2021 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup by entering the subcompact SUV segment, which had been missing for years. Despite the introduction of the Kona in 2018, the Venue distinguished itself as a more affordable option with a straightforward design. It featured unique touches like a contrasting white 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 came in three trims: SE, SEL, and Denim, each offering a range of features from basic to more premium options.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe presented a more upscale experience, making it feel like a bargain for its price. It offered a choice of new gasoline engines and a hybrid powertrain, with trims ranging from SE to the luxurious Calligraphy. The Santa Fe's exterior featured a redesigned front end with new running lights and grille, while the interior boasted new colors and textures, elevating its market position. The Calligraphy trim, in particular, exuded quality with its premium leather and panoramic sunroof. Despite its bold exterior design, the Santa Fe's interior was praised for its fit, finish, and overall sense of value.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a single 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, and the engine was noisy, especially when trying to reach highway speeds. Despite its taller setup, the Venue handled corners with minimal body roll, but the ride was firm, transmitting road imperfections to the cabin. Fuel economy was a strong point, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe offered three new powertrains, starting with a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE and SEL trims. The hybrid model combined a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 226 hp. The Limited and Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Santa Fe's driving modes included Normal, Sport, and Smart, with the latter focusing on fuel efficiency. The turbocharged engine provided impressive performance, and the SUV exhibited excellent body control and ride quality. Fuel economy for the turbocharged engine was rated at 24 mpg combined, with the Santa Fe averaging 22.4 mpg during testing.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered a practical interior with ample head- and legroom in the front seats. The rear seats provided decent legroom even with the front seats pushed back. However, cargo space was limited, with only 31.9 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded, compared to the Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. The Venue's control layout was user-friendly, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions. The automatic climate control on higher trims featured a unique display that could be mistaken for a dial.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, designed for those who didn't need a third-row seat, offered generous passenger space and comfort. All trims included dual-zone automatic climate control, with stain-resistant fabric on cloth seats and leather available on higher trims. The Calligraphy trim featured premium Nappa leather and a suede-like headliner. The Santa Fe's seats were comfortable for long drives, with power adjustments and heating/ventilation options on higher trims. The rear seat was spacious, with air-conditioning vents, USB ports, and sunshades. The smart hands-free power liftgate revealed 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

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 intuitive, with large icons and fonts, and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, as it was partially integrated into the dash.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy was packed with technology, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a surround-view camera system, and an 8.5-inch head-up display. The basic 8-inch touchscreen offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the 10.25-inch screen provided wired versions with enhanced voice recognition and Blue Link services. The Harman Kardon sound system was available with the larger screen. Blue Link offered a range of connected services, including remote engine start and climate control adjustments. The Santa Fe also featured Digital Key and Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing for convenient access and parking.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue included standard safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, and a full array of airbags. It also offered driver-assistance technologies like forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The SEL trim with the Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, standard on the Denim trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted an impressive array of safety features, particularly on the Calligraphy trim. It included forward-collision warning with pedestrian, cyclist, and junction turning assistance. Safe Exit Assist used blind-spot sensors to warn occupants of approaching vehicles or cyclists. The rear-occupant alert system, available in ultrasonic form, detected movement inside the SUV. The Blind-Spot View Monitor provided video views of the SUV's sides, and Highway Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology. The Santa Fe earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS with LED projector headlights.