Hyundai Kona vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 71
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 27 Oct 2026, price 4 Nov 2026
Hyundai Kona
14 of 27 standard · no option data · 8 not offered · 5 no dataFrom
$33,950
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 110kW
- Economy
- 6.6 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★4 · 2023
- Boot (seats up)
- 407L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 71, but the Hyundai Kona is $12,040 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$33,950RRP
- cannot be matched: 360-Degree Camera, Rain-Sensing Wipers and Heated Front Seats not offered
$45,990RRP
- with the Hyundai Kona's standard kit: $45,990 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Hyundai Kona 2.0 FWD
$33,950
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 4 Nov 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $134 a week in repayments ($33,950 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
About $189 a week in repayments ($45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Hyundai Kona starts $12,040 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$134/wk(≈$580/mo)
Estimate on the Hyundai Kona at $33,950 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai KonaDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the Hyundai Kona at 4 stars (2023) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 80% for the Hyundai Kona and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Subaru Forester, against 6 on the Hyundai Kona.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Hyundai Kona and 9 in the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester adds a 360-degree camera that the Hyundai Kona misses.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 6 of 10 key systems on the Hyundai Kona and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Hyundai Kona
- REC-006734 · published 28 Sep 2026Rear centre seat belt buckle anchor below specificationYear range on the notice: 2025 - 2026
- REC-006589 · published 20 Apr 2026Due to a software issue, the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail to illuminate the visual vehicle speed, fuel level and other critical safety information.Year range on the notice: 2025
- REC-005978 · published 6 Jun 2024The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve sensor may have been exposed to soldering flux contamination during manufacture.Year range on the notice: 2024
- 2 more on the model page.
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Hyundai Kona features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Hyundai Kona stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Hyundai Kona gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth. Climate control is 1-zone in the Hyundai Kona and 2-zone in the Subaru Forester.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Hyundai Kona uses a Petrol producing 110kW and 180Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.9 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 110kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Hyundai Kona measures 4,350mm long on a 2,660mm wheelbase, 305mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Forester generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 407L in the Hyundai Kona and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 89L advantage.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Hyundai Kona's turning circle is 0.2 m tighter, 10.6 m against 10.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Hyundai Kona costs about $1,881 a year (6.6 L/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $371 a year less for the Hyundai Kona.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Hyundai Kona) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Hyundai Kona), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Hyundai Kona: the lower starting price ($33,950 against $45,990) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,881 a year against $2,252).
The Subaru Forester: more power (136kW against 110kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 407L) and the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 1,300kg).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 71
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Hyundai Kona's 71 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: technology (Subaru Forester ahead by 31 points), safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 12 points), fuel economy (Hyundai Kona ahead by 11 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Hyundai Kona costs about $371 less (6.6 L/100km against 7.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 407L in the Hyundai Kona, 496L in the Subaru Forester.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$134/wk(≈$580/mo)
Estimate on the Hyundai Kona at $33,950 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Hyundai KonaDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Hyundai Kona and Subaru Forester?
The Hyundai Kona is the cheapest at $33,950 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Subaru Forester by $12,040.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Hyundai Kona uses the least fuel at 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
The Subaru Forester has the highest ANCAP rating at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Subaru Forester makes the most power at 136kW.
Track the Hyundai Kona & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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