Subaru Crosstrek vs Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a testament to Subaru's strategy of adapting its Impreza hatchback into a crossover, appealing to those who valued rugged aesthetics, all-wheel drive, and elevated driving positions. It shared the Subaru Global Platform with other models like the Legacy and Outback, offering a refined design. The Crosstrek stood out with its black body cladding, model-specific alloy wheels, and a taller ride height, providing 22 centimetres of ground clearance. This gave it an SUV-like appearance and more character than the Impreza hatch. The interior, while functional, was somewhat plain, with water-repellant upholstery and simulated carbon-fibre trim that looked cheap. However, it offered vibrant exterior colours, such as Plasma Yellow Pearl, adding to its appeal.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a bold new design, with sharp, angular cues and a dramatic face that set it apart from its predecessor. The Tucson was longer and wider, ensuring no confusion with the previous model. Its exterior styling was a risk, with hard creases and a futuristic grille that blended seamlessly with the LED lights. The interior was open and airy, with a bulky centre console but an unobstructed view thanks to the integrated infotainment display. The Tucson Hybrid offered standard heated front seats, a proximity key, and a 10.25-inch digital driver information display on higher trims. The Ultimate trim added features like ambient lighting and ventilated front seats, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrains, with the Outdoor and Limited trims featuring a 2.5-litre boxer-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. Other trims continued with a 2.0-litre engine delivering 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The boxer engine, a Subaru trademark, provided a lower centre of gravity, although the SUV-like stance negated some handling benefits. A six-speed manual transmission was available with the 2.0-litre engine, but most opted for the CVT, which was standard on Sport and Limited trims. All trims had standard AWD, with X-Mode for better navigation on loose surfaces. Despite its SUV aspirations, the Crosstrek was more suited for pavement, offering predictable handling and a comfortable ride, though the new 2.5-litre engine didn't feel dramatically different from the base engine.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Combined with an electric motor, the system delivered 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it noticeably quicker than the gas-powered Tucson. The hybrid featured a responsive steering system and a six-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on upper trims. Its suspension absorbed road imperfections well, maintaining balance through corners. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the hybrid rated at 6.3 L/100 km city, 6.6 highway, and 6.4 combined. The plug-in hybrid variant offered even better efficiency, with a 13.8 kWh battery and 53 kilometres of electric range.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared its interior dimensions with the Impreza hatchback, offering the same front and rear legroom and slightly more rear headroom. It provided 588 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,565 litres with them folded. While competitive in passenger space, it lagged behind some rivals in cargo capacity. The Crosstrek featured a rear-seat reminder system and a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, though rear passengers had limited access to USB ports. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, but visibility was good, thanks to ample side glass.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, with its longer and wider footprint, offered impressive cargo space. The hybrid's trunk held 1,097 litres, expanding to 2,108 litres with the rear seats down. It surpassed competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4 in cargo capacity. The Tucson provided excellent front and rear legroom, with reclining rear seats. Its dual-level cargo floor allowed for a flat loading surface or maximized space. The interior featured ambient lighting, cupholders, and bottle holders, enhancing practicality and comfort.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek featured the Starlink infotainment system with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Higher trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, with navigation on the Limited trim. Subaru's unique second screen displayed redundant information, but the main touchscreen was easy to navigate. The Crosstrek included large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions, with steering wheel controls for EyeSight driver-assistance features.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Ultimate trim, though Android Auto and Apple CarPlay only used about 8 inches of the screen. The interface relied on touch-capacitive buttons, which could be frustrating, but steering-wheel controls offered an alternative. The Tucson provided ample USB ports, a premium audio system, and a visually appealing touchscreen display, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS. It featured EyeSight driver-assist technology with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning on CVT-equipped models. Higher trims included additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, EyeSight's cameras had limitations, such as being blocked by wipers or washed out in sunlight.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view monitor. Unique features included a blind-spot view monitor and remote smart park assist. While the NHTSA hadn't tested the 2022 Tucson, the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+.