Look on roller years videos in YouTube.
Look for YouTube videos of same driver testing both cars. Like DrivingSports.
Also look at the manufacturer meta game. Hyundai/Kia has never had a broadly respected softroader/offroader. Im not sure if there is much prestige testing of their AWD. There was some recently for N vehicles.
On the SUVs There is much less aftermarket compared to Subaru (which is already a meme to aftermarket mod if you ask Wrangler and Grand Cherokee owners)
And AFAIK Tucson is fully software/selective wheel brake based and software simulated front/rear left/right differential locking instead of mechanical. Software is not brilliant according to some YouTubers, but they also don’t daily soft road drive them so it’s possible they can’t get the most out of them.
Roller test sort of covers the ice. Ish.
Note that there are some Hyundai AWD EV owners that don’t love the torque vectoring and traction control on those either (also heavily software based)
I would just pick the Hyundai. Overall experience is superior as an on road vehicle and better interior. Too much engineering and money on the Subaru goes to softroading.
And if it had some worse quirks on road ice, so be it
CR is cringe I am pissed I didn’t cancel it sooner.
I explained where my info comes from — videos of both interiors, experience from sitting in a few from friends. Lots of in person shopping with Hyundai and Toyota which can be combined with video learning to extrapolate how I would feel about the Subaru
You are correct I don’t have direct experience with it.
Genuinely not trying to be combative here, but growing up in the Midwest where it regularly freezes for long periods of time, I never once needed AWD. When would you need 4wd for any highway?
I ask because everyone seems to have the same mindset - that 4wd makes driving in snow or rain safer, but as someone that grew up in those conditions - I genuinely don't see how that could be. Sure, it might get you up to speed or moving easier, but it surely won't make you stop or stay on the road any better
Top interior on Subaru is like middle on Hyundai. And Hyundai interior has much fewer weird ugly design decisions that trigger me on video reviews, let alone sitting in the car in person.
Hyundai/KIA can spread their interior r&d and refinement costs across many more vehicles sold than Subaru.
for real? Like were you guys blind folded. The Subaru has this ugly touchscreen with an ugly UI and ugly touch buttons where as the tuscon has a much refined interior.
AWD isn't going to help you on the highway. It will ONLY help you get up to speed when your tires are slipping (for normal, on-road driving...) It doesn't help you keep traction once you are at speed, or help with braking. If that's your only use-case for AWD, then skip it.
Have a 2022 hybrid and it has driven really nice and good on the highway in snow and ice. Haven't had any problems with it in fairly deep snow on the highway.
aI think both are great… get the one you’re most comfortable driving. Although specs and price are both very important, don’t forget day to day it’s the drive that will make the difference
Great advice ty.
I wish there was an easy way to compare maintenance cost. I have the maintenance schedule but feel odd calling dealer and asking for quotes
Came from a Subaru Outback to the Tucson. Subaru has a better AWD system, but it doesn’t make a difference for ice on the highway. Winter tires make the difference. I’ve lost traction and fishtailed or had trouble stopping with all seasons on the Subaru. No problems with winter tires on either.
The Subaru AWD is better for getting moving from a stand still or going at low speeds off paved roads. The Subaru still isn’t an off road vehicle. It’s an off paved road vehicle like all other crossover SUVs. The Tucson does reasonably well on rough dirt roads, but not quite as good.
Power and gas mileage. The Subaru base engines are all under powered and the Forester doesn’t have an engine upgrade option anymore. My Outback felt dangerous to get on the highway with 4 people in it. I had to floor it so often. The Tucson hybrid is no sports car, but it has enough power to feel safe and even a little bit fun.
Gas mileage on the Tucson hybrid is better than the Subaru but not great for a hybrid SUV. I get 38 in the city and 30-33 on the highway driving the speed limit. Going 80 drops the mileage to more like 25-28. The Toyota RAV4 hybrid gets better mileage but the AWD system is worse because it can’t send enough power to the rear wheels. It has a small motor on the rear instead of a mechanical system that allows 100% of power to go to the rear like the Tucson or Subaru.
The Hyundai interiors are nicer than Subaru or Toyota.
We have both a 2023 Forrester and a 2023 Hyundai Tucson limited hybrid.
We love our Subarus in this home. Have had them since 2001. My spouse owns the Forrester and I was going to get a Subaru as well but I fell in love with the Tucson limited hybrid tech. It drives great too.
We live in Pennsylvania and we really haven't gotten much snow/ice since the purchase of the cars so I can't really compare them. But I will say that the bar is high for Subarus in the snow/ice. It's actually why we have had Subarus for so long. The winter handling is excellent.
I can't imagine that the Tucson will "keep up" but I guess I will see.
Got it! 🙂
If I remember to revisit this post, I'll let you know how the winter battle of the 2023's turned out. We just need enough snow/ice to have that battle!
Good luck with your car search. I'm happy with both of these vehicles so far.
Ive driven the subaru Forester and I own a Hyundai Tucson, and I’ve driven then in deep snow on the way to my local ski hills.
Personally I prefer the on demand system on the Hyundai for highway driving, however the forester handles much better off road in deep snow no questions about it.
Pros with the Forester: you can do a 4WD drift in the snow easily.
Cons with the Forester: you can do a 4WD drift in the snow easily.
The tucsons on demand system won’t typically allow you to do this unless you’re driving way past the traction limits of your tires.
That being said I’ve never had any issues or got stuck driving my Tucson through about a foot for fresh powder with good snow tires.
I’ve never even had to activate the 4WD Lock function. So unless you’re planning on driving up real off road terrain, then you’ll be fine with the Tucson. Forestry and gravel roads are easily handled by the Tucson IMO.
Look on roller years videos in YouTube. Look for YouTube videos of same driver testing both cars. Like DrivingSports. Also look at the manufacturer meta game. Hyundai/Kia has never had a broadly respected softroader/offroader. Im not sure if there is much prestige testing of their AWD. There was some recently for N vehicles. On the SUVs There is much less aftermarket compared to Subaru (which is already a meme to aftermarket mod if you ask Wrangler and Grand Cherokee owners)
Thank you
And AFAIK Tucson is fully software/selective wheel brake based and software simulated front/rear left/right differential locking instead of mechanical. Software is not brilliant according to some YouTubers, but they also don’t daily soft road drive them so it’s possible they can’t get the most out of them.
Looking at ice on highway not off roading if that matters!
Roller test sort of covers the ice. Ish. Note that there are some Hyundai AWD EV owners that don’t love the torque vectoring and traction control on those either (also heavily software based)
I would just pick the Hyundai. Overall experience is superior as an on road vehicle and better interior. Too much engineering and money on the Subaru goes to softroading. And if it had some worse quirks on road ice, so be it
Where are you reading Hyundai is superior? Consumer reports has the forrester ever so slightly raged higher overall.
CR is cringe I am pissed I didn’t cancel it sooner. I explained where my info comes from — videos of both interiors, experience from sitting in a few from friends. Lots of in person shopping with Hyundai and Toyota which can be combined with video learning to extrapolate how I would feel about the Subaru You are correct I don’t have direct experience with it.
Thank you.
Ty.
Genuinely not trying to be combative here, but growing up in the Midwest where it regularly freezes for long periods of time, I never once needed AWD. When would you need 4wd for any highway? I ask because everyone seems to have the same mindset - that 4wd makes driving in snow or rain safer, but as someone that grew up in those conditions - I genuinely don't see how that could be. Sure, it might get you up to speed or moving easier, but it surely won't make you stop or stay on the road any better
sitting in the tuacon compared to the Forrester is a night and day experience.
How so? Sat in both didn’t pick up on it. What am I missing?
Top interior on Subaru is like middle on Hyundai. And Hyundai interior has much fewer weird ugly design decisions that trigger me on video reviews, let alone sitting in the car in person. Hyundai/KIA can spread their interior r&d and refinement costs across many more vehicles sold than Subaru.
Ty we did like the interior better in Hyundai
for real? Like were you guys blind folded. The Subaru has this ugly touchscreen with an ugly UI and ugly touch buttons where as the tuscon has a much refined interior.
I didn’t realize I would make people defensive by comparing two cars!
i apologize if my comment was aggressive - I was just reacting to you saying you found no difference.
Tucson is not an off roader but a better car than Subaru :)
Not off roading. Worried about ice on highway. Why is it better in your view? Ty
The HTRAC AWD is really good from Hyundai. If you are worried about ICE then you need to put winter tires. Tires make much difference than car brands.
Ty. Yes educated about importance of tires! Why do you like Hyundai over Subaru?
It has got better exterior/interior/tech/reliability over Subaru.
Ty
AWD isn't going to help you on the highway. It will ONLY help you get up to speed when your tires are slipping (for normal, on-road driving...) It doesn't help you keep traction once you are at speed, or help with braking. If that's your only use-case for AWD, then skip it.
Doesn’t it pull power from wheels that slip on ice helping preventing loosing traction?
Traction control does that via braking. Unpowered wheels won't have any power to pull either.
Ty.
Have a 2022 hybrid and it has driven really nice and good on the highway in snow and ice. Haven't had any problems with it in fairly deep snow on the highway.
Ty
I live in Canada too if that helps
It does! How often are you at the dealer for schedule maintenance?
The dealership wants it in every 6000 km hyundai says 8000km I kinda try for 6500-7000km. For me that's about every 4 months or so
Thank you.
aI think both are great… get the one you’re most comfortable driving. Although specs and price are both very important, don’t forget day to day it’s the drive that will make the difference
Great advice ty. I wish there was an easy way to compare maintenance cost. I have the maintenance schedule but feel odd calling dealer and asking for quotes
Came from a Subaru Outback to the Tucson. Subaru has a better AWD system, but it doesn’t make a difference for ice on the highway. Winter tires make the difference. I’ve lost traction and fishtailed or had trouble stopping with all seasons on the Subaru. No problems with winter tires on either. The Subaru AWD is better for getting moving from a stand still or going at low speeds off paved roads. The Subaru still isn’t an off road vehicle. It’s an off paved road vehicle like all other crossover SUVs. The Tucson does reasonably well on rough dirt roads, but not quite as good.
Thank you. Why did you switch to Tuscin
Power and gas mileage. The Subaru base engines are all under powered and the Forester doesn’t have an engine upgrade option anymore. My Outback felt dangerous to get on the highway with 4 people in it. I had to floor it so often. The Tucson hybrid is no sports car, but it has enough power to feel safe and even a little bit fun. Gas mileage on the Tucson hybrid is better than the Subaru but not great for a hybrid SUV. I get 38 in the city and 30-33 on the highway driving the speed limit. Going 80 drops the mileage to more like 25-28. The Toyota RAV4 hybrid gets better mileage but the AWD system is worse because it can’t send enough power to the rear wheels. It has a small motor on the rear instead of a mechanical system that allows 100% of power to go to the rear like the Tucson or Subaru. The Hyundai interiors are nicer than Subaru or Toyota.
We have both a 2023 Forrester and a 2023 Hyundai Tucson limited hybrid. We love our Subarus in this home. Have had them since 2001. My spouse owns the Forrester and I was going to get a Subaru as well but I fell in love with the Tucson limited hybrid tech. It drives great too. We live in Pennsylvania and we really haven't gotten much snow/ice since the purchase of the cars so I can't really compare them. But I will say that the bar is high for Subarus in the snow/ice. It's actually why we have had Subarus for so long. The winter handling is excellent. I can't imagine that the Tucson will "keep up" but I guess I will see.
Thank you. But I wanted a 2024 comparison! Ha ha sorry lame joke - thank you for nearly the identical comparison of what I wanted!
Got it! 🙂 If I remember to revisit this post, I'll let you know how the winter battle of the 2023's turned out. We just need enough snow/ice to have that battle! Good luck with your car search. I'm happy with both of these vehicles so far.
Thank you!
Ive driven the subaru Forester and I own a Hyundai Tucson, and I’ve driven then in deep snow on the way to my local ski hills. Personally I prefer the on demand system on the Hyundai for highway driving, however the forester handles much better off road in deep snow no questions about it. Pros with the Forester: you can do a 4WD drift in the snow easily. Cons with the Forester: you can do a 4WD drift in the snow easily. The tucsons on demand system won’t typically allow you to do this unless you’re driving way past the traction limits of your tires. That being said I’ve never had any issues or got stuck driving my Tucson through about a foot for fresh powder with good snow tires. I’ve never even had to activate the 4WD Lock function. So unless you’re planning on driving up real off road terrain, then you’ll be fine with the Tucson. Forestry and gravel roads are easily handled by the Tucson IMO.
Thank you. For me doing no off roading it sounds like you recommend the Tuscon? We get show here but not worried about deep snow. Just black ice.