2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep design elements, including round headlights, a 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It offered a range of trim levels, from the base Sport to the off-road-ready Trailhawk, with special editions like the Jeepster and High Altitude. The High Altitude trim, which was tested, featured extra-cost paint, 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a more mature and luxurious appearance. However, despite these upscale touches, the interior was dominated by hard plastic, which detracted from the overall sense of luxury.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue was praised for its timeless and stylish design, which seemed unlikely to age poorly. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a substantial appearance despite its compact size. The Venue's grille was appropriately sized, and its split headlights and unique taillight patterns added to its appeal. The top-line Denim trim stood out with its white roof and unique paint job, while the SEL trim offered excellent value with standard features that were previously optional. Inside, the Venue's cabin was simple yet modern, with plenty of light and a sense of spaciousness despite its compact dimensions.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle featured the turbocharged engine, which provided energetic performance thanks to its peak torque at 1,750 rpm. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission was calibrated for fuel economy, leading to some turbo lag and hesitation. The Renegade's driving dynamics were mixed, with a flinty ride and sloppy steering on highways, but it was more agreeable in urban settings. The Trailhawk trim was the best choice for off-roading enthusiasts.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. While not particularly powerful, the Venue's lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas. The Venue was only available with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Despite its modest power, the Venue's slim weight made it agile in city driving, although it lacked the horsepower for confident highway performance.

Inside the 2020 Jeep Renegade, the boxy exterior design translated to a spacious-feeling cabin with a panoramic glass roof. The driver's seat was comfortable with an eight-way power adjustment, but rear-seat space was cramped, and there were few practical storage spots. Cargo volume was limited, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage space, including a handy tray ahead of the gear selector. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, but headroom was sufficient. Cargo space was modest, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 31.9 cubic feet with it folded down. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display. While starting to show its age, Uconnect remained user-friendly with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Renegade also offered a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and a user-friendly interface. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. The Venue's system allowed for driver profiles with customized radio presets, appealing to families with multiple drivers.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. However, some features lacked refinement. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came with standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety features were seamlessly integrated, avoiding distractions. It received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests.