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2024 Volkswagen Taos ReviewHead-to-Head: Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Kona
There are a lot of choices for subcompact crossovers. Today, we compare two of the best with the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek and 2022 Hyundai Kona!
Two Headliners Go Head-to-Head
Compact SUVs are a hot market. You’ve got the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, and Jeep Renegade as just some of the options. Look at any list of the best recent subcompact crossovers and you’ll find the 2022 Hyundai Kona and the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek on that list. Combining gas mileage, driver assist features, and enough room for a trip with friends has made them both popular choices for anyone looking to buy right now. Throw in a bit of style at affordable prices, and they have even more appeal. Which is better though?
There’s no doubt, we like the Hyundai Kona. It’s on our list of Top 10 Compact Crossovers Under $20,000. It also made our list of The Best Hyundais of 2021, but you can’t count out the Subaru Crosstrek. We chose the Crosstrek as one of the Best Cars for Your College-Aged Kids because of the standard all-wheel drive (AWD), good gas mileage, and a comfortable ride. We’ll compare all aspects of these vehicles to determine which is the better buy.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Kona Specs
Anyone buying a 2022 Hyundai Kona gets a mix of good fuel economy and decent power. The Kona SE and SEL have a 2.0-liter inline-4 that makes 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Both the SE and SEL, when equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD), get 30 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. AWD SE and SEL vehicles drop to 28 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway.
The Kona N Line and Limited models get 195 horsepower from a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine. That one is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That combination puts out 195 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai Kona N Line and Limited models with FWD achieve 29 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. Switching to AWD gets 27 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. There’s also a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that comes with the Hyundai Kona N, which gets 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.
The Hyundai Kona Electric, available in the SEL and Limited trims, puts out 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque with its electric motor. You’ll get about 258 miles with a full charge. That’s the equivalent of about 132 miles in the city and 108 miles on the highway. It’ll take 9.5 hours while using a 240-volt charger to recharge. A DC station gets the Kona EV up to 80% in under an hour. The Kona EV is only available in FWD.
By contrast, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek has five trims, including a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque is positioned in the Crosstrek Base and Crosstrek Premium trims. They are both paired with a CVT. Fuel efficiency measures 28 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway.
Moving higher into the lineup, the Crosstrek Sport and Limited trims come standard with a 2.5-liter engine, making 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. They are also mated to a CVT. 27 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway are similar numbers to the Base and Premium trims. Subaru also offers the plug-in Crosstrek Hybrid. Those vehicles are powered by a 2.0-liter direct-injection engine and two electric motors. The plug-in Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid gets up to 17 miles of pure electric driving. All Subaru Crosstrek models have standard AWD, including the PHEV.
Driving & Performance
The 2022 Hyundai Kona has a personality. It accelerates well. Though the transmission is much-improved from previous model years, there’s some slight hesitation at times when stepping on the gas. Thanks to a tight chassis, the Kona has got some spirited handling. It’s agile, but stable. It’s not much of an off-roading vehicle. When it comes to uneven pavement, the Kona rides stiff. It’s also not a high-riding SUV. In a 2022 Kona, there is 6.7 inches of ground clearance to work with. The Kona performs best when on regular roadways. When the Kona gets to higher speeds, road noise is a small issue. There’s some room for improvement there.
Although getting up to interstate speeds in the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek can seem like a task, the acceleration isn’t really an issue. It’s composed and comfortable, but the Crosstrek is fun to drive in the city or on a freeway. The suspension is firm, but not harsh. The Crosstrek can easily absorb most bumps. Unlike the Hyundai Kona, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, so it has some off-road capability. It’s nowhere near as capable as a Jeep or Land Rover, but the Crosstrek is still the best in the segment when it comes to off-roading.
Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Kona Comfort & Interior
Up to five people can fit fairly comfortably in the 2022 Hyundai Kona. The front seats are spacious, and the driver can adjust with six or eight-way power driver seats. The seats are well-cushioned. Leather-trimmed seats aren’t available on all models though. Soft-touch materials can be found throughout the cabin, but hard plastics are also present. An eight or 10.25-inches touchscreen controls navigation and audio, while an optional head-up display provides even more information when it’s flipped up from the dashboard.
There’s 41.5 inches of leg room up front, while 35.2 inches are reserved for the second row. Up to 19.2 cu-ft of cargo room is available behind the second-row seats. The maximum cargo capacity is 45.8 cu-ft, though, which is a little low for competitors in this class.
Designers made the layout of the Subaru Crosstrek very convenient. It’s somewhat basic, but comfortable with an easy-to-access center display. There are plenty of knobs and buttons to control temperature, audio levels, radio tuning, and heated seats. The interior of the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek attempts to increase the quality with orange stitching on the two-toned seats, vertical vents on either side of the touchscreen, and leather wrapping on the steering wheel and shifter handle in most models. Seats are cloth or leather-trimmed, depending on the trim level.
Five people fit into the Subaru Crosstrek, too, but, like the Hyundai Kona, it can get a little tight for adults in the second row. 43.1 inches of space is dedicated to leg room for the driver and front passenger, and 36.5 inches is given to rear-seat passengers. Based on those measurements alone, the Crosstrek has more interior space than the Kona. There’s a bit more cargo room in the Crosstrek, too. Cargo space equals 20.8 cu-ft behind the second row. When the seats are folded (almost entirely flat) in a 60/40 split, cargo increases to 55.3 cu-ft. The plug-in Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid model has just a little less space in the cargo hold in order to accommodate the battery pack.
Trims & Features
There are a lot of options with the 2022 Hyundai Kona. A Kona SE with standard AWD starts at $21,300. It comes with an eight-inch color touchscreen, Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rear view monitoring with parking assistance, LED daytime running lights, and lane keeping assist. A SEL costs $23,100 and adds rear cross-traffic collision, blind-spot collision avoidance, optional wireless device charging, and the optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Getting a 2022 Hyundai Kona N Line bumps the MSRP up to $25,850. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are standard. As is the wireless device charging. HD and SiriusXM satellite radio are both standard in the N Line. Heated front seats are also standard starting with the N Line. Voice recognition, stop-and-go smart cruise control, LED headlights, voice recognition, and a 10.25 inches touchscreen are all optional in the N Line.
The base Subaru Crosstrek sells for $22,645, and includes a 6.5 inches touchscreen, one USB port, a four-speaker audio system, 17 inches alloy wheels, and integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The front seats are manually adjustable. For $23,795, a Subaru Crosstrek Premium adds heated front seats, heated side mirrors, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, another USB port, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an optional leather-wrapped shifter. The Crosstrek Sport has keyless entry and ignition, yellow interior stitching, an eight-inch touchscreen, and special fender flares. It has a MSRP of $26,995.
Moving up the ladder to a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Limited will cost $28,495, but it adds 18-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights that swivel as you turn the steering wheel, LED fog lights, leather upholstery, rear automatic braking with brake sensors, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Although they are available, the Crosstrek PHEV models have limited availability. The cost for one of those is $35,845. Instead of yellow or orange stitching, the plug-in Crosstrek Hybrid has blue stitching throughout the cabin. Most of the other features are those you’ll find in a Limited, but there are a few minor differences. It doesn’t have raised roof rails like all other Crosstrek models do. A heated steering wheel is optional with a PHEV, the only model with that feature.
The Verdict
Combustion engines, plug-in hybrid variations, and all-electric models. They’re all options when comparing the 2022 Hyundai Kona and the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. The Kona Limited is tempting. Certainly, it’s got a lot of appeal with a large touchscreen and its fuel efficiency. I’m going with the Subaru Crosstrek though.
With extra ground clearance, there’s extra possibility for adventure in the Subaru Crosstrek. There’s some extra cargo space and increased power, too. Subaru is known for great visibility and car-like handling. It doesn’t disappoint with the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek. When it comes to the trim, I’m opting for the Crosstrek Limited because it’s got the most features for just under $6,000 extra. I’m willing to give up regular trips to Starbucks for the added features of a Crosstrek. Plus, the Limited has got a more durable, upscale interior.
If you want to explore the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek even further, click over to our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek review. Alternatively, you can read our full 2022 Hyundai Kona review.
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