2025 Hyundai Kona vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback presented a rugged exterior that embraced the crossover trends with its chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design was clearly intended for off-road adventures, appealing to those who appreciated a vehicle capable of traversing dirt paths. The Outback's focus on practicality and adventure was evident in its design choices, such as the earthy paint shades that complemented its adventurous spirit. Inside, the Outback maintained a balance between functionality and style, with a well-executed interior that avoided excessive use of chrome and glossy black plastic. The gauges were easy to read, providing essential information at a glance, and the overall design catered to those who valued a straightforward and practical approach.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Kona retained its fresh and futuristic appearance from the previous year, with a distinctive single-piece grille and ultra-slim LED light bars. Its design, while not traditionally handsome, offered a satisfactory blend of curves and angles that set it apart in the crossover class. The Kona's increased size, being 15 centimetres longer than its predecessor, contributed to a more assertive stance and improved interior space. The N Line trim added a sportier touch with body-coloured bumpers and cladding, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Kona's unchanged interior from 2024 provided a solid and airy feel, with a focus on practicality and tech features that impressed.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a choice of two Boxer engines. The standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivered 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 2.4-litre engine in the Wilderness and XT trims produced 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a Lineartronic CVT, routing power through a standard AWD system. The Outback's turbocharged engine offered smart acceleration, though it wasn't a performance car. With 22 centimetres of ground clearance and Subaru’s X-Mode, the Outback excelled in off-road conditions, while the Wilderness trim increased ground clearance to 24.1 centimetres and added a front skid plate for serious adventurers. The Outback's smooth and comfortable ride, light steering, and powerful brakes made it a reliable companion on rough roads, though the stop/start technology and CVT had some drawbacks.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered two engine options for its gas-powered models. The Essential and Preferred trims featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with Hyundai's IVT. The Kona N Line, however, boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine provided a more muscular performance, though it could feel flat at low revs. AWD was available for an additional cost on the Essential and Preferred trims and standard on the N Line, enhancing traction and handling. The Kona's ride and handling prioritized competence, with AWD models benefiting from a more sophisticated suspension setup.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality with easy entry and exit, a lower roof height for loading, and a low centre of gravity for quick direction changes. Its cargo space, measuring 923 litres with the rear seat up and 2,141 litres with the bench folded, was slightly smaller than some crossovers but highly usable due to its flat floor and square shape. The Outback's total passenger volume of 3,044 litres surpassed its crossover competition, providing ample front headroom and legroom. Buyers were advised to test drive different trims, as the Limited, Premier, and Wilderness models offered distinct driving experiences. The Outback's towing capacity ranged from 1,225 kilograms to 1,588 kilograms with the turbocharged engine.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona surprised with its cargo capacity, offering 723 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,803 litres when folded. The dual-level cargo floor added versatility, accommodating a family of four and their luggage comfortably. Rear legroom measured 970 millimetres, with 972 millimetres of headroom, ensuring comfort for most passengers. The front seats provided a generous range of movement, and the steering wheel was adjustable for reach and height. The Kona's interior featured excellent storage options, with numerous shelves and compartments. Upholstery options varied across trims, with cloth in Essential and Preferred, leatherette in the Trend package, and Alcantara sport seats in the N Line. Heated front seats were standard in Canada, with additional features like a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available in higher trims.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package included an 11.6-inch touchscreen with bright icons, though the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity available on most trims. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system provided good sound quality, though navigational commands occasionally limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, appealing to those who preferred traditional controls. The 2025 Outback Premier XT even included a CD player, catering to those with older music collections.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona offered a 12.3-inch central touchscreen infotainment display across all trims, featuring good graphics and clear menu layouts. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard, with wireless smartphone charging and Hyundai’s digital key available in higher trims. The N Line trim boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, providing customization options and a cohesive look. Audiophiles could upgrade to the N Line with the Ultimate package for an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Hyundai’s Bluelink connectivity allowed for over-the-air software updates, ensuring features remained up to date.

The 2025 Subaru Outback came equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane centring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. While the EyeSight system kept the Outback in its lane, it exhibited more side-to-side movement than desired. Touring and higher trims included blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for driver distraction, though it occasionally issued false notifications. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the 2025 model expected to perform similarly.

The 2025 Hyundai Kona impressed with its standard safety features, including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims offered additional features like enhanced Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Highway Driving Assist. The N Line with the Ultimate package included parking assistance features, though these were less essential in a subcompact vehicle. All Konas came with six airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Kona received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.