Compact SUVs are more popular than ever thanks to their practicality, not-too-big/not-too-small size, value, and efficiency. They also bring the higher seating position that drivers love, plus the option of all-wheel drive (AWD). Their popularity is a boon for shoppers, as it has created a wide variety of great choices.
Two of the standouts in this competitive field are the Hyundai Tucson and Subaru Crosstrek. Both of these smaller 2-row5/passenger SUVs bring unique strengths to the table to tempt shoppers, and even offer trims with more of an off-road bent. Here’s how they compare.
2025 Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is the brand’s bestseller, which is noteworthy given the strength of Hyundai’s SUV lineup. The Tucson is also one of Hyundai’s most established SUVs, with 20 years of history now behind it. The latest generation is the most stylish, most sophisticated, and safest to date. For the 2025 model year, the Tucson gets even better. With its latest refresh, the Tucson gains more technology and a feature that new parents just might love. See more on that below in the highlights. The Tucson is also available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, but for this comparison, we are focusing on models with the standard 187-horsepower gasoline engine.
Hyundai Tucson Highlights
Baby mode: If you’ve ever been concerned about waking your little bundle of joy with a too-sudden tap on the accelerator, the Tucson’s Baby mode, new for 2025, helps alleviate that with a gentler response. We think this would also benefit dog owners bringing their best friend along for the ride. It’s a neat feature, and to our knowledge, the first of its kind.
Unbeatable warranty: Like every new Hyundai, the Tucson includes a class-leading warranty of five years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain. The Subaru Crosstrek can’t touch that.
XRT trim: You can call this the Tucson’s most adventurous guise. It adds trim-specific 18-inch alloy wheels, black side cladding, black front and rear lower fascias, and more. It all gives this version of the Tucson a more rugged appearance and personality.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Tucson models near you.
2025 Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is fresh off a revamp that endowed it with the latest technology, updated looks, and additional safety features. What remains is what we’ll call its “Subaruness” — a rugged personality, adventurous attitude, and the hardware to back it up. Like every Subaru SUV, the Crosstrek comes with all-wheel drive standard, ground clearance of 8.7 inches — or more for the Wilderness trim — and other off-road-oriented features. You also get a choice of engines, with our recommended one highlighted below.
Subaru Crosstrek Highlights
2.5-liter engine: The Crosstrek in Base trim certainly has value, but it’s also the only ‘Trek still lugging the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, good for just 152 horsepower. All other models now come with the upgraded 2.5-liter that makes a more adequate 182 hp.
Wilderness trim: Call this the most Subaru of Subaru Crosstrek models. It boasts additional ground clearance over the standard model (9.3 inches vs 8.7), more towing capacity (3,500 pounds vs. 1,500), and chunky 17-inch all-terrain tires. It also just looks cool. We’ve personally taken this model to surprising extremes off-road, and it ate up every challenge we could throw at it.
Value: Yes, the Crosstrek technically competes in a smaller class than the Tucson, but we think it’s a great value regardless. It starts just over $27,000, and a loaded model is only about $7,000 more. And remember: It comes with all-wheel drive, which costs extra on the Tucson.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Crosstrek models near you.
Similarities
Both of these SUVs are manageable in size and easy to drive. They also seat up to five passengers, and bring impressive standard safety and tech features.
Pricing
Used Prices
|
Original MSRP
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD |
TBD |
|||
TBD |
TBD |
|||
TBD |
TBD |
New 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (92620)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$27,230 |
$25,666 |
|||
$28,480 |
$26,677 |
|||
$31,030 |
$29,438 |
|||
$32,930 |
$31,240 |
|||
$34,030 |
$32,284 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for vehicles and New 2025 Subaru Crosstrek vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Hyundai Tucson | 2025 Subaru Crosstrek | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter Boxer 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 187 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 152 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 145 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic/FWD | continuously variable automatic (CVT)/AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 25 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg | 27 city/34 highway/29 combined mpg |
| Also Available | AWD, Hybrid, PHEV | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 108.5 inches | 105.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 182.3 inches | 176.4 inches |
| Width | 73.4 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Height | 65.6 inches | 62.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.6 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.1 inches | 39.8 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.5 inches | 38.0 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 42.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 41.3 inches | 36.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.6 inches | 56.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 56.0 inches | 55.3 inches |
| Cargo Volume seats up/down | 38.7/74.8 cubic feet | 19.9/54.7 cubic feet |
Conclusion
Are you a weekend warrior who wants a daily driver that will match your adventurous attitude? The Subaru Crosstrek just might be your ticket, especially in Wilderness trim, which can out-tow the Tucson. The Hyundai Tucson, meanwhile, is a bit larger on the outside and has plenty more cargo space within. It also offers innovative tech features, such as Hyundai’s Blind-Spot View Monitor and even Remote Smart Parking Assist, which lets you stand outside the vehicle and park it. These two certainly have their differences, but they are both winners in their own right. Weigh which of their strengths appeals to you, test drive each, and see which one wins you over.
