Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Kona Electric have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Kona Electric has not been fully tested, yet.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek Hybrid’s reliability 32 points higher than the Kona Electric.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s maximum EPA estimated range on a full tank and a full charge is 492 miles, after which it can be refueled at any gas station in minutes. The Kona Electric’s range is only 258 miles, after which the minimum time to recharge is 47 minutes for only an 80% charge at a specially configured quick charge station not available in most areas. A full recharge at a professionally installed 220-volt charging station can take up to 9 hours and 15 minutes.

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops shorter than the Kona Electric:

For better traction, the Crosstrek Hybrid has larger tires than the Kona Electric (225/55R18 vs. 215/55R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Kona Electric.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (104.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 8.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Kona Electric (100.8 vs. 92.4).

The Crosstrek Hybrid has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek Hybrid. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona Electric has no towing capacity.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kona Electric’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Kona Electric only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kona Electric SE/SEL’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Crosstrek Hybrid will retain 51.71% of its original price after five years, while the Kona Electric only retains 42.54% to 43.52%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the Hyundai Kona Electric, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Hyundai Kona by over two to one during the 2022 model year.