2020 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup by entering the subcompact SUV segment, despite the earlier introduction of the Kona in 2018. While both vehicles operated in the same segment, the Kona was more premium, powerful, and offered all-wheel drive, unlike the Venue, which was designed as an affordable people-mover with an upright design. The Venue stood out with features like a white contrasting roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the larger Hyundai Palisade. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and clean cabin with ample space for both front and rear passengers, providing excellent visibility due to its upright layout and large windows. The Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Denim trims, with the SEL being the recommended choice when paired with the Premium package for added features.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade, particularly in the Calligraphy trim, distinguished itself with a unique grille pattern, revised lighting, and upgraded interior detailing. The Calligraphy trim made the Palisade appear more luxurious, drawing attention with its unconventional styling. Inside, the Palisade's cabin was plush, featuring premium Nappa leather and a simulated suede headliner, making it a bargain compared to other midsize three-row SUVs. The Palisade's design and features, such as the Beige over Navy Blue color scheme and striated simulated wood trim, contributed to its upscale appearance, rivaling even the Kia Telluride SX Prestige in luxury.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a manual transmission on the base trim, while most trims featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT). The Venue was front-wheel drive only, lacking an all-wheel-drive option, which limited its capability compared to other SUVs. Acceleration was underwhelming, with the engine making significant noise when pushed. The Venue offered drive modes like Normal, Snow, and Sport, but even in Sport mode, it struggled to reach highway speeds quickly. Despite its taller setup, the Venue handled corners with minimal body roll, though it communicated every bump and crack in the road. Fuel economy was decent, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade featured a robust 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade offered front-wheel drive as standard, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. Drivers could choose between Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport driving modes, with AWD models adding Snow mode and a Lock function for improved traction. The Palisade's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, and it averaged 21.1 mpg during testing. The Palisade's suspension provided excellent body-motion control, making it enjoyable to drive without sacrificing comfort. It was predictable and confidence-inspiring, with plenty of power and easy handling in urban and suburban environments. The Palisade also boasted a 5,000-pound towing capacity, enhanced by a new seven-pin trailer pre-wiring connector.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered decent interior space for its size. It had 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, compared to the Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. With the rear seats up, both vehicles provided around 19 cubic feet of space. The Venue excelled in front-seat head- and legroom, even accommodating taller drivers with usable legroom in the back. The control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for radio and climate controls. However, the automatic climate control on higher trims had a display that resembled a dial, which could be confusing.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space, seating, and accessibility. It featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and separate climate controls for third-row passengers. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and could slide for passenger and cargo flexibility. The third-row seat was more accommodating than most in its class. The Palisade offered generous in-cabin storage, with a storage tray under the center console. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row down. The hands-free Smart Liftgate added convenience, though it could be disabled if desired.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The layout was logical, with large icons and fonts for easy readability, and redundant hard buttons on the dash for major functions. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, as it partially extended from the dash without protruding like a tablet.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade offered two infotainment systems: an 8-inch and a 10.25-inch touchscreen display. Both systems could pair two smartphones to Bluetooth simultaneously, but only the 8-inch setup offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Calligraphy trim included features like SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, Blue Link connected services, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Additional technology included wireless smartphone charging, a Driver Talk intercom system, Quiet Mode, and a head-up display. A surround-view camera system aided parking and maneuvering in tight spaces.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. It also included driver-assistance technologies like 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, which were standard on the Denim trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade excelled in safety, offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and multiple lane-keeping systems. It featured a rear occupant alert system, with more sophisticated ultrasonic detection on higher trims. Most Palisades included active blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning systems, as well as a Safe Exit Assist system. The Limited and Calligraphy trims added a Blind View Monitor and Blue Link services for additional safety features. Highway Drive Assist provided smooth and sophisticated adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The Palisade earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, ensuring protection in the event of a collision.