2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out in a dwindling segment of wagons in the United States, embracing the crossover aesthetic with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-inspired fascias. Its Crimson Red Pearl paint complemented the black leather interior, though earthy tones were deemed more fitting for its adventurous spirit. Subaru's focus on off-road capabilities paid off, as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became top sellers. The 2025 model retained its practical design, with trims offering various upholstery options and features like a power moonroof and advanced driver-assist technology. The Touring XT trim boasted Nappa leather and ventilated seats, enhancing comfort.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive retro-inspired design, reminiscent of the Lancia Delta, with minor updates to its front fascia. The new XRT trim featured unique styling elements like red tow hooks and digital camouflage cladding, along with exclusive colors. The Ioniq 5's interior remained minimalistic and modern, with a revised center console for improved functionality. The XRT trim added rugged touches like all-weather floor mats and debossed logos. Despite its off-road appearance, the Ioniq 5 was more suited for on-road adventures, with its AWD system and various drive modes enhancing its versatility.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a signature Boxer engine available in two configurations: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine producing 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine offered better acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those seeking more power. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with the Wilderness model offering even more ground clearance and additional off-road features. The Outback provided a smooth and comfortable ride, though its stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT introduced a Terrain Mode with options for Snow, Mud, and Sand, optimizing throttle mapping and power distribution for different surfaces. The XRT's AWD system and all-terrain tires handled off-road conditions well, while the Limited trim offered a similar on-road experience. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, extending its range to 318 miles in RWD configuration, with AWD models offering slightly less range. Power output varied by powertrain, with RWD models producing up to 225 hp and AWD models delivering 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. Despite its weight, the Ioniq 5's instant torque provided an enjoyable driving experience.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and exit, a low roof height for loading, and a low center of gravity for agile handling. Its cargo space measured 32.6 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with it folded, providing a flat and square area for storage. The Outback's passenger volume of 109 cubic feet surpassed its crossover competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were advised to test different trims, as the driving experience varied significantly. The Outback's towing capacity ranged from 2,700 to 3,500 pounds, depending on the engine choice.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper and revising the center console for better functionality. Heated front seats were standard, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and front seat ventilation available on higher trims. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded, plus a small frunk. The Ioniq 5's transition to the NACS charging system allowed access to Tesla's Supercharger network, enhancing its charging capabilities.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity available on most trims. The Harman Kardon audio system provided good sound quality, though navigation alerts occasionally disrupted audio playback. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, appealing to those who preferred traditional interfaces. The Outback Touring included a CD player and both USB-A and USB-C ports for device connectivity.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens, with improved processing speeds and GPS accuracy. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard, enhancing smartphone connectivity. The Bose Premium Audio system was available on higher trims, while all models featured navigation, voice recognition, and multiple USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5's head-up display was exclusive to the Limited trim, and a wireless charging pad was included from the SEL trim level. The central USB-C port offered customizable functionality for charging and data transmission.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, offering adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. While effective, the system's lane centering exhibited more side-to-side movement than desired. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which performed well. The DriverFocus system occasionally issued false notifications but was generally reliable. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its high safety standards, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. New safety features included an enhanced driver attention system and parking-distance warnings. The XRT and Limited trims offered advanced monitoring systems, though the base trim's blind-spot collision-avoidance assist was downgraded to a warning system. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 provided adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping functions, with the latter offering lane-changing capability.