2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback was a testament to Subaru's commitment to incremental improvement while maintaining its core strengths of utility, safety, and performance. The sixth-generation Outback was built on Subaru’s Global Platform, boasting a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, although appearing similar to its predecessor, was redesigned with 90% new parts, offering 182 horsepower. For those seeking more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent was available in higher trims. Externally, changes were subtle, with noticeable updates to the head- and taillights. Inside, the Outback introduced an 11.6-inch touchscreen for most trims, with the base model featuring dual 7-inch screens. The innovative DriverFocus technology, typically seen in luxury brands, was a standout feature, using infrared monitoring to alert distracted drivers and employing facial recognition for personalized settings.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, with its stylish and upright design, was a compact crossover that defied its size. Its grille, roofline, and tailgate design gave it a substantial presence, while the Venue's grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming. The Venue's exterior updates from 2020 included replacing the base SE trim's 15-inch steel wheels with alloys and standardizing 17-inch alloys on the SEL and Denim trims. The top-line Denim trim, with its unique paint job and white roof, was the most visually appealing, while the SEL trim offered excellent value with standard features previously part of an extra-cost package. Despite its budget-friendly price, the Venue's interior was modern, with ample light and heated seats in the SEL trim, though it used inexpensive materials.

The 2020 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower and a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine allowed the Outback to reach 60 mph in about 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, minimizing the typical CVT drawbacks. The Outback's symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system was always active, providing seamless power delivery and reducing component wear. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the Outback was capable off-road, though not as rugged as a Jeep. The Onyx XT trim featured an upgraded X-Mode and hill-descent control for enhanced off-road performance.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, provided adequate performance for a small, economical car. The Venue's front-wheel drive (FWD) was the only option, with no all-wheel drive available. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, though it was smaller and lighter.

The 2020 Subaru Outback excelled in functionality, offering 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The increased width between the rear wheels contributed to a 1-cubic-foot increase in passenger volume and a 2.4-cubic-foot increase in overall volume. The Outback's design prioritized visibility, with excellent sightlines in most directions, though the rear quarters had a notable blind spot. The interior was spacious, accommodating taller passengers comfortably, and the low load height made trunk and roof storage convenient.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its compact size, provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with practical storage solutions like a tray ahead of the gear selector. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives, though headroom was sufficient. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded, lagging behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport. The Venue's hatchback design offered more cargo space than a compact sedan but less than most hatchbacks.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured a tablet-style, 11.6-inch touchscreen, which was visually appealing and easy to navigate. However, the system suffered from lag, affecting functions like navigation, app switching, and even volume control. The camera resolution was also lacking, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the potential for improvement was evident, and the system's large screen was a draw for tech enthusiasts.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The interface was designed for simplicity, with physical buttons for quick access to media and settings. The Venue's infotainment system included features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with the base SE trim set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future. The system allowed for customizable driver profiles, appealing to families with multiple drivers.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's safety features were a mixed bag. While the standard safety suite impressed, the DriverFocus system was problematic, frequently issuing alerts even when the driver's eyes were on the road. Subaru's EyeSight system, though standard, could be obstructed by weather conditions, causing it to turn off unexpectedly. Despite these issues, the Outback's AWD system provided reliable traction and stability.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning as standard. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety systems were well-integrated, avoiding the intrusive alerts common in other vehicles. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for driver-side and passenger-side front collisions and rollover.