more than the previous model. Headroom increased to 38.3 inches with the sunroof. Cargo capacity expanded to 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded down. The Kona Limited featured a power hands-free liftgate. Interior storage was enhanced with a shelf on the passenger's side of the dash and a guardrail on the wireless charging pad. The Kona offered cloth seats on lower trims, with leather/suede for N-Line and H-Tex leatherette for Limited. Ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Subaru Outback featured a mix of old-school and modern technology. The Touring trim was the only one with a CD player, while USB-C and USB-A ports were available on all but the base trim. The top-trim model boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the base trim retaining dual 7-inch screens. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Premium trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for essential functions. Wi-Fi capability was available on all but the base trim, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona introduced several technological upgrades. A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen was standard across the lineup, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on lower trims initially, with an OTA update promised for higher trims. The Kona featured wireless device charging, a new Wi-Fi hotspot, and a Bose stereo system. Dual 12.3-inch screens created a panoramic view in higher trims. OTA update capability was standard, and Hyundai's Bluelink connected services were included for the vehicle's lifetime.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centering, and automatic emergency braking. Reverse automatic braking became standard on the Onyx trim, and the Touring trim added a wide-angle camera, digital rearview mirror, and driver-attention monitor.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard features included Safe Exit Warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance. High-beam assist was standard, while adaptive cruise control was available on N-Line and Limited trims. The Limited trim featured Surround View Monitor and blind-spot view monitor. Hyundai's Highway Driving Assist suite impressed with its smooth lane-keep assist.