2023 Subaru Forester Vs Hyundai Tucson: A Comparison

Subaru Forester Vs Hyundai Tuscan

Table of Contents

The compact SUV market is brimming with options, and the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson are among the frontrunners in this competitive segment. Both vehicles have developed strong reputations for their performance, comfort, and style, making it difficult for potential buyers to choose between them. 

By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of which vehicle best suits your needs.

Exterior Design:

The 2023 Subaru Forester is known for its rugged and functional design, maintaining a familiar look that fans have come to appreciate. It boasts a sturdy front fascia, striking LED headlights, and a prominent grille, giving the Forester a confident road presence. Its overall shape, combined with a high ground clearance, emphasizes its off-road capabilities.

On the other hand, the 2023 Hyundai Tucson showcases a modern, fluid design that gives it a distinctive appearance. The Tucson’s front fascia features a bold, cascading grille with hidden LED headlights, creating a cohesive and futuristic look. Its sleek lines and sculpted bodywork convey a sense of motion, making it an eye-catching option in the compact SUV segment.

Interior Design:

Inside the 2023 Subaru Forester, you’ll find a clean, ergonomic design that emphasizes practicality and comfort. High-quality materials are used throughout the cabin, and the layout of the controls is intuitive, making the Forester easy to operate. Subaru’s STARLINK infotainment system features a large, responsive touchscreen that offers access to various multimedia and connectivity options.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson’s interior design is modern and sophisticated, with an emphasis on technology and style. The Tucson features a digital instrument cluster and a floating touchscreen, giving the cabin a futuristic feel. The use of high-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces adds a sense of luxury to the interior, while the ambient lighting enhances the overall atmosphere.

Seating:

Both the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson offer comfortable seating for up to five passengers. The Forester provides ample headroom and legroom for occupants, ensuring a comfortable ride even on long journeys. The seats are supportive, and higher trims offer premium features like leather upholstery and heated seats.

The Tucson also offers a comfortable seating experience, with ample space for passengers in both the front and rear. Its seats are well-cushioned and supportive, providing a pleasant ride. Higher trim levels offer features such as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and power-adjustable front seats.

Storage:

When it comes to storage, both the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson excel in their respective categories. The Forester provides a generous 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, which can be expanded to 74.2 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. Additionally, the Forester offers numerous storage compartments throughout the cabin for smaller items.

The Hyundai Tucson also offers impressive cargo space, with 38.7 cubic feet available behind the rear seats and up to 74.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Like the Forester, the Tucson includes multiple storage compartments for added convenience.

Performance:

The 2023 Subaru Forester comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Forester delivers smooth, responsive performance. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system provides excellent traction and stability, making the Forester a capable off-road vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson offers a choice of two powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque, and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 226 horsepower (in the hybrid version). The base engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid utilizes a six-speed automatic. The Tucson offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, depending on the trim level.

In terms of performance, the Subaru Forester’s standard all-wheel drive and slightly higher ground clearance give it an edge in off-road capabilities. However, the Hyundai Tucson’s available hybrid powertrain provides a more powerful and efficient alternative for those who prioritize fuel efficiency and on-road performance.

Fuel Efficiency:

The 2023 Subaru Forester offers competitive fuel efficiency, with EPA estimates of 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. These numbers are impressive considering the standard all-wheel drive system.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, offers even better fuel efficiency, especially in its hybrid form. The base engine achieves EPA estimates of 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined for the front-wheel drive model, while the all-wheel drive version offers 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The hybrid powertrain boasts an impressive EPA rating of 38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.

Safety:

Both the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson come equipped with an array of advanced safety features to keep you and your passengers protected. The Forester features Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, pre-collision braking, and more.

The Hyundai Tucson also offers a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, and more. Hyundai’s SmartSense package further enhances the Tucson’s safety credentials, with features like blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision warning, and safe exit assist.

Trim Levels:

The 2023 Subaru Forester is available in five trim levels: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring. Each trim level offers a unique combination of features, such as a power rear gate, heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon premium audio system, and more, allowing you to customize the Forester to your preferences.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson comes in four trim levels for the non-hybrid model: SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited. The hybrid version is available in three trims: Blue, SEL Convenience, and Limited. As with the Forester, each trim level offers a distinct set of features, including a panoramic sunroof, wireless device charging, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor.

Pricing:

The 2023 Subaru Forester starts at an MSRP of around $25,500 for the base model, while the top-of-the-line Touring trim begins at around $35,000. Prices vary based on the chosen trim level and additional options.

The 2023 Hyundai Tucson has a starting MSRP of approximately $24,900 for the base SE trim, while the range-topping Limited trim starts at around $34,000. The hybrid models begin at around $29,000 for the Blue trim and go up to around $38,000 for the Limited trim. As with the Forester, prices will vary depending on the selected trim and additional features.

Key Differences:

While the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson share some similarities as compact SUVs, there are several key differences between these two vehicles that may influence your decision.

Performance: 

The Forester comes standard with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and a 2.5-liter engine, providing excellent traction and off-road performance. The Tucson, however, offers a choice between a 2.5-liter engine or a more powerful and efficient 1.6-liter turbocharged hybrid powertrain, giving buyers more options for their preferred driving experience.

Fuel Efficiency: 

While the Forester provides competitive fuel efficiency, the Tucson’s hybrid powertrain takes the lead in this category, offering impressive EPA estimates of 38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.

Drivetrain: 

The Subaru Forester comes standard with an all-wheel drive system, making it well-suited for off-road adventures and challenging driving conditions. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options depending on the trim level, catering to a broader range of buyer preferences.

Trim Levels and Pricing: 

The Forester is available in five trim levels, while the Tucson offers four trims for the non-hybrid model and three for the hybrid version. The starting price of the Forester is slightly higher than the Tucson, but the difference in pricing across the range is minimal.

Final Thoughts: 

When it comes to choosing between the 2023 Subaru Forester and Hyundai Tucson, it ultimately boils down to your personal priorities and preferences. The Forester stands out with its rugged design and off-road capabilities, making it an excellent choice for adventure enthusiasts, while the Tucson’s sleek appearance and focus on fuel efficiency cater to those who appreciate modern design and cutting-edge technology. 

Both vehicles offer an array of features, comfortable interiors, and competitive pricing, ensuring that whichever you choose, you’ll be driving a top-quality compact SUV. Take the time to assess your unique requirements and desires, and you’ll undoubtedly find the perfect match in either the Forester or Tucson.

Features Breakdown:

Subaru Forester:

  • Exterior Design:
    • Rugged and functional design
    • Prominent grille and striking LED headlights
    • High ground clearance for off-road capabilities
  • Interior Design:
    • Clean and ergonomic layout
    • High-quality materials
    • Intuitive controls and large touchscreen for the STARLINK infotainment system
  • Seating:
    • Comfortable seating for up to five passengers
    • Ample headroom and legroom
    • Supportive seats with available leather upholstery and heated seats
  • Storage:
    • 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space (74.2 cubic feet with rear seats folded)
    • Numerous storage compartments throughout the cabin
  • Performance:
    • 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque
    • Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
    • Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system
  • Fuel Efficiency:
    • EPA estimates: 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, 29 mpg combined
  • Safety:
    • Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
    • Features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and pre-collision braking
  • Trim Levels:
    • Five options: Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, and Touring
  • Pricing:
    • Starting MSRP: around $25,500 (Base) to $35,000 (Touring)

Hyundai Tucson:

  • Exterior Design:
    • Modern, fluid design
    • Bold cascading grille with hidden LED headlights
    • Sleek lines and sculpted bodywork
  • Interior Design:
    • Sophisticated and futuristic layout
    • Digital instrument cluster and floating touchscreen
    • High-quality materials and ambient lighting
  • Seating:
    • Comfortable seating for up to five passengers
    • Ample space in both front and rear
    • Well-cushioned and supportive seats with available leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats
  • Storage:
    • 38.7 cubic feet of cargo space (74.8 cubic feet with rear seats folded)
    • Multiple storage compartments throughout the cabin
  • Performance:
    • Two powertrains: 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (190 horsepower, 182 lb-ft of torque) and 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (226 horsepower in hybrid)
    • Eight-speed automatic transmission (base engine), six-speed automatic transmission (hybrid)
    • Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options
  • Fuel Efficiency:
    • Base engine (FWD): 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, 29 mpg combined
    • Base engine (AWD): 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, 26 mpg combined
    • Hybrid powertrain: 38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, 38 mpg combined
  • Safety:
    • Comprehensive suite of safety features: forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, etc.
    • Hyundai SmartSense package: blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision warning, safe exit assist
  • Trim Levels:
    • Non-hybrid: SE, SEL, N Line, Limited
    • Hybrid: Blue, SEL Convenience, Limited
  • Pricing:
    • Starting MSRP: around $24,900 (SE) to $34,000 (Limited)
    • Hybrid MSRP: around $29,000 (Blue) to $38,000 (Limited)

About Marcus The Car Guy

I've been in car sales and finance for over 20 years, working at the highest volume dealerships in the nation including Fletcher Jones, DCH and more. Want to pick my brain on finding cars, negotiating cars, and structuring car deals?

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