Hyundai Kona vs. Subaru Crosstrek vs. Toyota Corolla Cross: Who Wins?

There’s a kind of quick response in small crossover land. Especially if you’re a loyal Subaru buyer. You just assume that only Subaru can offer you a small crossover with AWD. Not only is this wrong, but every crossover that competes with the Subaru Crosstrek has the option to add AWD.

Now, the Crosstrek has some distinct advantages worth considering, especially when it comes to fuel economy and the ability it offers off-pavement. But the latter is a niche within a niche. If you’re serious about off-roading, you were probably in a minority of the roughly 200,000 Crosstrek buyers in 2025. And there’s one car that stands out as a legitimate competitor to the Crosstrek – and the Toyota Corolla Cross – that buyers should really consider, because it’s roomier, fun to drive, and has some clear edges compared to the Subaru or Toyota.

base trim engine

NU PE ICE

base trim transmission

Smartstream IVT CVT

base trim drivetrain

Front-wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

147 hp @6200 rpm

base trim torque

132 lb-ft. @4500rpm

Base Trim Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

29/34/31 mpg

base trim battery type

lead acid battery

Make

Hyundai

Sample

Kona

Do you really need AWD?

Hyundai

Let us ask something from the beginning. Do you “need” AWD or just “want” AWD? I ask this outright, because the combination of stability and traction control, and the fact that most AWDs don’t engage unless the front tires slip should make you question your desire for this technology, because in all cases you’re paying more for both the sticker and the lost fuel economy.

That aside, if you want AWD, you can still get a Hyundai Kona for about the same price as a Crosstrek. The Kona’s base price (all prices include destination) is $27,100. Adding AWD brings $28,600. The Crosstrek costs almost the same dough, $28,445.

Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos are more spacious

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

All things being equal for the four most competitive models in this segment, what you’re getting for your dough isn’t the same. At least when it comes to how cramped your passengers will be and how much space you will – or won’t – have for luggage.

Cargo capacity and second-row legroom (all models W/AWD)

The most obvious laggard is obviously Toyota. Its 32 inches of rear legroom lags far behind the Kona. And the Seltos, which shares a platform with Hyundai, and both have almost similar capabilities. Both of these Korean models underline the argument for choosing a Subaru with a roomier cabin. In fact, these legroom figures nearly match Toyota’s larger RAV4’s 37.8 inches (though that crossover’s 76.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo is better than the Kia or Hyundai).

a better warranty

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

You might not buy a car with repairs in mind, but these days, with the average car on the road – it’s average! – Reaching the age of 14.5, you really need it. And not only does the Kona come standard with a large, 12.3-inch touchscreen, plus blind spot monitoring and stop-and-go auxiliary cruise control, it gets a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Toyota has crushed it for years with high resale values, but it’s hard to argue that their five-year/60,000-mile warranty, or Subaru’s (same terms) is better. Plus, those warranties are usually transferable to whoever you sell the car to, provided you haven’t lost the mileage or years.

fuel economy vs speed

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

All of these cars have a great thing about them, which I’ll explain shortly, but if you’re sticking with the most fuel-efficient and price-competitive cars in this segment, you’re paying for economy, not thrills.

As such, the horsepower wouldn’t be surprising. All of these cars get 2.0-liter fours, but none reach 200 horsepower. The Corolla Cross’s 169 hp is the strongest, but still, car and driver Says it can’t reach 60 MPH in less than nine seconds. Likewise the base Crosstrek, Seltos and Hyundai Kona.

At least combined fuel economy is good across the board, with the Toyota getting 30 mpg combined, the Crosstrek and Seltos both managing 29 mpg, and the Kona coming in last at 28 mpg combined.

Muscle, at a price

Hyundai

There’s only one of these cars that manages Both More power and better fuel economy when upgraded: Toyota. That’s because instead of going with a bigger engine, you’re getting a hybrid, and that electric motor is responsible for the bonus propulsion. Toyota and Subaru also manage to stay below $30,000, while both Kia and Hyundai have stickers well above that range. Personally, I really think the Kona’s extra power is worth it. Is this a deal-changer? you have to decide. The CVTs on all these models are tuned to provide good acceleration around town. But there’s no doubt that the turbocharged 1.6-liter in the Hyundai makes such a big difference that I’ll at least test both.

Power output, with standard and optional engines

Statistics are not life

Hyundai

After driving the Seltos for a week, I’d say the data will only take you so far. While both the Kona and Seltos use a torsion beam rear suspension that’s less sophisticated than the Crosstrek’s double-wishbone setup, neither of these cars are designed for cone courses or come with sticky, summer tires. They’re all quite fast, and it’s absolutely true that the Crosstrek has higher ground clearance. If you get the Wilderness Edition up to 9.3 inches, that makes it a better off-road option. But eight inches of ground clearance is good enough for a small crossover, and if you want a Subaru for this reason, you’re getting the right tool for the job. Every other buyer should be cross-shopping these four cars as well.

A very clever, sharp cabin

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

Kia and Hyundai seemed to be the brands that were chasing their Japanese peers. Not anymore. Take a look at that storage system in the Kona. This is simple. It’s just a small removable bin under the armrest, below that there’s a space for a few other items, and then two cupholders with retractable holders to adapt to the size of the cup in question. This sounds ridiculously basic. it. Someone, or more likely an entire squadron of someones, encountered, market-tested, and troubleshooted this design. Because it all works so well. The cupholders are holding. Other items you keep in there, like your wallet, will be there too, and anything you want to always have with you can be stored under that armrest. And that dustbin can also be emptied and cleaned in seconds. Now I look at the under-armrest space of all the other car makers and see their lack of space. This Hyundai is showing its strength. They’re no longer just “in the game” – they’re winning it.

TopSpeed’s Tech

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

TopSpeed ​​| michael frank

It’s not about the ultimate tech function; It’s about form. I wish the corner didn’t look so floury. The cladding doesn’t do much for me, and the weird gap-toothed non-grille that reveals a little radiator right behind a black bar made me think of all the bugs that would get trapped there that would be difficult to clean. There are worse sins. I don’t think any of the models in this comparison are fighting for sex appeal. They are all practical animals with daily chores that need to be done and kept out of the wet, possibly not in a heated or air-conditioned garage. Thus, I think the Kona is a really strong choice – a car that’s comfortable, roomier than all its peers not on the same platform, and packed with useful, thoughtful features. What more could you want?