2024 Hyundai Tucson vs 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson, a continuation of the fourth generation introduced in 2022, maintained its striking design with sharp angles and unique features like headlights that seamlessly blend into the grille. This cohesive design gave the Tucson a contemporary and athletic appearance, even in a color like white, which typically doesn't photograph well. Hyundai's approach to styling ensured each model had its own distinct look, unlike some luxury brands that simply scale designs. The Tucson's interior mirrored its exterior's modernity, with a refined cabin filled with technology that felt approachable. However, the absence of a volume dial in favor of touch-capacitive buttons was a minor inconvenience. The Tucson offered various trims, each with unique features, from the base SE with 17-inch alloy wheels to the Limited trim, which boasted a dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, part of the third generation, continued Subaru's tradition of evolutionary improvements. The 2026 model carried forward changes from 2024, including new sheet metal and chassis construction. The most noticeable update was the front fascia, featuring a frameless grille with a curved wing bar connecting to the headlights, creating a Cheshire cat-like smile. The Crosstrek Hybrid was available in two trims: Sport and Limited. Inside, the cabin balanced rugged utility with refined comfort, maintaining Subaru's straightforward design philosophy. Material quality was consistent, with soft-touch surfaces and durable plastics. The gray StarTex seats with orange contrast stitching added a subtle design flourish. The Limited Hybrid trim included a heated steering wheel and an optional power moonroof, enhancing the cabin's airy atmosphere.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this powertrain was adequate for city driving, it struggled to deliver quick acceleration on highways, requiring significant throttle input. For those seeking more power, the Tucson Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid offered 226 and 261 horsepower, respectively. However, these versions featured a proprietary button-style shifter design, which required some adjustment. The Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, providing a comfortable and well-rounded driving experience, though it wasn't as sporty as some competitors like the Mazda CX-5.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter engine paired with a 118-hp traction motor, resulting in a total system output of 194 horsepower. This made it the fastest Crosstrek to date, with smoother acceleration than the gas-only version. The hybrid system utilized two motor-generators, one for engine start/stop and battery charging, and the other as a drive motor and for regenerative braking. During testing, the Crosstrek Hybrid achieved 31 miles per gallon, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 36 mpg. Subaru's AWD system, combined with the X-Mode traction management system, provided excellent off-road capability. The steering was light but precise, thanks to a revised dual-pinion steering rack, and the Crosstrek exhibited less body lean than previous models.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered impressive cargo space, with up to 74.8 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded and 38.7 cubic feet with the seats in use. This made it one of the leaders in the compact SUV segment, second only to the Honda CR-V. The Tucson featured a hands-free power liftgate on all trims except the base SE, which had a manual liftgate. The intuitive liftgate system allowed easy access when carrying items. The Tucson comfortably accommodated five passengers, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows, making it suitable for long trips with four adults. The cabin included deep cup holders and a center tray with a wireless charging pad.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid improved upon its predecessors by offering more cargo space and a larger gas tank. With 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats and 50.6 cubic feet with the rear row folded, it provided practical storage without compromising on battery space. The 16.6-gallon gas tank allowed for an impressive range of up to 597 miles. The Crosstrek Hybrid offered generous rear-seat space with 36.7 inches of legroom, surpassing competitors like the Corolla Cross Hybrid. Up front, storage was limited, with a small tray for wireless charging and two cupholders, but deep door pockets and a standard glove compartment provided additional storage options.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, praised for its straightforward operation. Higher trims, such as the SEL Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited, included a fully digital instrument panel and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. However, these trims lost wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the volume control switched to a haptic toggle. Despite these drawbacks, the touchscreen and haptic buttons were glove-friendly. Hyundai's remote start system was also noteworthy, allowing drivers to start the vehicle remotely and drive off without pressing the start button once inside.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen, standard on both Sport Hybrid and Limited Hybrid trims. While visually impressive, the infotainment system lagged behind competitors like the Kia Niro Hybrid and Hyundai Kona in terms of usability. The software was slow, and the screen was prone to fingerprints. Many controls were touchscreen-based, which some users found inconvenient. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, providing an alternative to Subaru's Starlink software. The Limited Hybrid trim featured a Harman Kardon stereo and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which could display navigation maps, though not Google Maps from phone projections.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera system, and Hyundai's Smart Park remote-parking feature. The Tucson received high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it five stars in frontal crash tests.

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid included Subaru's EyeSight Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, pre-collision braking, and automatic emergency braking. However, the 2025 Crosstrek did not receive a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to lower scores in crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars for overall safety. Subaru addressed safety concerns by adding side-curtain airbags to the rear seats, but the Crosstrek Hybrid lacked a semi-autonomous driving system comparable to those offered by other manufacturers.