2020 Hyundai Venue vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander presented a design that was subtly refined from its predecessor, with a slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various elements, including the tailgate's license plate cutout and the grille. Higher trims boasted projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, with LED running lamps reserved for the Limited and Platinum trims. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shone, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash featuring an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim offered a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, rivaling the interiors of competitors like the Kia Telluride.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup as a more affordable subcompact SUV. It featured a distinctive design with a white contrasting roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of the Hyundai Palisade. Inside, the Venue's cabin was modern and spacious, offering ample head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The Venue's control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials complementing the touchscreen interface. The Denim trim stood out with its denim upholstery, showcasing Hyundai's willingness to explore alternative premium materials.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine, shared with the Lexus RX, provided smooth and quiet performance, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. However, the Highlander's steering and suspension left room for improvement, with loose steering and a soft suspension that affected control. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander offered a comfortable and isolating driving experience, with selectable driving modes and torque vectoring on AWD models. Fuel economy was commendable, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT) for most trims. The Venue's acceleration was underwhelming, and the engine noise was noticeable. Despite its SUV aspirations, the Venue lacked AWD, limiting its capability. However, it offered decent road feel and handling, with minimal body roll. Fuel economy was a strong point, with the CVT model achieving 30 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander offered seating for eight or seven with second-row captain's chairs. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous adjustments and easy access to the third row. Cargo space was ample, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Highlander's interior featured practical storage solutions, including shelves integrated into the dash and multiple cupholders. The controls were simple and legible, with an intuitive infotainment interface.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not extremely utilitarian, provided decent interior space for its size. It offered 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, less than the Hyundai Kona. However, the Venue excelled in front-seat head- and legroom, even accommodating taller drivers. The control layout was user-friendly, with traditional buttons and dials complementing the touchscreen interface. The Venue's automatic climate control on higher trims featured a unique design, though it could be confusing at first glance.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system, despite being new, felt outdated compared to competitors. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, the Highlander offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The vehicle's technology was bolstered by a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch instrument cluster display. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams, with optional JBL audio and Safety Connect services.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Hyundai's logical touchscreen layout minimized distracted driving, with large icons and fonts. The screen placement allowed for easy use while driving, with redundant hard buttons for major functions. The Venue's infotainment system was well-designed, providing a user-friendly experience.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear emergency braking. The Highlander received a 2020 Top Safety Pick from the IIHS for its crash test performance and emergency braking capabilities.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features such as a reversing camera, traction control, and a full array of airbags. It also included 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.