Subaru Impreza vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2024 Subaru Impreza showcased a more aggressive and sporty style compared to its predecessor. It featured a larger, more angular grille and narrower headlights that gave it a serious, focused look. Unlike other Subaru models, the Impreza maintained body-coloured wheel arches, and the RS trim added side skirts for a low-slung appearance. The rear haunches had flared fenders, suggesting a wider and more athletic stance than competitors like the Honda Civic or Mazda 3 hatchback. Inside, the Impreza boasted a modern look with a vertical 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen standard on higher trims, while the Convenience model had two 7-inch displays. The RS trim added red stitching and seat upholstery accents, enhancing its sporty appeal. Materials quality was commendable, with soft-touch materials in areas frequently touched by the driver and front passenger, while the rear seats opted for durable hard plastics.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid received significant styling updates, particularly at the front with a streamlined fascia and a "seamless horizon lamp" lightbar, giving it a modern flair. The badge was repositioned above the grille, and the headlights were placed independently below it. The rear end featured a lightbar forming a wide "H" shape with the taillights. From the side, the Sonata looked similar to the 2023 model, with 18-inch alloy wheels standard on the Preferred-Trend trim and 19-inchers on the N Line. Inside, the dash was redesigned with vents flowing across and a padded centre console extending forward. The gear shifter moved to the steering column, and the steering wheel was redesigned with a T-shape and a Morse code "H" logo. The Preferred-Trend trim offered a basic black interior with leather upholstery, while the N Line had a light grey option with Nappa leather, suede inserts, and red accents.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza offered two engine choices. The Convenience and Touring trims in Canada came with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The RS and Sport-tech models upgraded to a 2.5-litre engine with 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and all trims except the base model included steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. The manual transmission option was no longer available. All-wheel-drive (AWD) with active torque vectoring was standard across all Impreza models. The RS model, the sportiest in the lineup, offered responsive acceleration and sporty handling, aided by the AWD system. The ride quality was comfortable, with added sound insulation reducing road noise compared to the previous generation.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid introduced an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system for the first time, available on the Preferred-Trend trim for an additional $2,000. The N Line remained front-wheel-drive (FWD) only. The Preferred-Trend trim featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The N Line offered a turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 290 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, available from 1,650 to 4,000 rpm, with power transferred via an 8-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The Sonata's steering feel and handling were praised, and the configurable driver-information display added to the driving experience.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza provided a spacious cabin with logically placed controls and excellent outward visibility. The large rear hatch glass offered a good rearward view, though rear headrests could obstruct some of it. Dual-zone climate control was standard. The RS trim included a wireless charging pad, though the hard plastic surface didn't hold phones in place as well as rubber trays. The rear seats were accommodating, with ample headroom and legroom for six-footers. The cargo area offered 578 litres of space, expandable to 1,586 litres with the seatbacks folded down. The Impreza accepted various roof racks for outdoor gear, though it wasn't rated for heavier overlanding tent platforms.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with 975 millimetres of front-seat headroom and 950 mm of rear-seat headroom. Front legroom was prioritized at 1,170 mm, while rear-seat passengers had 885 mm. Heated and ventilated front seats were standard in the Preferred-Trend trim, with ventilation dropped in the N Line's sport seats. The slimmer steering wheel rim was appreciated for comfort. The trunk close button was a neat convenience feature. The Sonata provided a flexible and spacious interior, with a standard panoramic moonroof enhancing the sense of space.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system that was visually impactful and easy to use. It included large on-screen buttons and physical knobs for volume, tuning, and temperature controls. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity available on all but the Convenience trim. The Subaru Starlink system, available on the top three trims, offered smartphone app integration. The RS and Sport-tech trims included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system prioritized usability, with intuitive menus and smart organization.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid impressed with its selectable functionality of the driver's side front USB-C port, allowing it to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all trims. The Sonata featured a curved display combining the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display into a single panel. The N Line had a pair of 12.3-inch screens, while the Preferred-Trend trim had a smaller digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system included haptic "buttons" for climate control and media functions. The N Line offered navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, while a six-speaker sound system was standard.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza was expected to achieve high safety scores, with Subaru targeting a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS. All Imprezas came with the EyeSight suite of safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centring. The Touring model added Starlink communications features, while the top three trims included a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency steering. The safety features performed well, with no false alarms or intrusive actions.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid included blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist as standard. Forward collision-avoidance assist with junction turning detection, safe exit warning and assist, lane-following and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, automatic emergency braking, and rear occupant alert were also standard. Hyundai's infotainment system made safety features easy to find and operate, with clear graphics explaining each feature's function.