2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the passage of time with its design. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a unique presence that belied its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design, and the split headlights and patterned taillights added to its charm. The Venue's exterior updates from the 2020 model were minimal, with alloy wheels replacing steel ones on the base trim and standard 17-inch alloys on higher trims. Inside, the Venue offered a modern feel despite its budget-friendly materials, with plenty of light entering the cabin and features like heated seats in the SEL trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in the Black Label trim, was an attractive SUV with a balance of style and character. The Black Label trim featured 21-inch machined-finish wheels and a welcoming Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence. Inside, the Chalet or Flight design themes offered premium leather upholstery and a luxurious feel, although some elements like the center console design appeared less refined. The Nautilus Black Label was equipped with nearly every available feature, including a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, creating a decadent interior experience. The SUV's exterior and interior design elements combined to create a sophisticated and inviting atmosphere.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by 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. The Venue's lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas, despite its modest power output. However, it lacked the thrilling performance of more powerful vehicles, and its performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a more robust performance with its standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Nautilus Black Label took it a step further with a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, paired with all-wheel drive. The SUV featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior and steering effort. The Nautilus excelled on long road trips, providing a comfortable and quiet ride, while the adaptive suspension and powerful V6 made it unexpectedly agile on mountain roads. The SUV's fuel economy was respectable, averaging 25 mpg on a long journey.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage space, including a handy tray for small items. However, the back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded down, lagging behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport. The Venue's hatchback design provided some versatility, but it was not the best choice for those prioritizing cargo capacity.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. The front seats were heated, ventilated, and offered 22-way power adjustments with massage functions, ensuring comfort on long journeys. The rear seats were also heated, but legroom was unexpectedly tight for a midsize SUV. Practical storage space was adequate, though some areas were hard to access. The Nautilus provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 68.8 cubic feet with them folded down, offering more room than the Venue.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features, with physical buttons for easy access to media and settings. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profile customization, appealing to families with multiple drivers.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software, offering over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system's intuitive user interface and natural voice recognition made it user-friendly, while the Phone as a Key feature allowed smartphones to function as digital keys. The Nautilus also included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and connected navigation.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests, providing a reasonable level of safety for its size.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Black Label trim added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and a surround-view camera system. The Nautilus earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance.