2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out in a dwindling field of wagons in the United States, adopting crossover trends with its rugged design elements like chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its Crimson Red Pearl paint paired beautifully with the black leather interior, though it arguably looked best in earthy tones. Subaru focused on appealing to adventurous drivers, a strategy that paid off as the Outback, along with the Crosstrek and Forester, became top sellers. The 2025 model saw no major changes, but the Limited trim gained features like a power moonroof and a 360-degree heated steering wheel. The Touring XT trim offered Nappa leather and ventilated front seats, while the interior maintained a balance of practicality and style with easy-to-read gauges and a small digital display.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona, visually unchanged from 2024, maintained a fresh and distinctive appearance with its flush grille and slim LED light bars. The Kona grew six inches longer, enhancing interior space and road presence, especially in the sportier N Line S and N Line trims. These trims featured body-colored bumpers and cladding, while other trims like SE, SEL, and Limited added visual flair with larger alloy wheels and privacy glass. The interior remained solid and airy, with a drive selector on the column and ample tech features. The 2025 model introduced standard 64-color ambient lighting on higher trims, and the Limited trim offered a sunroof and powered liftgate.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine in two forms: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft 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 provided better acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those who could afford the upgrade. The Outback excelled off-road with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and Subaru’s X-Mode, while the Wilderness model offered 9.5 inches of clearance and additional off-road features. On-road, the Outback was smooth and comfortable, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two gas-powered engine options. The SE, SEL, and SEL Convenience trims featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with an IVT. The N Line S, N Line, and Limited trims had a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD was available across the lineup, enhancing traction and ride quality with a multi-link rear suspension. The turbo engine provided adequate performance, though it felt flat at low revs. The Kona prioritized competence over excitement, offering a balanced ride and handling.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape provided practicality with easy entry and exit, a low roof for loading, and a low center of gravity for agile handling. It offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with it folded, though slightly smaller than some crossovers. The Outback's 109 cubic feet of passenger volume surpassed its competitors, offering more front headroom and legroom. Different trims offered varied driving experiences, and the turbocharged engine increased towing capacity from 2,700 to 3,500 pounds.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona surprised with its cargo capacity, offering 25.5 cubic feet with rear seats up and 63.7 cubic feet with them folded. Rear legroom was 38.2 inches, with 38.3 inches of headroom, providing comfort for most passengers. The front seats offered a generous range of movement, and the interior featured ample storage. Upholstery varied by trim, with heated and ventilated seats available on higher trims. The climate control system was user-friendly, with physical controls for easy operation.

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 a Harman Kardon audio system available. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, appealing to those who preferred traditional interfaces. The Touring trim included a CD player and both USB-A and USB-C ports.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Higher trims offered wireless charging and a digital key. The SEL Convenience trim and above had a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while lower trims had a 4.2-inch display. The N Line and Limited trims offered an eight-speaker Bose audio system, with SiriusXM and HD Radio standard across all trims. Hyundai’s Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air updates.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight driver-assist technology with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false alerts. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with standard safety features like Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision Warning. Higher trims added Highway Driving Assist and enhanced collision avoidance. The Limited trim offered parking assistance features. All Konas included six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.