Current small-SUV guide · West Palm Beach, Florida
2026 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2027 Hyundai Kona
Start with the Crosstrek when you want AWD on every trim, 180 horsepower and 8.7 inches of clearance without adding a drivetrain option. Keep the Kona on the list when a lower FWD entry price, stronger FWD MPG, larger published rear-seat and cargo measurements, or an available turbo matters more. The fairest decision compares an actual Crosstrek with the exact Kona drivetrain and engine you would buy.
Choose by the way you will use the SUV
Headline prices and maximum figures do not describe one vehicle. These two cards show the verified reasons each model may belong on a Palm Beach County shopping list.
The 2026 Crosstrek is the better fit when you want:
- A simple lineup where AWD comes standard from Base through Wilderness
- 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft from the standard 2.5-liter gas engine
- 8.7 inches of clearance on regular trims and 9.3 inches on Wilderness
- A current Hybrid choice as well as a higher-clearance, 3,500-pound-towing Wilderness configuration
The 2027 Kona may fit better when you want:
- A $25,500 FWD starting point before freight and other charges; Crosstrek's higher base MSRP includes AWD
- Up to 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG on Kona SE FWD; Crosstrek counters with standard AWD and a 33-highway estimate
- Larger manufacturer-published rear-legroom and cargo figures; Crosstrek trades some space for more base output and clearance
- A 190-horsepower turbo and eight-speed automatic on higher trims; Crosstrek includes 180 horsepower and AWD on Base
Base gas comparison: Crosstrek AWD and Kona SE FWD/AWD
The columns name the model year, trim, engine, transmission and drivetrain. Kona Electric and Crosstrek Hybrid are excluded here because battery-electric range, hybrid MPG and gasoline MPG are different questions.
| Decision point | 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Base 2.5L gas / CVT / AWD | 2027 Hyundai Kona SE 2.0L gas / IVT / FWD or AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $26,995; AWD included | $25,500 for FWD; HTRAC AWD available as a different configuration |
| Engine output | 180 hp / 178 lb-ft | 147 hp / 132 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Lineartronic CVT | Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Drivetrain | Subaru Symmetrical AWD standard | FWD standard; HTRAC AWD available |
| EPA-estimated MPG, city / highway | 26 / 33 AWD | 28 / 35 FWD; 26 / 29 AWD |
| Minimum ground clearance | 8.7 in. | 6.7 in. FWD; 8.1 in. AWD |
| Rear legroom | 36.5 in. | 38.2 in. |
| Cargo, rear seat up / folded | 19.9 / 54.7 cu. ft. | 25.5 / 63.7 cu. ft. |
| Other gas-engine choice | Same 180-hp 2.5L on all gas trims; Wilderness changes capability equipment | 190-hp / 195-lb-ft 1.6L turbo with 8-speed automatic on SEL Premium and Limited |
Starting MSRPs exclude freight or destination, tax, title, license, options and other charges. Hyundai and Subaru may use different cargo-measurement methods. Confirm specifications on the exact vehicle.
Compare equal drivetrains before comparing price
The Kona SE's $25,500 base MSRP is $1,495 below the Crosstrek Base MSRP, but the Kona number is for FWD and the Crosstrek number includes AWD. Hyundai offers AWD, yet it changes the vehicle configuration and must be priced on its own. Freight or destination and other transaction items are excluded from both headline amounts.
If AWD is on your must-have list, start with the actual equipment labels and complete itemized amounts. Our West Palm Beach team can verify an available Crosstrek's stock number, factory and dealer-installed equipment, manufacturer offers and Subaru selling price. We cannot verify a Hyundai dealer's Kona quote.
Where does Crosstrek's standard AWD matter?
Crosstrek keeps AWD standard and publishes 8.7 inches of ground clearance across Base, Premium, Sport, Hybrid and Limited trims. Wilderness increases clearance to 9.3 inches. Kona offers HTRAC AWD on every gas trim, but the SE publishes 6.7 inches of clearance with FWD and 8.1 inches with AWD.
Those numbers help define the configurations; they do not promise traction or safe travel through flooded roads. Never drive into standing water. On a normal test drive, compare seating height, outward visibility, steering effort and how easily you can find the drivetrain and assist controls.
Base MPG and power tell different stories
For FWD shoppers, Kona SE has the higher EPA estimates at 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG. Kona SE AWD is rated at 26 / 29 / 27, compared with 26 city / 33 highway for Crosstrek Base AWD. Actual mileage depends on the exact equipment, road, traffic, weather and driving style.
Crosstrek Base has the higher standard output: 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft versus Kona SE's 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. Hyundai's 190-horsepower turbo is a separate SEL Premium or Limited powertrain with an eight-speed automatic and may appeal when turbo output or a conventional automatic is the priority. Crosstrek counters by pairing 180 horsepower with AWD at the base trim. Compare throttle response and transmission behavior on the trims you would actually purchase.
Kona publishes more rear legroom and cargo volume
Kona's published 38.2 inches of rear legroom exceeds Crosstrek's 36.5 inches. Hyundai also publishes 25.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.7 with it folded; Subaru publishes 19.9 and 54.7 for Crosstrek gas trims. Shoppers who regularly fill the rear seat or cargo area should give Kona credit for those larger numbers. Crosstrek does not cancel that space advantage; it instead supplies standard AWD, greater base-engine output and more clearance for shoppers who rank those needs higher.
A vehicle can still fit differently than its volume suggests. Set the driver's seat for your position, sit behind it, then load a stroller, folding wheelchair, golf bag, beach cart or pet carrier. Compare door openings, seat-fold controls, lift-over height and usable floor shape, then decide whether Kona's space or Crosstrek's capability fits more of your everyday use.
Keep Crosstrek Hybrid and Kona Electric in separate research
The current 2026 Crosstrek lineup includes Sport Hybrid and Limited Hybrid AWD trims. Subaru publishes an estimated 194-horsepower total system output and 36 city / 36 highway MPG. Hyundai's current U.S. Kona Electric page remains labeled 2025 and publishes electric range and MPGe, not gasoline MPG.
A gas, hybrid and fully electric decision should include daily miles, home charging, road-trip plans, preferred drivetrain and current vehicle availability. This page does not relabel 2025 Kona Electric specifications as 2027 information.
Compare assistance systems by trim and operation
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology is standard on the 2026 Crosstrek lineup. Hyundai lists Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, forward-collision assistance, lane-keeping assistance and lane-following assistance across 2027 Kona trims. Blind-spot, parking-view and rear cross-traffic features can vary by trim or option.
Use a test drive to see the alerts, following-distance settings and controls rather than counting feature names. These systems have operational limits and require an attentive driver; the page makes no safety-ranking or crashworthiness claim.
Build your Crosstrek shortlist before you visit
Pick one or two Crosstrek stock numbers and share the Kona trim and drivetrain you are comparing. We can confirm the Subarus, prepare a focused drive and provide itemized pricing for the vehicle we sell.
A Palm Beach County test-drive plan
Drivers from West Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Beach Gardens and Lake Worth can use familiar roads to compare the details that matter. Confirm your chosen Crosstrek at 3021 Okeechobee Blvd before traveling.
- Okeechobee Boulevard traffic: compare stop-and-go response, brake feel, forward visibility and driver-assistance controls.
- I-95 entry: assess base-engine response and cabin sound at the same normal traffic speeds.
- Parking exercise: test turning radius, mirror views and available camera functions in a real space.
- Family fit: install the child seat or sit behind your own front-seat setting instead of relying on legroom alone.
- Weekend fit: load the golf bag, stroller, luggage, beach gear or pet carrier you plan to use.
Visit Schumacher Subaru: 3021 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. Call 561-253-0175 to confirm availability and timing.
Crosstrek and Kona FAQ
Why are the compared vehicles different model years?
The comparison scope is the 2026 Crosstrek. Hyundai's current U.S. gas-model page is for the 2027 Kona. Both years are shown so a shopper does not mistake older Kona specifications for the current gas model.
Does every Crosstrek and Kona have AWD?
Every 2026 Crosstrek has AWD. The 2027 Kona comes standard with FWD and makes HTRAC AWD available on SE, SEL Sport, SEL Premium and Limited.
Which base engine has more power?
Crosstrek Base publishes 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft. Kona SE publishes 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. Kona SEL Premium and Limited use a different 190-horsepower turbo powertrain, so that higher figure should not be attached to the SE starting price.
Which is more fuel efficient?
Kona SE FWD has the highest base gas estimates at 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG. Crosstrek counters with AWD included and a 26 city / 33 highway rating; Kona SE AWD is 26 / 29 / 27. Choose Kona FWD if maximum base MPG is the priority, or Crosstrek if standard AWD and the stronger AWD highway estimate matter more.
Is the current Kona Electric a 2027 model?
No current 2027 Kona Electric specification was used here. Hyundai's live U.S. Kona Electric page is labeled 2025 as of the review date, so its electric range and MPGe stay outside this 2027 gasoline comparison.
Can this Subaru dealership provide Kona pricing?
No. The Hyundai figures on this page are manufacturer-published research data. Schumacher Subaru can provide inventory, an itemized quote and purchase options for an available Crosstrek; a Hyundai seller must verify Kona transactions.
Take the next step with an available Crosstrek
Review current West Palm Beach listings, choose the exact Crosstrek configuration you want and contact our team to confirm it is ready. We can arrange a focused comparison drive, explain the Subaru's equipment and provide itemized Subaru pricing. Express Store is available when you prefer to keep moving online.
Read the current Crosstrek model guide, compare the Crosstrek and Corolla Cross, or browse the Subaru comparison center. An optional trade estimate is available for any current vehicle.
