Honda Passport vs Hyundai Venue

The 2026 Honda Passport presented a bold and rugged appearance, characterized by its large proportions and blocky dimensions. Its design was a modern take on a rugged SUV, with a flat hood and a blunt nose that improved its approach angle. The Passport's front was adorned with bracket-shaped amber running lights and a thin hood scoop, maintaining a distinctive Honda look while drawing comparisons to competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The profile view, with its blacked-out D-pillar and large rear-quarter window, was said to be inspired by a backpack, though it also bore resemblance to the Chevrolet Traverse and Land Rover Discovery. The Passport included practical features like nearly invisible rock sliders and a scratch-resistant roof panel, making it suitable for outdoor adventures. The rear featured a blocky tailgate with a two-tone design and standard roof rails, enhancing its rugged appeal.

Inside, the Passport offered a straightforward and functional interior with four trim levels available in Canada. The upper trims featured leather materials, while the TrailSport model showcased visually appealing cloth and vegan interiors. The Passport's design emphasized practicality and durability, with features like a scratch-resistant roof panel and a spacious cargo area. Overall, the 2026 Honda Passport combined rugged aesthetics with functional design elements, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a versatile SUV.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, leaned more towards a tall hatchback design. It featured a compact and narrow appearance, reminiscent of European runabouts. The Venue's design incorporated SUV cues such as a bluff nose, upright windshield, and available roof rails. The high nose was complemented by lower headlights and high-set daytime running lights, while black wheel flares and rocker panels added to its SUV-like profile. The Venue's rear pillars angled sharply forward, and a two-tone roof option added a touch of flair. Inside, the Venue offered a simple and functional interior with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen. The use of body-colour trim around air vents and the shifter added a touch of style to the cabin.

The Venue's interior was designed for practicality, with comfortable cloth and synthetic leather seats featuring contrast stitching. While headroom was ample, legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat could accommodate average-sized adults, but space was tight for taller individuals. The Venue's cargo space was modest, with 528 litres available when the rear seats were folded flat. The interior featured hard black plastic surfaces, with limited soft-touch materials. Overall, the 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a compact and practical design, suitable for urban environments and budget-conscious buyers.

The 2026 Honda Passport aimed to excel both on and off-road, featuring improved approach and departure angles, skid plates, and 18-inch wheels for enhanced ride comfort and off-road traction. It came equipped with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system and offered seven distinct drive modes, including Sport, Trail, and Tow. The Passport retained a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While the engine provided ample power, the Passport's fuel economy remained moderate, with an estimated 12.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving. The Passport excelled in off-road environments, offering impressive power and steering performance, though it generated noticeable tire noise on highways.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the front wheels. The Venue's performance was modest, with a 0-100 km/h time of 8.5–8.8 seconds. While it felt peppy in city traffic, it struggled at highway speeds, with the CVT causing engine drone. The Venue's handling benefited from its small size and low weight, making it agile in urban settings. However, its 17 cm ground clearance resulted in some body lean during cornering. Overall, the Venue offered basic performance suitable for city driving but lacked the power and capability of larger SUVs.

The 2026 Honda Passport boasted a spacious interior with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and physical controls, emphasizing simplicity and functionality. It offered best-in-class cargo space, with 1,246 litres behind the rear seat and 2,356 litres with the seats folded down. The Passport also provided ample rear-seat legroom and numerous storage cubbies, making it ideal for family road trips. A panoramic moonroof and ventilated front seats added to the comfort of the Touring trims. The Passport's interior design prioritized practicality and versatility, catering to both adventure seekers and families.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured comfortable cloth and synthetic leather seats with manual adjustments. While headroom was sufficient, legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat could accommodate two adults comfortably, but space was tight for three. The Venue's cargo space was modest, with 528 litres available when the rear seats were folded flat. The interior featured hard black plastic surfaces, with limited soft-touch materials. The Venue's design focused on practicality and affordability, making it suitable for urban environments and budget-conscious buyers.

The 2026 Honda Passport featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and other apps. It also supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing flexibility for users. The Passport included a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, four USB-C charging ports, and a 10.2-inch digital driver information display. The Touring trims offered a 12-speaker Bose stereo system and the TrailWatch camera system. The Passport's technology package was comprehensive, catering to tech-savvy drivers.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment features, including phone projection connections and voice memos. While it lacked navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Venue's audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium options available. A wireless charging pad was standard in Canada, adding a touch of premium convenience. The Venue's technology package was basic but functional, suitable for budget-conscious buyers.

The 2026 Honda Passport was equipped with Honda Safety Sense, offering advanced driver assistance systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It also included traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. The Passport featured eight standard airbags for added safety. However, previous-generation models had less-than-stellar crash test results, and updated ratings were awaited.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Higher trims included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with some IIHS ratings pending. Its safety systems were effective, though the driver attention monitor was overly sensitive.