2023 Subaru Forester vs. 2024 Hyundai Tucson Comparison

The SUV is the new American family car, and a compact SUV is all many people need. Today’s compact SUVs are as powerful as the midsize cars of a generation ago but provide more cargo space and let you see over much of traffic.

But one can be very different than another.

The 2023 Subaru Forester is both an excellent commuter and a strong off-roader, balancing sensible shoes with the rugged reach of a good pair of hikers. The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offers outstanding space, several powertrain choices, and a long warranty. But it’s nobody’s trail runner.

Let’s see how a shopper might compare these two. This comparison uses the 2023 Outback and the 2024 Tucson because those are the model years in showrooms today.

2023 Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester has a huge tribe of loyalists who love its safety, off-road capability, and firmly-planted driving feel. It’s available in six trim levels from meets-your-needs to coddles-you-in-leather. There’s even a Wilderness edition for those who want a little more ruggedness in their daily driver. Prices start at $26,495.

Subaru Forester Highlights:

Standard all-wheel drive (AWD): If you’re considering an SUV because you deal with snow, ice, or mountainous terrain, you’ll want to note that every Forester comes with grippy AWD out of the box. Hyundai offers AWD on the Tucson, but it’s a $1,500 option.

Lower starting price: The Forester starts at a lower price than the Tucson. Add AWD to the Tucson, and the gap grows. It also comes in six trim levels, compared to three for the Tucson, so it’s easier to customize the right model (and price) for you.

Available Wilderness model: Those who know they’ll take their new SUV off-road regularly might want to look closely at the Forester’s Wilderness trim. It adds off-road goodies like extra ground clearance, dual-function X-Mode for different surfaces, and the kind of all-terrain tires that make you more confident in the mud at the kayak launch. Hyundai has no answer for it.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Forester models for sale near you.

2024 Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson beats much of the compact SUV class on cargo space and comes with a warranty that brings owners long-term peace of mind. It’s also available as a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid and offers luxury-like options such as self-parking tech. Pricing starts at $27,250.

Hyundai Tucson Highlights

Gas, hybrid, plug-in options: Subaru has an outdoorsy image but can’t sell you a Forester that reduces your carbon footprint. Hyundai builds the Tucson with a gasoline powertrain, a hybrid powertrain that gets up to 38 mpg in combined driving, or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) setup capable of traveling 33 miles on electric power alone and then using gas.

Exceptional warranty: Hyundai protects Tucson buyers with a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Each is longer than Subaru’s equivalent. If you keep your car for a long time, protection from surprise repair bills can be a real comfort.

More cargo space: The Tucson is compact but has cargo space measurements that almost rival some midsize SUVs. It bests the Forester with the rear seats folded. With all seats in use, the difference is even more pronounced.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Tucson models for sale near you

Similarities

Five-star safety scores, similar entry prices.

Conclusion

Most drivers would be happy with either of these two choices. Deciding between them might come down to how you plan to use your SUV.

If the great outdoors are a big part of your lifestyle, or if you live where winter weather affects the way you drive, the Forester might be a better call. Critics love its standard symmetrical AWD system. Subaru’s low-mounted boxer engines also give it a planted, stable feel. And its lower price – particularly once AWD is factored in – makes the decision for some.

But the Tucson will carry more and offers the financial protection of a much longer warranty. It also comes in hybrid and PHEV editions that cost more but reduce your reliance on gasoline.

Specifications: