2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this was evident in its design cues, such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Celestial Silver on the Capstone model lending a somewhat dated look reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard layout, featuring physical dials and buttons for volume and climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The seating was power-adjustable, and all models included a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with a panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate trims, offered a more mature and subdued appearance with its Ecotronic Grey paint. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was stylish and appealing. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics but avoided looking cheap, with unexpected style elements like seat stripes and white trim. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were highlights, offering quality finishes and operation. The Venue was thoughtfully designed, with a focus on style and quality, making it an attractive option for those seeking a small SUV.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available as a hybrid, utilizing Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over its predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. It featured a standard 4WD system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD, and the TRD Pro models included a skid plate. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the Sequoia's on-road handling was adequate. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight design and CVT allowed it to perform adequately in urban settings. The Venue excelled in city driving with its nimble handling and excellent visibility. However, its suspension struggled on rough roads, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue could maintain speed, but the engine and CVT became noisy under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked AWD, but its 17 cm ground clearance allowed it to handle snow better than typical cars. Its fuel economy was rated at 7.5 L/100 km combined, though it averaged 7.8 L/100 km during testing.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. Inside, the Sequoia offered up to 2,460 litres of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. The third-row seats could be folded at the push of a button, though they did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom was slightly reduced, and legroom varied across rows. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing comfort but lacking bolstering.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. Despite its small size, the Venue offered decent comfort, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment. The front seats featured fabric inserts and heated cushions. The back seat was better suited for two passengers, with limited storage and no air conditioning vents. In the front, storage was adequate, and a dashboard shelf provided additional space. Cargo capacity was 528 litres, expanding to 902 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system prioritized functionality over flashiness. A full-colour 12.3-inch driver information display was standard across all trims. The Panoramic View monitor was standard on Platinum and Capstone trims, aiding in maneuvering. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and logical menus. It included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. While the Venue's stereo system was adequate, it could have benefited from better speakers to appeal to its youthful target audience.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue included standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver monitoring system. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was added on the Preferred trim. The Venue lacked adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist. The lane-keeping assist system occasionally produced inaccurate alerts, and the forward-collision warning issued one incorrect warning. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall rating.