2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that resembled Honda's sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design approach made the CR-V a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics. This contrast reminded drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were essentially upgraded versions of a commodity car.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed timeless. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a unique shape that belied its small size. The Venue's grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. Roof rails and wide-spaced letters spelling out the Venue's name added to its appeal. The Venue's exterior updates for 2021 included replacing the 15-inch steel wheels with alloys and standardizing 17-inch alloys on the SEL and Denim trims. The top-line Denim trim, with its white roof and unique paint job, was particularly eye-catching, while the SEL trim offered excellent value with standard features previously part of an extra-cost package.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a well-matched driving experience, with the CVT offering a credible imitation of a conventional automatic. The CR-V's road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, achieving 30 miles per gallon combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD models. The CR-V also introduced a hybrid version for 2020, offering even higher fuel economy.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, provided adequate power for the Venue's small size and weight of 2,612 pounds. While not the most thrilling driving experience, the Venue's lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas. However, it lacked the option for all-wheel drive, offering only front-wheel drive with a selectable drive mode for snowy conditions. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was known for its masterful packaging, offering a spacious cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan without feeling oversized. It provided excellent head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers, thanks to its well-designed seating position and low cowl. The CR-V's cargo space was impressive, with a two-position load floor and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions, such as a deep center console bin and large door pockets, made it easy to live with the CR-V.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue offered decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with a handy tray for small items. However, its center console bin was small, and the cupholders lacked grips, making spills likely on bumpy roads. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, and the cargo space was limited to 18.7 cubic feet with the rear seat in place and 31.9 cubic feet with it folded. Compared to competitors, the Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind, making it less suitable for those prioritizing storage space.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a 5-inch screen in the base LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with a wireless phone charger available in the Touring trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and quick swipe functionality. Physical buttons provided easy access to media sources, and the interface was designed for simple use. The Venue's infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features, with the ability to set up driver profiles for customized radio presets. The Venue SE was set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the "Honda Sensing" system, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim offering better headlights. A safety recall affected a small number of vehicles for a rear subframe issue.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests for front collisions and rollover.