2026 Hyundai Venue vs 2025 Ford Bronco

The 2025 Ford Bronco successfully captured the essence of its 1960s predecessor while avoiding an overly retro design. Its boxy shape was modernized with rounded corners, and the wide, horizontal design elements, particularly the full-width rectangular grille and round headlamps, gave it a distinctive look. The Bronco offered multiple top options, including soft, hard, or both, which could be removed along with the doors for an open-air experience. The Sasquatch package added 17-inch aluminum wheels with 35-inch all-terrain tires, a HOSS 2.0 suspension, and electronic-locking axles, enhancing its off-road capabilities and giving it a more aggressive appearance.

The 2025 Bronco lineup included seven versions, from the base model to the high-performance Bronco Raptor. The Big Bend model, available only in four-door configuration, offered a balance of features and price, with options like the Sasquatch package and various appearance packages. The Bronco Outer Banks featured a turbocharged V6 engine and LED lighting, while the Badlands model came with larger tires and an upgraded suspension. The Heritage model emphasized retro styling, and the Stroppe Edition, with its race-ready features, paid homage to past Bronco racers. The Bronco Raptor stood out with its wide body kit and lifted suspension, making it a formidable off-road vehicle.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, resembled a tall hatchback with its front-wheel drive and 17 cm ground clearance. Its design leaned more towards a crossover, with a small and narrow appearance reminiscent of European runabouts. The upright windshield and SUV cues like the bluff nose and roof rails contributed to its crossover look. The Venue's high nose, lower headlights, and high-set daytime running lights, along with black wheel flares and a two-tone roof option, added to its visual appeal. Inside, the Venue featured a simple and functional design, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled an iPad on the dash. Body-colour trim around the air vents and shifter brought some exterior flair into the cabin.

The 2025 Ford Bronco offered two main engine options, with the Bronco Raptor featuring a unique, more powerful engine. The base 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for city and highway driving. The optional 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 engine increased output to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, though it didn't enhance towing capacity, which remained at 1,587 kilograms. The Bronco Raptor, however, boasted a towing capacity of 2,040 kilograms. The standard seven-speed manual transmission included a low gear for off-road crawling, while a 10-speed automatic was optional or standard on various trims. The Sasquatch package improved off-road performance with locking differentials and large tires, while the Badlands model featured a front sway-bar disconnect for better wheel articulation. All Bronco models came with four-wheel drive, with advanced systems available on higher trims.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, produced 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Its performance was modest, with a 0-100 km/h time of 8.5–8.8 seconds, aided by its lightweight 1,251-kilogram frame. The Venue's power was adequate for city driving but struggled at highway speeds, with the CVT transmission being slow to respond. The Venue's handling benefited from its small size and low weight, making it agile in traffic and easy to park. However, its 17 cm ground clearance led to some body lean in corners. The ride was generally comfortable, though the solid rear axle caused some jiggling on rough roads.

The 2025 Ford Bronco offered ample space for two in the two-door model, though rear seat access was challenging. The four-door version provided more rear space and easier access. The Sasquatch package's large tires and suspension raised the Bronco's height, requiring a step up into the cabin. Cargo space varied, with the two-door offering 634 litres and up to 1,509 litres with seats folded, while the four-door provided 1,084 litres (seats up) or 2,350 litres (seats folded) with the soft top. The Bronco featured numerous storage options, including armrest compartments, door pockets, and MOLLE mounting points. Rear-seat passengers in the four-door model benefited from dedicated air conditioning vents and improved insulation.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior featured cloth and synthetic leather seats with manual adjustments, providing comfort and adequate headroom. However, legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat accommodated average-sized adults, but space was tight for taller individuals. The rear seats folded in a 60/40 split, offering 528 litres of cargo space, which was modest compared to other compact crossovers. The Venue's rear cargo floor lifted to access the spare tire, revealing cost-cutting measures like the lack of sound deadening. The interior featured hard black plastic surfaces, with soft-touch materials limited to the centre console and door armrests.

The 2025 Ford Bronco came with a 12-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 infotainment software, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A seven-speaker audio system was standard, with an optional Bang & Olufsen system available on higher trims. A second 12-inch screen served as a digital gauge cluster, customizable with various modes. The Bronco featured five G.O.A.T. modes, with additional modes available on specific trims, each with unique animations on the gauge cluster.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment functions, including phone projection and voice memos. While lacking features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information, and a wireless charging pad was standard in Canada. The audio system was a basic six-speaker unit, with no premium options available.

The 2025 Ford Bronco, starting with the Big Bend trim, included the Co-Pilot360 safety suite, featuring blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Post-collision braking, hill start assist, and hill descent control were standard across all models. The Bronco received top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in several crash tests, though its headlights were rated "Marginal." The NHTSA awarded it four stars for frontal crash safety and three stars for rollover testing.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a good set of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Venue received four stars from the NHTSA, with the IIHS awarding it a "Good" score in the small front overlap test. Headlight ratings varied by trim, with "Acceptable" or "Marginal" scores.