Compare the2025 Subaru ImprezaVS 2025 Hyundai Tucson

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Subaru Impreza has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tucson doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Tucson doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Impreza. But it costs extra on the Tucson.

Both the Impreza and the Tucson have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Hyundai Tucson:

	Impreza	Tucson
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	222	364
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	24%
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	170	325
Neck Injury Risk	28.8%	35%
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	59 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Hyundai Tucson:

	Impreza	Tucson
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	144 lbs.	223 lbs.
Hip Force	6 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	59 G’s	59 G’s
Hip Force	423 lbs.	751 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	254	332

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Impreza, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 6.6% to 8.1% less likely to roll over than the Tucson, which received a four-star rating.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impreza’s reliability 35 points higher than the Tucson.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 10th.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Hyundai Tucson:

	Impreza	Tucson
Zero to 60 MPH	9.4 sec	9.6 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Tucson doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Impreza gets better mileage than the Tucson:

			MPG
Impreza
	AWD	2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
Tucson
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy

The Impreza has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tucson (16.6 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Impreza has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tucson doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Impreza’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Tucson are solid, not vented.

The Impreza stops shorter than the Tucson:

	Impreza	Tucson
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	130 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Impreza’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tucson’s standard 65 series tires. The Impreza Sport/RS’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Tucson’s optional 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru Impreza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 500 pounds less than the Hyundai Tucson.

The Impreza is 6.5 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Impreza is 7.3 inches shorter in height than the Tucson, making the Impreza much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The Impreza has 1.5 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more front hip room than the Tucson.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Tucson. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 66% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 30th.

Ergonomics

The Impreza’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Tucson’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Impreza has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Tucson doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Impreza’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Tucson offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Impreza has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Tucson SEL/XRT/Limited.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Impreza and the Hyundai Tucson, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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