2021 Lexus NX Hybrid 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 Kona. While the Kona was slightly more premium and powerful, the Venue focused on being a practical people-mover with a distinctive upright design. Its standout features included a contrasting white roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the 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 windows.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid featured sharp edges and a streamlined profile, maintaining a familiar yet distinct look. Despite its luxury branding, the NX shared its platform with the older Toyota RAV4, making it feel somewhat dated. The F Sport Black Line model added sporty elements like a larger mesh grille and dark-finish wheels, complemented by a striking Grecian Water blue paint. Inside, the NX's design felt familiar, with a stepped center console and a mix of materials that leaned more towards mainstream quality rather than luxury.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Most trims featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT), with power sent to the front wheels only. Despite its SUV label, the Venue lacked AWD, making it more akin to a compact hatchback. Acceleration was underwhelming, and the engine was noisy, especially when pushed. The Venue offered drive modes like Normal, Snow, and Sport, but none significantly improved its performance. Fuel economy was decent, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering a total of 194 horsepower and standard AWD. Despite its sporty appearance, the NX Hybrid prioritized fuel efficiency over performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 9.1 seconds. The drivetrain struggled with smooth transitions between electric and gasoline power. The sport-tuned suspension in the Black Line package improved handling without sacrificing comfort. However, the steering felt numb, and the drive modes offered minimal impact on performance.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered limited cargo space, with 31.9 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded. Despite its compact size, the Venue provided ample head- and legroom in the front, and decent legroom in the rear. The control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials complementing the modern technology. Automatic climate control on higher trims featured a unique display that could be confusing at first glance.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid had less front and rear headroom compared to its competitors, and rear legroom was particularly cramped. The front seats, however, were comfortable and supportive, with available heated and ventilated options. The sloping roofline and thick pillars hindered rear visibility, but the dashboard controls were easily accessible. Cargo space was limited to 16.8 cubic feet with the seats up and 53.7 cubic feet with them folded, making it less spacious than the gasoline model.

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 user-friendly, with large icons and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen was well-positioned, allowing easy access while driving.

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid's infotainment system was a weak point, relying on a touchpad interface that was difficult to use while driving. The standard 8-inch display could be upgraded to a 10.3-inch screen, but the system felt outdated with text-heavy menus. While analog controls were available for some functions, the overall experience was lacking. The base audio system was subpar, making the optional Mark Levinson system a worthwhile upgrade.

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

The 2021 Lexus NX Hybrid earned a “Top Safety Pick+” from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, a 360-degree camera system was notably absent.