2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup by offering a more affordable subcompact SUV option. While the Kona, introduced in 2018, was also a subcompact SUV, it was positioned as a more premium offering with features like all-wheel drive. The Venue, on the other hand, was designed as a budget-friendly people-mover with a distinctive upright design. It featured unique touches such as a white contrasting roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the larger Hyundai Palisade. Inside, the Venue boasted a modern and clean cabin with ample space for both front and rear passengers, providing excellent visibility due to its upright layout and large side windows. The Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Denim trims, with the SEL trim being recommended for its additional features and optional Premium package.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson, in contrast, offered a more conventional styling approach, appealing to those who preferred a small crossover with a traditional look. Its upright layout provided a commanding view of the road, and the interior featured a modern and attractive dash design with seamlessly integrated tech features. The Tucson was available in six trims: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As you moved up the trims, additional features such as LED headlights, power-adjustable seats, and premium audio systems were added, culminating in the Ultimate trim with a panoramic sunroof and heated and ventilated seats.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a single engine option: 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 came with 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 considerable noise when pushed. 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.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, while the SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive as an option. The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at higher speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier experience around town. The Tucson offered a comfortable and refined ride, with the 2.4-liter engine allowing for a towing capacity of up to 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered a decent amount of interior space. It provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, which was less than the Hyundai Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. However, both vehicles offered around 19 cubic feet with the rear seats up. The Venue excelled in front-seat headroom and legroom, even accommodating taller drivers comfortably. The control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions, though the automatic climate control on higher trims had a somewhat confusing display.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it was adequate for most needs. The Tucson offered solid front-seat headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats for long trips. The rear seats were accommodating enough for adults, and the vehicle featured numerous storage compartments and trays for convenience.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The layout was logical, with large icons and fonts, and many functions had redundant hard buttons on the dash. The screen placement was well thought out, allowing for easy use while driving.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional features like navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging were available on higher trims.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came with standard 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 with the Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which were standard on the Denim trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered a comprehensive list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS.