Few vehicles can beat small SUVs when it comes to offering a fun driving experience. They also provide the added benefit of being fuel efficient. If you’re eyeing a compact SUV, look at the 2024 Hyundai Kona and one of its toughest challengers: the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. Below, we compare Kona vs. Crosstrek in terms of interior, performance, and safety offerings. Find out which is the better vehicle.
The spacious interior of the redesigned Kona is a breath of fresh air compared to the cramped 2023 model. The fit and finish are well done, with sleek curved infotainment displays that look futuristic. Higher trims add to the ambiance with better materials.
The Kona comfortably seats five people, with supportive seats in both rows. Three adults can fit in the back for short trips, but two passengers would be ideal for longer journeys. Standard cloth upholstery adds comfort, with higher trims offering more luxurious materials as options. There's also plenty of storage space: up to 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down and 25.5 cubic feet when the rear row is in position. These numbers put the 2024 Kona among the cargo-carrying leaders in its class.
The Crosstrek’s interior offers a minimalistic design, providing a few large controls that make the dashboard look barren. The buttons on the steering wheel remind us how unsophisticated this vehicle's overall design is. Despite being oversized, buttons and icons are still hard to read. The infotainment screen is also not too bright.
The Crosstrek has a spacious cabin, but it looks and feels like a utility vehicle instead of a sleek crossover. The rear seat is roomy enough, though wider door openings would've helped more in style than function. While the elevated seat height makes entry and exit easy, it also adds to the overall sense of utilitarianism that pervades this cabin.
On the road, the 2024 Hyundai Kona is a solid performer. The steering is well-weighted and consistent, allowing the SUV to handle corners with stability but without too much effort required on winding roads. The ride is smooth enough to be comfortable in most driving conditions but firm enough so you know it'll still tackle rough roads and uneven terrain.
The SE and SEL models have a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. This setup provides the Kona enough power for daily commutes.
However, a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine is available in the N Line and Limited trims for more verve. It makes 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The engine comes with an efficient and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is also available in any trim level.
The Crosstrek is one of the slowest compact SUVs. The Crosstrek Premium with the base 2.0-liter engine managed a not-so-swift 9.9-second run from 0 to 60 mph in a test. You’ll need patience when overtaking anything in this car. You should go for the optional 2.5-liter engine if you want something faster.
In terms of handling, the Crosstrek is not very good. The steering feels imprecise, and there's a noticeable body roll when braking or going around turns. It rides smoothly on paved roads and is easy to drive every day, but it doesn't do anything to thrill you. However, the all-wheel-drive system does give you some confidence in bad weather and on gravelly paths.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona comes standard with six airbags, stability control, ABS brakes, tire-pressure monitoring, and a backup camera. The SE and SEL models offer a front-collision alert, detecting pedestrians and cyclists. They also have lane-keep and follow assist, speed-limit assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, driver-alertness monitoring, and automatic high beams.
Subaru's EyeSight suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies is standard on every 2024 Crosstrek model. Key features include adaptive cruise control for maintaining a safe driving distance, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and lane departure mitigation.
Looking at the 2024 Hyundai Kona and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, it is clear that the Kona has more features and benefits than the Subaru's. The Kona is an excellent choice with its spacious interior, multiple engine options, and contemporary design. Come to Hyundai of Meridian in Meridian, MS, and check out the 2024 Hyundai Kona.
