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If you’ve just secured your driver’s license, you’ll be looking for a value-packed, easy-to-drive starter car. May we suggest a subcompact crossover like the 2025 Hyundai Kona? Refreshed in 2024, the Kona provides an easy-driving dynamic, a long list of features, and eye-catching styling. For 2025, the Kona gets a few updates in terms of tech features. Meanwhile, another worthy contender is the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek. There’s not much change in the Crosstrek range for 2025.
We understand if you’re finding it hard to pick one. So, we’ve prepared this Hyundai vs Subaru evaluation to help you. We’ll check each car’s safety systems. We’ll look at their performance capabilities. We’ll see how their interiors match up. Then, we’ll tell you the best starter car to pick. You can also test-drive the 2025 Hyundai Kona in Sarasota, FL, today. Contact Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota, and let’s get behind the wheel.
Subcompact crossovers like the 2025 Kona and the 2025 Crosstrek don’t have to be cramped inside. Both models have approximately 99 cubic feet of space and seating for five. But if you’re looking for style, the 2025 Kona offers plenty of it. It comes with a futuristic interior design with color accents and a large panel that houses the gauge cluster and infotainment screen. Most trims also have dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents. Higher trims come with Black Alcantara or leatherette seat upholstery as well. In contrast, the 2025 Crosstrek’s design shows its age, and it isn’t as exciting.
The 2025 Kona has an impressive 25.5 cubic feet of trunk space, which is five cubic feet more than the 2025 Crosstrek can offer. You can even utilize the split-folding rear-seat backs to get 63 cubic feet. So you can easily transport larger items to your 2025 Kona. Transporting large items would be more challenging in the 2025 Crosstrek as it only provides up to 55 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded.
Higher trims of the 2025 Kona come with a power-adjustable driver seat. Both front seats can also be equipped with heating and ventilation. Meanwhile, all trims of the 2025 Kona get dual front plus rear USB charging ports and a 12-volt power outlet. Higher trims also come with a wireless phone charger and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The 2025 Crosstrek has the former but doesn’t offer a digital gauge cluster.
Both models are equipped with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. They also come with SiriusXM® and HD Radio™. The 2025 Kona offers an 8-speaker Bose sound system upgrade. Plus, it comes with a Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch system -- a system that lets you use your smartphone as the key for your 2025 Kona -- for higher trims. So, you can lock, unlock, and drive the vehicle as long as your phone is with you. The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek doesn’t have a similar feature.
Hyundai offers two engines for the 2025 Kona range. Lower trims use a 147-hp 2.0-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder unit with 132 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with an intelligent variable transmission. Higher trims get a turbocharged 1.6-liter unit. This engine makes 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. It is connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Some trims also have paddle shifters for manual gear changes by the driver.
The 2024 Kona range is front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive can be selected for any trim. All trims also get a drive mode selector. All-wheel drive variants also get multi-link rear suspension.
The 2025 Subaru Crosstrek has two naturally aspirated flat-four Boxer engines. The base model uses a 2.0-liter unit with 152 horsepower. Other trims have an 182-hp 2.5-liter unit. A CVT gearbox and all-wheel drive are standard.
The 2025 Kona comes with Hyundai’s SmartSense safety technology suite. All trims have forward and rear collision-avoidance assist with automatic emergency braking. Then, there’s blind-spot collision avoidance assist and lane-keeping assist. A driver attention warning system and a lane departure alert system are also standard. Regular cruise control is included for lower trims. Higher trims have a navigation-based smart cruise control system with highway driving assistance. These trims also have a park distance warning system that covers the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the 2025 Subaru Crosstrek lags as some of these systems are not available.
For the best starter car in Sarasota, FL, choose the 2025 Hyundai Kona. That’s our recommendation based on this comprehensive Hyundai vs Subaru evaluation. So, why not save yourself the time and effort and swing by Gettel Hyundai of Sarasota? Our team will help you take home a brand-new 2025 Kona and enjoy it for years to come.
