Compare the2026 Subaru TrailseekerVS 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Subaru Trailseeker has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Trailseeker has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Trailseeker has standard Whiplash-Protection Front Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Protection Front Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Trailseeker has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Trailseeker has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Subaru Trailseeker’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Hyundai Kona Electric does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Trailseeker and the Kona Electric 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Subaru Trailseeker weighs 504 to 939 pounds more than the Hyundai Kona Electric. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Hyundai.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Trailseeker’s electric motors produces 242 more horsepower (375 vs. 133) than the Kona Electric SE’s standard electric motor. The Trailseeker’s electric motors produces 174 more horsepower (375 vs. 201) than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Trailseeker is faster than the Kona Electric SEL/Limited/N-Line:

	Trailseeker	Kona Electric
Zero to 60 MPH	3.9 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter Mile	12.5 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	110.5 MPH	93.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Trailseeker gets better mileage than the Kona Electric:

		MPGe
Trailseeker
	Premium Electric Motors	126 city/107 hwy
	Limited/Touring Electric Motors	125 city/103 hwy
Kona Electric
	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	129 city/103 hwy
	N-Line Electric Motor	113 city/93 hwy

The Trailseeker can travel longer on a full charge than the Kona Electric on a full charge:

		Miles
Trailseeker
	Premium Electric Motors	281 miles
	Limited/Touring Electric Motors	274 miles
Kona Electric
	SEL/Limited Electric Motor	261 miles
	N-Line Electric Motor	230 miles
	SE Electric Motor	200 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Trailseeker’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kona Electric:

	Trailseeker	Kona Electric
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	11.8 inches

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

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Trailseeker has larger tires than the Kona Electric (235/60R18 vs. 215/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trailseeker Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Kona Electric. The Trailseeker Limited/Touring’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Kona Electric N-Line.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trailseeker’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Kona Electric (112.2 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

The Trailseeker Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Kona Electric Limited (26.3 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Trailseeker has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Kona Electric (8.5 vs. 5.9 inches), allowing the Trailseeker to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Trailseeker has .4 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more front shoulder room than the Kona Electric.

Cargo Capacity

The Trailseeker has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Kona Electric with its rear seat up (31.3 vs. 25.5 cubic feet). The Trailseeker has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kona Electric with its rear seat folded (74 vs. 63.7 cubic feet).

Towing

The Trailseeker has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The Kona Electric has no towing capacity.

Standard on the Trailseeker uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

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

When two different drivers share the Trailseeker, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Trailseeker’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Trailseeker’s front and rear power windows all 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 Kona Electric’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. With the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Trailseeker the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Subaru service department.) The driver of the Kona Electric can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Trailseeker’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Kona Electric’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Trailseeker has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer headlight washers.

When the Trailseeker Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kona Electric’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Trailseeker has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Kona Electric SEL/N-Line/Limited. The Trailseeker Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Kona Electric.

Both the Trailseeker and the Kona Electric offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Trailseeker has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kona Electric doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Trailseeker has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console for two separate devices. Only the Kona Electric N-Line/Limited offers wireless charging.

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