Subaru Crosstrek vs. Hyundai Kona: Which is Better?
The 2022 Hyundai Kona outperforms the Subaru Crosstrek in terms of power, performance, value, and technology. Click here for details!
Written by Jasmine Kanter
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With comfortable seating, helpful technology, and low ownership costs, the 2022 Hyundai Kona has it all! Although it offers an economical hybrid powertrain and a great safety rating, the Subaru Crosstrek is less appealing.
You'll need to do a lot of research to find the best vehicle in the highly competitive small SUV class. Not only are there plenty of options, but there are also plenty of questions to consider. Are you looking for a practical hauler? A rugged off-roader? A road-trip entertainer?
Today,
Jerry
compares two of the most popular small SUVs: the 2022 Hyundai Kona vs the Subaru Crosstrek! We’ll cover pricing, performance, storage, and how to find the most affordable car insurance
on our #1-rated app!Subaru Crosstrek vs. Hyundai Kona
Subaru's smallest vehicle is the Crosstrek. The Kona has the advantage of borrowing technology from its younger sibling, the
Hyundai Venue
. Both are designed for budget-conscious consumers who want to haul more than a sedan can handle.Pricing
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Base starts at $24,320, while the Hyundai Kona SE retails for $22,595. If you want the cheapest option, stick with the Kona.
The price difference between the Crosstrek and Kona narrows as you climb to higher trims, but the two models remain comparable overall. Check out the full matchup:
Model | Starting MSRP | Model | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
Crosstrek Base | $24,320 | Kona SE | $22,595 |
Crosstrek Premium | $24,720 | Kona SEL | $24,395 |
Crosstrek Sport | $27,920 | Kona N Line | $27,145 |
Crosstrek Limited | $29,420 | Kona Limited | $29,895 |
Crosstrek Hybrid | $36,770 | Kona N | $35,495 |
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There's no comparison when it comes to extras: the Crosstrek offers 14 packages and options to the Kona's three. For $481 to $3,831 extra on the Crosstrek, you can get auto-dimming mirrors, a moonroof, or a popular equipment package—more expensive options include advanced infotainment systems and driver-assistance technology. The Kona, meanwhile, only offers the Cargo, Convenience, or Tech packages for up to $2,500.
Ownership costs and warranty
Kona ownership and
Hyundai insurance costs
add up to $39,000 over five years while the Crosstrek costs about $43,500. If you want long-term savings, pick the Kona.It’s wise to save most of your budget for the car and its cost of ownership. Registration fees,
Subaru insurance costs
, repairs, and everything else you need to run your car are all included in the cost of ownership. An affordable car isn’t just cheap to buy, but cheap to own, too!Let’s say Jerry buys a 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Base and drives it 75,000 miles in five years around
Palo Alto
—by 2027, we’ll have spent $43,500 on costs of ownership. In the same scenario with a Crosstrek Hybrid, we’d save about $1,000 due to its lower fuel requirements. With a 2022 Hyundai Kona SE, we’d save $4,500.The reason that Kona owners save so much money is Hyundai’s three-year/36,000-mile complimentary maintenance program. Additionally, they enjoy a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. By contrast, Subaru owners are limited to three years/36,000 miles, five years/60,000 miles, and no free service.
Engine and performance
The 2022 Hyundai Kona has more power, pep, and towing capacity than the Subaru Crosstrek’s sleepy four-cylinder.
All-wheel drive is standard on the Crosstrek, which comes with a choice of three powertrains:
If you’re thinking that’s not enough power to go off-road, you’re right. We wouldn’t take the Crosstrek over anything tougher than gravel, even with a ground clearance of 8.7 inches. We’d stay in the city, especially if we drove a Hybrid, which requires two hours at a 240V (Level 2) charging station to refill its 17-mile all-electric driving range.
As for the Kona, it ships with front-wheel-drive, with all-wheel-drive available for every trim except the Kona N. Powertrain options include:
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The Kona N can tow a lot, but that doesn't mean you should. Due to a low ground clearance of 6.7 inches, it has a high chance of scratching itself on rough terrain. Its aerodynamic body kit, rear spoiler, and variable sport exhaust also don’t lend themselves to off-roading.
No, the Crosstrek and Kona perform best on paved roads. It takes 8.3 seconds for the Crosstrek Hybrid to reach 60 mph. The Kona shaves a second off that time (and the Kona N does it in 4.8 seconds). So, while neither one can take you off-roading if you
travel to White Sands National Park
, the latter will get you there faster.Fuel economy
Fuel economy tests put the Kona N at the bottom and the Crosstrek Hybrid at the very top.
From least to most efficient, here’s how every model ranks:
- Kona N (2.0L turbo four-cylinder): 23/20/27 mpg (combined/city/highway)
- Crosstrek Sport, Limited (2.5L four-cylinder): 29/27/34 mpg
- Crosstrek Base, Premium (2.0L four-cylinder with CVT): 30/28/33 mpg
- Kona SE, SEL, Limited, N Line (2.0L four-cylinder, 1.6L turbo four-cylinder): 32/29/35 mpg
- Crosstrek Hybrid (2.0L four-cylinder with electric motor): 35 combined mpg, 90 combined MPGe
Unsurprisingly, the Crosstrek Hybrid is the winner! Here are two things to avoid if you can't afford the PHEV: a manual transmission and AWD. The former will cost you five combined mpg on the Crosstrek Base and Premium trims, while the latter shaves one or two mpg off the Kona’s scores.
Tech
When it comes to technology, the Hyundai Kona offers better value than the Subaru Crosstrek, even at top trim levels.
What exactly do you get for the price of the Crosstrek? Take a look at what the Base trim has to offer:
- 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, auxiliary an auxiliary audio jack, and a USB port
- Four-speaker sound system
- EyeSight driver aid system, including forward-collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assistance (CVT models only)
The Crosstrek adds features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen, two more audio speakers, blind-spot monitoring, and keyless entry and ignition to higher trims. You also get access to leather upholstery and LED headlights. Overall, however, the top-of-the-line Hybrid doesn’t offer enough to justify its $5,000 price premium.
You wouldn't know it by looking at the features list, but the Kona is cheaper. The SE includes:
- 8.0-inch entertainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, an auxiliary audio jack, and a USB charging port
- 4.2-inch information display
- Six-speaker audio system
- Forward-collision mitigation, lane-departure warnings, and lane-keeping assistance
Unfortunately, you’ll have to go all the way to the Kona Limited to get adaptive cruise control. On the way, you’ll pick up blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry, a sunroof, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. The Kona Limited and N Line (which trades adaptive cruise control and a sunroof for selectable drive modes) offer a satisfying return on investment.
This round goes to the Kona for providing desirable tech in every trim level. For example, the Kona SEL adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts, while the comparable Crosstrek Premium adds two speakers, satellite radio, and an extra USB port. In terms of tech, Hyundai has its priorities straight.
MORE:
Hyundai tune-up cost
Interior and cargo
The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek and Hyundai Kona share a practical, no-frills cabin design. They differ in that the Crosstrek offers more storage and the Kona offers more comfort.
The two competitors share a two-row, five-seat layout. In the front, you’ll find a six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manual passenger seat.
In the back, a 60/40 split-bench second row folds down for even more cargo space. Crosstreks have 20.8 cubic feet behind their second row, while Konas have 19.2 cubic feet.
Where they differ is inside their cabins. The Crosstrek's layout is clear and practical but lacks personality. Its pragmatism becomes anticlimactic at higher trims: the Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t have any surprises beyond leather upholstery, power seating, and a heated front row. However, it has 10 cubic feet more storage than its competitor.
The Kona also features an abundance of underwhelming black plastic but enlivens the N Line with contrast stitching and LCD instrument panels. You’ll enjoy all the Crosstrek’s offerings plus driver’s seat lumbar support and extra-bolstered sport seats with suede inserts. You might not be able to carry as much, but you’ll ride in style.
Dimensions | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek | 2022 Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 104.9 inches | 102.4 inches |
Front-row headroom | 39.8 inches | 39.6 inches |
Front-row legroom | 43.1 inches | 41.5 inches |
Second-row headroom | 38.0 inches | 37.8 inches |
Second-row legroom | 36.5 inches | 35.2 inches |
Max. cargo capacity | 55.3 cubic feet | 45.8 cubic feet |
Safety
Subaru wins this round with a Top Safety Pick title from the IIHS and a five-star crash test rating from the NHTSA.
Don't get us wrong, the Crosstrek and Kona are very safe vehicles. They both received five-star crash ratings from the NHTSA, the Crosstrek for its performance in
side crash tests
, and the Kona for its frontal and side crash tests
. In the end, it’s the IIHS that breaks the tie.
The Crosstrek's LATCH car seat anchors
proved much easier to use than the Kona's, making it a better fit for young families.The bottom line
The scores are in! Out of seven categories, the Kona won in four (pricing, warranty, performance, and tech), the Crosstrek in two (fuel economy and safety), and one tie (interior and storage).
Due to its value-packed pricing, generous features, and decent powertrain, the 2022 Hyundai Kona is the winner of today's small SUV battle!
How to save on SUV insurance costs
While Americans love SUVs for their ample cargo space and seating,
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