2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

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. While both vehicles shared the subcompact SUV segment, the Venue distinguished itself with a more upright design and a focus on affordability. It featured unique touches like 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 thanks 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 added features and optional Premium package.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80, on the other hand, showcased a blend of Nissan Armada and Infiniti styling elements, with a body-on-frame construction that set it apart from many other SUVs. Its front-end styling, introduced in 2018, gave it an assertive yet not overly aggressive look. The QX80 featured standard LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, with the Luxe trim riding on 20-inch wheels and higher trims on 22-inch wheels. Inside, the QX80's design closely resembled the Armada, with wood trim and leather upholstery adding a touch of luxury. However, some elements, like the foot-operated parking brake, felt less high-end. Despite this, the interior remained luxurious, though not as exclusive as some might expect.

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 came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT). The Venue was front-wheel drive only, lacking an all-wheel-drive option. While it offered some capability with its added ride height, its acceleration was underwhelming, and the engine noise was noticeable. The Venue's drive modes included Normal, Snow, and Sport, with Sport mode providing a slightly livelier experience at low speeds. Despite its taller setup, the Venue handled corners with composure, though it communicated every bump and crack on the road. Fuel economy with the CVT was 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

In contrast, the 2021 INFINITI QX80 featured a robust 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with a 4WD option available. The V8 engine provided ample power for highway overtaking, though transmission shifts could have been smoother. The QX80's body-on-frame construction, combined with independent suspension and Hydraulic Body Motion Control on Sensory models, delivered a comfortable ride. However, the QX80 felt less composed in corners, with noticeable body roll. Its 4WD drivetrain and towing capacity of 8,500 pounds added to its off-road and towing capabilities, though its size and wheel-and-tire combinations limited its off-road prowess.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered decent interior space for its size. It provided ample head- and legroom in the front seats, even for taller drivers, and decent legroom in the rear. However, its cargo space was limited, with 31.9 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded, compared to the Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. The Venue's control layout was user-friendly, with traditional buttons and dials for key functions. The SEL and Denim trims featured automatic climate control, though the display could be confusing at first glance.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional eight-seat setup. It offered competitive passenger space in all three rows, though not class-leading. The QX80's cargo space was 16.6 cubic feet with all seats in place, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both the third and second rows folded. While the cargo space trailed competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, the QX80's power liftgate and power-folding third row made it easy to switch between passenger and cargo hauling. The center console provided limited storage space, and the front-door cupholders were not well-designed for holding drinks securely.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Hyundai's logical touchscreen layout minimized distracted driving, with large icons and fonts and redundant hard buttons on the dash. The screen placement allowed for easy use, with a design that partially extended from the dash for finger bracing.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came with the Infiniti InTouch dual-screen infotainment system, featuring 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreens, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and navigation. The system included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system, with optional upgrades like a 17-speaker Bose system and a Theater Package rear-seat entertainment system. However, the user interface was not intuitive, with small screens and controls that required trial and error. The Smart Rearview Mirror and Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system provided helpful driving aids.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of front- and side-impact airbags. It also featured driver-assistance technology 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 INFINITI QX80 received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars for side crash tests, four stars for frontal crash tests, and a three-star rollover rating. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and Backup Collision Intervention. These features were standard, unlike many other luxury brands.