2021 Hyundai Kona 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 with a more affordable and practical design. It featured a unique aesthetic with a large chrome grille reminiscent of the Hyundai Palisade and a contrasting white roof on the Denim trim. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and spacious cabin with excellent visibility, thanks to its upright layout and large windows. The Venue's trims, SE, SEL, and Denim, provided a range of features, with the Denim trim offering denim upholstery as a premium alternative to leather.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Kona presented a more playful and youthful design, appealing to a younger audience. Its exterior featured a busy front with multiple lighting elements, while the rear maintained a more conventional crossover look. Inside, the Kona's interior matched its exterior's fun vibe with neat patterns and a well-organized layout. The infotainment system was positioned high on the dash, complemented by physical climate controls, creating an intuitive and user-friendly environment. The Kona's interior was designed to balance style and functionality, making it an attractive option for those seeking a compact SUV with personality.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue was powered by a single 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine 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 performance was more akin to a compact hatchback, with modest acceleration and a somewhat noisy engine. It offered drive modes like Normal, Snow, and Sport, but its lack of power was evident in tight spots and highway merging. Fuel economy was respectable, with the CVT achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivered 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Kona provided front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. While neither engine was exceptionally powerful, they offered sufficient performance for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was agile and engaging, with a comfortable ride on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied depending on the engine and drivetrain, with the base engine achieving up to 30 mpg combined.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly sporty or utilitarian, offered a practical interior layout. It provided ample head- and legroom in the front seats, even accommodating taller drivers. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions. However, its cargo space was limited, with only 31.9 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded, compared to the Kona's 45.8 cubic feet. Despite this, the Venue's design demonstrated Hyundai's attention to real-world usability.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent front-seat headroom and legroom, with controls and displays easily accessible to both front passengers. The front seats were comfortable but lacked sufficient support for spirited driving. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed good headroom, but legroom was limited. The Kona's cargo space was also limited, ranking near the bottom of its segment. However, it offered generous small-item storage spaces, including large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims. It featured Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Hyundai's logical touchscreen layout minimized distracted driving, with large icons and redundant hard buttons for major functions. The screen placement was well-designed, allowing users to brace their hands while using the touchscreen.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered a comprehensive list of tech features, including an eight-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Bluetooth, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB inputs. Available tech options included SiriusXM radio, navigation, wireless device charging, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen system. The infotainment software was simple, colorful, and responsive, providing easy navigation and access to features.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue included standard safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. It also offered 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, standard on the Denim trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a driver attention warning system, and rear occupant alert. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.