2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup by offering a more affordable subcompact SUV option compared to the Kona. While the Kona was more premium and powerful, the Venue focused on being a practical people-mover with a distinctive upright design. It featured unique touches like a contrasting white roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of Hyundai's larger SUVs. Inside, the Venue boasted a modern and clean cabin with ample space for both front and rear passengers, providing excellent visibility due to its upright layout and large windows. 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 2021 Ford Explorer, part of Ford's SUV lineup, offered a striking family resemblance with its sporty design and distinctive grille options across six trim levels. The Explorer's exterior and interior improved as you moved up the trim ladder, with the base model providing comfortable cloth seats and a clean dashboard layout. The Explorer's three-row seating was standard, although the third row was less suitable for adults. The XLT trim was the most popular, offering better equipment and finishes, while higher trims like the Limited and ST provided leather upholstery and more advanced features.

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 paired with a manual transmission on the base trim, while most trims featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT). The Venue was front-wheel drive only, lacking an all-wheel-drive option. Despite its SUV appearance, the Venue's acceleration was underwhelming, and it struggled to reach highway speeds quickly. The Venue's ride was communicative, with noticeable road feedback, and its fuel economy was commendable, averaging 31.7 mpg in combined driving.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Explorer offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer Limited Hybrid increased power to 310 hp, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 with up to 400 hp in the ST trim. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration. The Explorer's performance was more about towing power than sporty driving, with the ST trim providing the most engaging experience.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered limited cargo space, with 31.9 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded. Despite its compact size, the Venue provided ample head- and legroom for front passengers, even with the driver's seat adjusted for taller individuals. The Venue's control layout was user-friendly, combining traditional buttons and dials with modern technology. However, the automatic climate control on higher trims had a peculiar design that could confuse users.

The 2021 Ford Explorer provided seating for seven in the base trim, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. The Explorer offered 39 inches of second-row legroom, surpassing some competitors. With the third row deployed, the Explorer still provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, although its overall cargo volume with rear seats folded was less impressive at 81 cubic feet.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The layout was intuitive, with large icons and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, enhancing convenience.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim included an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer provided multiple USB ports and power points, with the ST trim featuring a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came with standard safety features like a reversing camera, traction control, and a full array of airbags. It also included driver-assistance technologies such as forward-collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests. It featured the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.