2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a long-standing gap in Hyundai's lineup by entering the subcompact SUV segment. Despite the introduction of the Kona in 2018, the Venue distinguished itself as a more affordable option with a straightforward design. It featured unique touches like a contrasting white roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the Hyundai Palisade. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and clean cabin with ample space for both front and rear passengers, ensuring comfort and visibility. The Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Denim trims, with the SEL being the recommended choice when paired with the Premium package for added features.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV maintained the classic Range Rover aesthetic, with subtle differences like the "P400e" badge and a cleverly integrated charging port. The design choices reflected Land Rover's understanding of the importance of aesthetics in vehicle selection. The PHEV model started at $79,000, with options pushing the price to over $93,000. The interior boasted high-quality materials and a luxurious feel, though the technology could be challenging to navigate. The Range Rover Sport PHEV offered a comfortable ride with heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a spacious cabin, though cargo space was limited due to the battery placement.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. It was available with a manual transmission on the base trim, but most trims featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT). The Venue was front-wheel drive only, lacking an all-wheel-drive option. While it offered decent ride height, its acceleration was underwhelming, and the engine was noisy. The Venue's handling was composed, but the ride was firm, transmitting road imperfections to the cabin. Fuel economy was a strong point, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 141-hp electric motor, producing a total of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. It promised up to 31 miles of all-electric range, though real-world testing fell short. The PHEV offered quick acceleration and a comfortable ride, thanks to its adaptive air suspension and various driving modes. The 8-speed automatic transmission and permanent 4WD system ensured off-road capability, while regenerative brakes provided effective stopping power. However, the PHEV's complex technology and occasional drivetrain confusion could be frustrating.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered a practical interior with ample head- and legroom for front passengers and decent space in the rear. However, its cargo capacity was limited, with only 31.9 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for key functions. The SEL and Denim trims featured automatic climate control, though the display could be confusing at first glance.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV's interior was luxurious, with comfortable front seats offering heating, ventilation, and a wide range of adjustments. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a high seating position and good thigh support. However, the cargo space was compromised by the battery placement, reducing the available area and making it prone to items falling out when the tailgate was opened. The interior featured a dual-glove-box design and optional refrigerated center console bin, though practical storage was limited.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with logical layouts and large icons, minimizing distracted driving. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, with redundant hard buttons for major functions.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which could be challenging to navigate. Despite spending time setting up the system, it occasionally behaved unexpectedly, with delayed reactions and a lack of haptic feedback. While the technology was necessary to manage the vehicle's complexity, it could be frustrating for drivers, especially those less comfortable with advanced tech.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered a range of standard safety features, including a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. It also came with driver-assistance technologies like forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert with the Convenience Package.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV included advanced driver-assistance systems, though the technology could be distracting. The steering-assist system and lane-keeping assist were abrupt, leading to a less smooth driving experience. While crash-test ratings were unavailable, the vehicle's substantial weight provided a degree of safety in collisions.