Compare the2024 Hyundai KonaVS 2024 Subaru Impreza

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Kona’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Impreza doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

The Kona Limited has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Impreza only offers a rear monitor.

The Kona has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kona has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and its not available on the Base and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Kona and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The Hyundai Kona has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Impreza is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Impreza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Impreza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Impreza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Impreza’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

There are over 31 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (190 vs. 182) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 178) than the Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The Kona stops shorter than the Impreza:

For better traction, the Kona has larger standard tires than the Impreza (215/60R17 vs. 205/55R16). The Kona N Line/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Impreza (235/45R19 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona SE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Impreza. The Kona N Line/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Impreza Sport/RS.

The Kona has a standard space-saver spare (not available on 1.6T AWD) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Impreza; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Kona has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Impreza.

The Kona Limited AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Impreza RS pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Impreza (8.1 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Kona N Line’s minimum ground clearance is 3.2 inches higher than on the Impreza (8.3 vs. 5.1 inches).

The Kona is 4.9 inches shorter than the Impreza, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Kona uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Impreza doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Kona has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Impreza.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Kona’s rear seats recline. The Impreza’s rear seats don’t recline.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Kona’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Impreza doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Kona uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Impreza uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the Impreza have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona has a standard Proximity Key that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Impreza Sport/RS offers Keyless Entry and Start.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Impreza doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Kona Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Kona and the Impreza offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Impreza doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Kona (except SE)’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Impreza’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Kona Limited’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Impreza doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Kona is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Impreza doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Subaru Impreza by over two to one during 2023.