2021 Chevrolet Suburban vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban presented a bold and polarizing front-end design, borrowing elements from the Camaro's design language. This resulted in a combination of small headlights and large, busy grilles that did not favor the Suburban's massive frame. Despite the exterior's divisive appearance, the interior maintained a familiar layout with controls in their expected places, ensuring ease of use. The Suburban offered a range of trims, from the base LS to the luxurious High Country, each adding features like leather upholstery, advanced infotainment systems, and off-road capabilities in the Z71 trim. However, the High Country, while upscale, lacked the soft-touch materials typical of true luxury SUVs, resembling more of an upscale pickup.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted a timeless and stylish design that seemed unlikely to age poorly. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a substantial appearance despite its compact size. The Venue's grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. The top-line Denim trim stood out with its unique paint job and white roof, while the SEL trim offered excellent value with standard features like 17-inch alloy wheels and advanced driver-assistance systems. Inside, the Venue's cabin was simple yet modern, with plenty of light and a practical layout, although it lacked luxurious materials.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered a range of powerful engine options, starting with a standard 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A more robust 6.2-liter V8 delivered 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the newly available 3.0-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine generated 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive available. The Suburban excelled in towing capacity, with the 5.3-liter V8 capable of towing up to 8,300 pounds. Its truck-based underpinnings provided excellent stopping power and a more compliant ride, thanks to the independent rear suspension, although it still exhibited some body roll and truck-like tendencies.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, as all-wheel drive was not available. While the Venue's performance was modest, its lightweight design allowed for a sprightly feel in lower-speed areas. The Venue's powertrain was adequate for city driving, but it lacked the power for more thrilling or confident highway experiences.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban offered an impressive 144.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, making it ideal for families and road trips. Even with the second-row seats in use, it provided 93.8 cubic feet of cargo space, while the 41.5 cubic feet behind the third row rivaled many small crossovers. The interior was spacious, with ample head- and legroom for passengers, and the control layout was user-friendly, although the button shifter and power-sliding center console were less intuitive.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its compact size, provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, along with practical storage solutions. However, the back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded, falling short compared to competitors. While the Venue offered a little extra ground clearance, its cargo capacity was less than that of rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban came standard with a 10.2-inch touchscreen running GM’s intuitive infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's crisp graphics and sensible layout made it user-friendly, and the available navigation system and rear entertainment system added convenience. The head-up display provided clear, easy-to-read graphics.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue impressed with its tech features, including an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and quick swipe functionality. The infotainment system was designed for simplicity, with physical buttons for easy access to media sources and settings. The Venue also offered Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features, with the ability to set up driver profiles for personalized radio presets.

The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was equipped with automatic emergency braking, forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and rear parking sensors. Optional safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Unique options like the rear-view camera mirror and Safety Alert Seat added to its safety offerings.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came standard with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety features were well-integrated, providing alerts without being distracting. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests.