2020 Hyundai Venue vs 2020 Hyundai Palisade

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was a standout in terms of styling, with a design that could easily be mistaken for a luxury brand. Its bold appearance was marked by a massive grille and thin headlights, complemented by a unique headlight assembly that included LED character lines. The Palisade's use of chrome and character lines added to its visual appeal, although some found it a bit busy. Inside, the Palisade's cabin exuded elegance and simplicity, with a digital instrument panel and a large touchscreen. The Limited trim offered additional luxury features like ambient lighting and leather upholstery, making it a handsome and eye-catching SUV.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Venue was introduced as a more affordable subcompact SUV, filling a gap in Hyundai's lineup. While it shared the segment with the Kona, the Venue was less premium and more focused on practicality. Its design featured a white contrasting roof and a large chrome grille, reminiscent of Hyundai's larger SUVs. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and clean cabin with ample head- and legroom, especially in the front seats. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for ease of use. Despite its compact size, the Venue provided decent space and visibility for drivers.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options. The Palisade's transmission managed power effectively, providing solid acceleration and a variety of drive modes, including Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, and Smart. The Smart mode adapted to driving habits, enhancing the driving experience. The Palisade's handling was commendable, with the Limited trim featuring a self-leveling rear suspension for improved dynamics. Fuel economy for the Palisade was 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined for FWD, with slightly lower figures for AWD.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was equipped with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 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 was front-wheel drive only, lacking the all-wheel drive capability of its segment peers. Acceleration was modest, with the Venue requiring effort to reach highway speeds. Despite its taller setup, the Venue handled corners well, though it communicated road imperfections more than desired. Fuel economy for the Venue with the CVT was 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade excelled in versatility, offering 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row down and 86.4 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. This spaciousness surpassed competitors like the Highlander and Pilot. The Palisade's third row was suitable for adults, making it a practical choice for families. The second-row captain's chairs provided comfort and convenience, with ample storage and cup holders. The Palisade's interior was designed to accommodate various needs, making it a strong contender in the 3-row SUV market.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Venue offered limited cargo space, with 31.9 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded. This was significantly less than the Kona, despite both vehicles having similar space with the rear seats up. The Venue provided excellent head- and legroom in the front seats, even for taller drivers. The control layout was user-friendly, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions. The Venue's automatic climate control on higher trims featured a unique display, though it could be confusing for some users. Overall, the Venue prioritized practicality and ease of use in its design.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE trim included multiple USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity. The SEL trim offered an optional Driver Guidance package, which upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and additional features like satellite radio and an in-car intercom system. The Limited trim boasted a premium Harman Kardon audio system, a surround-view monitor, and a head-up display, enhancing the tech experience for drivers and passengers.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Venue's touchscreen layout was intuitive, with large icons and fonts for easy navigation. The screen placement allowed for comfortable use while driving, with redundant hard buttons for major functions. The Venue's infotainment system was designed to minimize distractions, ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2020 Hyundai Palisade received the Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, highlighting its strong safety credentials. Standard safety features included a reversing camera, child-seat anchors, and a comprehensive array of airbags. The Palisade also offered advanced driver-assistance technologies like forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The digital instrument panel provided additional safety information, including a unique blind-spot camera system that projected live images on the panel.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came with standard safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, and a full array of airbags. It also included driver-assistance technologies like forward-collision avoidance, 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. The Venue's safety features provided peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.