Hyundai TUCSON vs. Subaru Outback
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Hyundai TUCSON and Subaru Outback contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Hyundai TUCSON and the Subaru Outback.
When we compare the Hyundai TUCSON's and the Subaru Outback's specifications and ratings, the Hyundai TUCSON has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, interior volume and base engine power. The Subaru Outback has the advantage in the areas of reliability, resale value and overall quality score. Based on this comparison of the Hyundai TUCSON's and the Subaru Outback's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: For a new model, the Hyundai TUCSON's price is between $28,937 and $39,829, with the Subaru Outback priced between $32,899 and $42,165.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Hyundai TUCSON loses 39.5 percent of its value and the Subaru Outback loses 39.3 percent of its value. This means the Subaru Outback retains 0.2 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Hyundai TUCSON.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Hyundai TUCSON is 8.1 out of 10 while the Subaru Outback's quality rating is 8.5 out of 10. This results in the Hyundai TUCSON being ranked 13 out of 19 Best Small SUVs and the Subaru Outback being ranked 7 out of 19. Out of 67 Best Crossover SUVs, the Hyundai TUCSON is ranked 33 and the Subaru Outback is ranked 18.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Hyundai TUCSON is 7.5 out of 10. For the Subaru Outback the reliability rating is 8.6 out of 10. This gives the Subaru Outback an advantage in reliability compared to the Hyundai TUCSON.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Hyundai TUCSON’s base engine makes 187 horsepower, and the Subaru Outback base engine makes 182 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: While both models are crossover/compact SUVs, the Hyundai TUCSON has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more rear head room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Subaru Outback has the advantage in the areas of front shoulder room, front leg room and rear shoulder room. The Hyundai TUCSON and Subaru Outback are comparable in regards to front head room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the Subaru Outback has higher safety ratings than the Hyundai TUCSON, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.68 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, the Hyundai TUCSON has the advantage with a Top Safety Pick award.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$28,937 - $39,829
Starting MSRP:
$27,500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
$27,871
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$23,860 - $30,300
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$32,899 - $42,165
Starting MSRP:
$28,895
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
$29,563
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$28,895 - $30,100
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$31,360
Price Range:
$26,134 - $37,565
Category Avg Price:
(Compact SUVs)
$33,244
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$29,649 - $36,546
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1,861
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
13,395
# Good or Great Deals:
374
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$11,139
Depreciation %:
40.5%
Resale Value $:
$16,361
Residual Value %:
59.5%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact SUVs)
42%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact SUVs)
29.1% - 47.3%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$11,628
Depreciation %:
40.2%
Resale Value $:
$17,267
Residual Value %:
59.8%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact SUVs)
34.7%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact SUVs)
31.9% - 40.2%
Hyundai TUCSON Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.5 / 10
Retained Value:
8.0 / 10
Safety:
8.7 / 10
Subaru Outback Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.5 / 10
Reliability:
8.6 / 10
Retained Value:
8.1 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Hyundai TUCSON
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.1
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
10.9
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
9.9 - 13.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
16.8%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru Outback
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.9
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
11.1
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
10.9 - 13.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
22.1%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
6.2
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
1.8 - 18.3
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Hyundai TUCSON Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 7Ranking
6 out of / 6Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
7 out of / 13Ranking
8 out of / 67Ranking
8 out of / 19Ranking
8 out of / 19Ranking
9 out of / 30Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
12 out of / 19Ranking
12 out of / 14Ranking
13 out of / 19Ranking
14 out of / 20Ranking
18 out of / 59Ranking
19 out of / 19Ranking
20 out of / 67Ranking
25 out of / 67Ranking
27 out of / 67Ranking
28 out of / 67Ranking
32 out of / 67Ranking
32 out of / 67Ranking
33 out of / 67Ranking
37 out of / 67Ranking
44 out of / 67Ranking
45 out of / 67Ranking
54 out of / 67Subaru Outback Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 67Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 7Ranking
3 out of / 6Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 20Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 14Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
7 out of / 19Ranking
9 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 13Ranking
12 out of / 67Ranking
12 out of / 30Ranking
13 out of / 19Ranking
14 out of / 67Ranking
15 out of / 67Ranking
16 out of / 67Ranking
18 out of / 67Ranking
21 out of / 67Ranking
21 out of / 67Ranking
25 out of / 59Ranking
26 out of / 67Ranking
27 out of / 67Ranking
29 out of / 67Ranking
30 out of / 67Ranking
34 out of / 67Summary Review
The Hyundai Tucson is a five-passenger SUV with an upscale cabin and plenty of room for cargo and people. The current Tucson was redesigned for the 2022 model year, with new models costing an average of $29,524 and 3-year-old models averaging $20,667.
Summary Review
The Subaru Outback has been a staple on American roads since its inception in 1994. Two different Subaru models, sold side-by-side, bore the Outback name: the wagon-style crossover-SUV we associate with the name today, and the Outback Sport, which eventually became the Crosstrek. The Outback is best known for its standard all-wheel drive, excellent utility, and all-weather capability. New models of the Outback average $36,354 and 3-year-old models average $25,939.
Pros and Cons
- High quality cabin materials
- Plenty of standard safety equipment
- Comfortable ride
- Tricky capacitive infotainment controls
- No volume knob
- No wireless Apple CarPlay with large screen
Pros and Cons
- Utilitarian with easy entry and exit and highly function cargo space
- Comfortable ride quality with an upscale interior
- Excellent all-weather and light off-road capability
- Not always fast or inspirational for driving enthusiasts
- Similarly-sized SUVs often have more cargo and passenger room
- Fuel economy can be less than expected
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Hyundai TUCSON Trim Levels
Limited, SE, SEL, XRT
Subaru Outback Trim Levels
Base, Limited, Limited XT, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition XT, Premium, Touring, Touring XT, Wilderness
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.68 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
187 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque:
178 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.056 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
2000 lbs
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque:
176 foot-lbs @ 4400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.050 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 32 / 28
Range (city/hwy):
358 / 458 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Flat/Horizontally Opposed
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Trailer Hitch:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Roof Rack:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Wifi:
Available
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Available
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Available
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.6 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Cargo Space:
38.7 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
74.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
146.9 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.1 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
58.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
57.4 inches
Cargo Space:
32.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
75.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
141.6 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3346 lbs
Width:
73.4 inches
Height:
65.6 inches
Length:
182.3 inches
Wheelbase:
108.5 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.1 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3641 lbs
Width:
82 inches
Height:
66.4 inches
Length:
191.1 inches
Wheelbase:
108.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
8.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
235/65R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/65R17
Exterior Colors
Black
Phantom Black Pearl
Blue
Deep Sea Metallic / Intense Blue Pearl
Gray
Hampton Gray Metallic / Portofino Gray Metallic / Titan Gray
Red
Ultimate Red Pearl
Silver
Curated Silver Metallic / Shimmering Silver Metallic
White
Serenity White Pearl
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Silica
Blue
Cosmic Blue Pearl
Gray
Magnetite Gray Metallic
Red
Not available
Silver
Ice Silver Metallic
White
Crystal White Pearl
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Gray
Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Slate Black
Gray
Not available
