Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Hyundai Venue

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was classified as a crossover SUV, though its design leaned more towards a tall hatchback. It featured only front-wheel drive and had a ground clearance of 17 centimetres, which was higher than a typical car but not as elevated as a standard crossover SUV. The Venue's design was compact and narrow, reminiscent of European runabouts. Its upright windshield and SUV-like cues, such as the bluff nose and available roof rails, contributed to its crossover appearance. The Venue's exterior was characterized by a high nose with lower headlights, high-set daytime running lights, and a satin metallic lower fascia. Black wheel flares around small wheels and a two-tone roof option added to its SUV aesthetic. Inside, the Venue offered a simple and functional look, 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 of the exterior feel inside.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its distinctive and elegant appearance through three generations, with a steeply angled windshield and rear window, a gently sloping roofline, and large upright body sections. The pop-out door handles and wide taillight strip added trendy styling elements. The clamshell hood sat atop a narrow section of lights and a small grille, contributing to a tall and blunt front end. The Range Rover Sport appeared narrow and tall, which was advantageous for off-road driving and interior headroom. The SV Carbon variant featured a two-tone hood with exposed carbon fibre and additional carbon garnishes across various parts of the vehicle. Enormous 23-inch carbon wheels showcased the SV's performance credibility, with intricate weaves that justified their high cost. The interior design evolved from the previous generation, with a minimalist aesthetic that some found too minimal. The removal of physical controls in favour of touchscreen interfaces was a notable change. Despite the cold and barren feel of black plastic in the centre stack, the quality of materials like the seat controls and steering wheel remained top-notch. Ultrafabrics offered a practical alternative to leather, and a variety of headliners were available.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was not known for its performance, as it was one of the least powerful vehicles on the market. It was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that produced 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The power was delivered to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Venue's acceleration was modest, with a 0-100 km/h time ranging from 8.5 to 8.8 seconds, which was better than expected given its power output. Weighing in at 1,251 kilograms, the Venue felt peppy in city traffic but struggled at highway speeds due to the transmission's slow response. The handling benefited from its small size and low weight, making it easy to manoeuvre in traffic and fit into tight parking spots. However, the solid rear axle made the ride jiggly on uneven surfaces.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a range of powertrains, each with two states of tune. The standard engine was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Dynamic SE trim added an electric supercharger, increasing output to 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. A plug-in hybrid powertrain was available, offering up to 85 kilometres of gas-free driving and a total output of 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The BMW-built V8 engine, available on higher trims, delivered 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The SV trims featured a revised version of the V8, producing 626 hp. The Range Rover Sport's adaptive dampers and air springs provided excellent handling and off-road capability. The SV Carbon's handling was exceptional, with interconnected dampers replacing anti-roll bars and reducing body roll. The vehicle's weight of 2,635 kilograms did not hinder its performance, and the brakes offered reliable stopping power.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured cloth and synthetic leather seats with black upholstery and white contrast stitching. The seats were comfortable, with six-way manual adjustments for the driver. Headroom was ample, but legroom was limited for taller individuals. The rear seat offered enough space for average-sized adults, but taller passengers would struggle for legroom. The rear seats folded flat in a 60/40 split, providing 528 litres of cargo space, which was modest compared to other vehicles in its class. The Venue's interior was dominated by hard black plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered generous space with ample legroom and headroom in all outboard positions. The seats were heated and electrically adjustable, with memory settings. The cargo space behind the rear seats was 592 litres, and an available cargo divider helped organize smaller items. The vehicle's towing capacity was impressive, at 3,500 kilograms for non-hybrid models. However, the narrow door openings and limited cargo space with the rear seats folded were drawbacks. The lack of physical controls for various functions was a notable issue, as most functions were accessed through the touchscreen.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment features. While the screen size felt small by modern standards, it was functional and responsive. The Venue lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot but offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information, and a wireless charging pad was a standard feature in Canada. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium options available.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.1-inch display with software that made basic functionality challenging but excelled in managing occasional features. The Wade Sensing app and 4x4i app provided detailed information for off-road driving. Apple CarPlay and the factory navigation worked well, and the instrument panel offered configurable layouts. The surround-view cameras were clear, and the Meridian Signature stereo provided good sound quality, though not as impressive as in the full-size Range Rover.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with a good set of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a driver attention monitor. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Venue received a four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, with some areas needing improvement.

The 2026 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround view camera system. However, it lacked front knee airbags and rear side airbags. No crash-test ratings were available from North American organizations, but the Euro NCAP awarded it a five-star rating.