2020 Cadillac XT6 vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 presented a clean and crisp exterior, embodying modern Cadillac design with its smooth body panels and limited creases. It managed to hide its long, boxy shape under a tailored suit, featuring satin-painted silver around the windows and a medium-sized silver mesh grille. The XT6's thin LED headlights and vertical lightsaber-style running lamps added a touch of flair, while the overall design showed restraint and taste, avoiding the use of bright chrome and oversized jewelry. Inside, however, the XT6 did not match the lavish interiors of its competitors. Despite having soft leather and gold-tinted carbon fiber trim, the seats were thin and lacked support, and the use of cheap vinyl in the center console detracted from the luxury feel. The interior design seemed outdated, lacking contrast piping, stitching, and interesting patterns, making it less impressive compared to other luxury brands.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup as an affordable subcompact SUV. It stood out with its upright design, white contrasting roof on the Denim trim, and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the larger Hyundai Palisade. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and clean cabin with ample space, providing plenty of head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials complementing the modern technology. The SEL trim, especially with the Premium package, offered a well-rounded set of features, making it a recommended choice for those seeking value and practicality in a subcompact SUV.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, provided adequate power for the vehicle's size, allowing it to tow up to 4,000 pounds. However, the engine was noted for its coarse sound and lack of responsiveness compared to newer turbocharged V6 engines. The XT6 offered a balanced and controlled ride, especially with all-wheel drive and adaptive dampers. The steering was direct and nicely weighted, with a Sport mode enhancing the driving experience. Despite its size, the XT6 managed to achieve an EPA combined rating of 20 mpg, with AWD models rated at 17 mpg city and 24 highway.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT) for most trims, with a manual option available on the base trim. The Venue's power was sent to the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive option. While the Venue's acceleration was underwhelming, it offered decent road feel and composure in corners. The Venue's fuel economy was a strong point, achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined with the CVT. However, the lack of power affected the driver's ability to control the car in tight spots and reach highway speeds quickly.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 offered a livable third-row seat, with decent knee room and amenities like USB ports, cupholders, and air vents. The second row was spacious, with optional heated cushions and backrests, and the standard panoramic moonroof extended into this area. The XT6 provided a total cargo volume of 12.6 cubic feet with all seats raised, 43.1 with the third row down, and 78.7 with both the second and third rows down. Visibility was good, aided by a digital mirror using a widescreen camera. The XT6's controls were user-friendly, with an improved touchscreen infotainment system and an alternative rotary controller.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not extremely utilitarian, offered a surprising amount of head- and legroom in the front seats, even with the driver's seat adjusted for a tall driver. The Venue's cargo space was limited, with 31.9 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. The control layout was praised for its simplicity, with traditional buttons and dials complementing the modern technology. The Venue's automatic climate control on higher trims featured a unique display that could be confusing at first, but overall, the Venue demonstrated Hyundai's attention to user-friendly design.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 featured an infotainment system that was a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering a fast and intuitive interface with cloud-based voice commands and a built-in app store. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a suite of driver assists. Optional features like 360-degree cameras and night vision enhanced the XT6's technology offerings, but the lack of semi-automated driving features and a reconfigurable digital instrument panel was a drawback. The XT6's lighting was exceptional, but the mediocre Bose stereo and relatively small infotainment screen were less impressive.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Venue's touchscreen layout was logical and user-friendly, with large icons and fonts for easy readability. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, and the combination of touchscreen and traditional controls minimized distracted driving. Hyundai's attention to detail in the Venue's technology setup was evident, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience.

The 2020 Cadillac XT6 had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time, but it was expected to receive top scores. The XT6 offered a range of safety features, including rear pedestrian detection, a digital rear-view mirror, and 360-degree cameras. The Driver Assist Package added features like forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and seat-belt tightening.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. It also included impressive driver-assistance technology like forward-collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The SEL trim with the Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which were standard on the Denim trim.