2021 Volvo XC40 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 a bit more premium and powerful with AWD capabilities, the Venue focused on being a budget-friendly people-mover with an upright design. It featured distinctive touches like a white contrasting 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. 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 Volvo XC40, on the other hand, showcased traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, fitting seamlessly into Volvo's lineup with signature design elements like "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights. The XC40 Recharge variant stood out with a blanked-off grille and unique color options, catering to electric-car drivers who preferred subtlety. Built on Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture, the XC40 offered a minimalist interior with high-quality materials, including Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was cohesive, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen blending harmoniously. Volvo emphasized luxury and comfort over performance, providing a quiet and smooth ride even on challenging roads.

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 AWD capabilities, which limited its off-road potential. Acceleration was modest, with the engine making considerable 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 road imperfection to the driver. Fuel economy was decent, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model featured dual electric motors for AWD, generating a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. Volvo limited all versions to 112 mph for safety. The XC40 emphasized luxury and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability in the Recharge model. It also offered a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly fast or sporty, offered decent utility for its size. 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 had around 19 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up. The Venue excelled in front-seat head- and legroom, even accommodating taller drivers comfortably. The control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions. The SEL and Denim trims featured automatic climate control with a unique display design.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in gasoline and Recharge variants, offered similar passenger and cargo space. However, it lagged behind competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E in terms of legroom and cargo capacity. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console and large door bins. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, freeing up door space. The XC40 included a well-designed storage cubby for phones, with optional wireless charging. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

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. Hyundai's logical touchscreen layout minimized distracted driving, with large icons and fonts and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen placement was ergonomic, allowing users to brace their hands while using the touchscreen.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. This system allowed Android phone users to sync their Google accounts for customization. The standard setup included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model also offered OTA update capability, covering both infotainment and vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, relying on the key fob for operation. The Polestar 2's Digital Key feature was expected to be available via OTA update, but Volvo hadn't confirmed it for the XC40.

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 impressive driver-assistance technology, including 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 Volvo XC40 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. However, these ratings didn't apply to the electric XC40 Recharge due to structural differences. Volvo expected the Recharge to perform well in crash tests, thanks to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. The XC40 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model featured Volvo's latest sensor suite, allowing for future advancements in driver aids.