Hyundai Tucson vs. Subaru Forester: Crossover Showdown

Of all the Hyundai crossovers, the Hyundai Tucson is one of two that has been around since the early 2000s. It remains a staple of the compact SUV segment. Another staple of the crossover SUV segment is the Subaru Forester. Both vehicles have some differences and similarities. How should you decide which one is for you? Let’s take a look.

Performance and Fuel Economy

When it comes to performance, the Hyundai Tucson has more muscle than the Forester with its engine options. The Tuscon has three powertrain choices between a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. The highest horsepower comes from the plug-in at 261. In comparison, the Forester only comes with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine that makes 182
horsepower.

The Tucson can get up to 43 combined MPG with the hybrid, while the Forester gets up to 33 combined MPG. The Forester does win out in towing with a capability of 3,000 pounds to the Tucson’s 2,000 pounds. For off-road use, the Forester has 9.2 inches of ground clearance versus the Tucson’s 8.3 inches. All Forester models come with AWD, while this is optional on

Affordability and Comfort

Which SUV is bigger, between the Tucson and the Forester? The answer is a bit of a tie. The Forester has more passenger space, but the Tucson offers more cargo space by about six cubic feet over the Forester. In terms of price, the base models of both are basically the same. The Tucson goes up to $44,310 for the Plug-In Hybrid Limited trim, while the Forester goes up to $36,495 for the Touring trim.

Another aspect of affordability is warranty coverage. The Hyundai Tucson wins here with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Forester only provides a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, the Forester has slightly higher reliability ratings than the Tucson.

Both the Tucson and Forester benefit from high safety scores. Both recently earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award in the outgoing model year.

Which Crossover SUV Should You Choose?

As one of the most popular and venerable Hyundai crossovers, the Tucson continues to have a lot of fans. It stands out stylistically from many other crossovers as well with its aggressive front end that hides its lighting elements. The Forester, in comparison, looks much like any other crossover on the market.

As previously mentioned, the new Hyundai Tucson has a lot of models to choose from, including a new N-line model for 2023. The Forester is an arguably more basic choice, but if you want standard AWD and something well-rounded if not exactly exciting, the Forester might be for you.

The Hyundai Tuscon is a good choice if you’re looking for a crossover that’s different from the rest and/or if you want to explore a hybrid or plug-in hybrid model.

Whichever model you choose, you can be assured of getting one of two well-known and highly-rated crossover SUVs that have been on the market for a long time.