2020 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup by offering a more affordable subcompact SUV option compared to the slightly more premium Kona. The Venue's design was characterized by its upright stance and distinctive features like a large chrome grille and a contrasting white roof on the Denim trim. Inside, the Venue provided a modern and clean cabin with ample head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers, despite its compact size. The Venue's trims, SE, SEL, and Denim, offered a range of features, with the Denim trim standing out for its unique denim upholstery and two-tone exterior.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered a more diverse lineup with six distinct trims, each with unique styling cues. The Tahoe's design was dominated by its grille, with LED headlights and expressive taillights adding to its bold appearance. The Tahoe's styling was more subtle compared to its predecessor, with a focus on larger wheel options to enhance its look. The interior of the Tahoe was centered around a larger 10.2-inch infotainment screen and new electronic transmission controls, although the control layout was somewhat compromised. The Tahoe's cabin featured a mix of soft-touch surfaces and hard plastics, with leather seating available from the LT trim upwards.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a single 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a manual transmission on the base trim, while most trims came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT). The Venue was front-wheel drive only, lacking an all-wheel-drive option. Despite its SUV aspirations, the Venue's performance was more akin to a compact hatchback, with underwhelming acceleration and a noisy engine. The Venue's fuel economy was commendable, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options, starting with a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, standard on most trims. The High Country trim featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine was also available, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, except for the Z71 trim. The Tahoe's 10-speed automatic transmission and optional four-wheel-drive system, standard on the Z71, provided impressive towing capabilities of up to 8,400 pounds. The Tahoe's new independent rear suspension, along with adaptive damping and air suspension options, significantly improved ride quality and handling.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered decent interior space for its size. With 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, it fell short compared to the Hyundai Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. However, the Venue provided ample head- and legroom in the front seats, even for taller drivers, and decent legroom in the rear. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for key functions, although the automatic climate control on higher trims had a somewhat confusing display.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from its new independent rear suspension, offering improved passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel, with a power sliding storage console providing additional convenience. The second-row offered a choice between a bench seat or captain's chairs, with easy access to the third row. The Tahoe's cargo space was substantial, with 25.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 72.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet, surpassing most competitors in its class.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system's layout was logical and user-friendly, with large icons and fonts, and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen placement was well-designed, allowing for easy use while driving.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new digital platform offering enhanced computing power and cybersecurity. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and Chevrolet Connected Services. The system was intuitive, though the main-menu shortcut icons were somewhat difficult to access. The test vehicle also included a Rear Seat Media system, offering versatile entertainment options for rear passengers.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. It also featured impressive driver-assistance technology, including forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with the Convenience Package, standard on the Denim trim.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe included standard safety features such as Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims or options added lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. Premier and High Country trims offered adaptive cruise control and high-speed automatic emergency braking. The Tahoe's available surround-view camera was recommended for maneuvering in tight spaces.