2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received updates in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt somewhat dated, with occasional upscale touches. The hollow "thud" of the front doors and the instrument panel's outdated design were notable indicators of its age. However, the simplicity of the controls made them user-friendly. The Sienna offered a range of trims, from the well-equipped base L to the luxurious Limited Premium. Each trim added features like power sliding doors, leather upholstery, and entertainment systems, catering to various family needs. The Nightshade Edition added a touch of style with dark accents and wheels.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue filled a gap in Hyundai's lineup as a subcompact SUV, distinct from the more premium Kona. The Venue's upright design and affordable price made it a practical choice for budget-conscious buyers. Its standout features included a white contrasting roof on the Denim trim and a large chrome grille reminiscent of Hyundai's larger SUVs. Inside, the Venue offered a modern and spacious cabin with excellent visibility. The trims ranged from the basic SE to the fully loaded Denim, with features like alloy wheels, heated front seats, and denim upholstery. The Venue's interior design combined modern technology with traditional controls for a user-friendly experience.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna was powered by a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered a Sport mode for enhanced throttle and shift response, making it suitable for highway overtaking. The Sienna's towing capacity was 3,500 pounds, and it provided the option of all-wheel drive (AWD) on trims other than the base L. While AWD improved traction in adverse conditions, it didn't aid in stopping on ice or snow. The front-wheel-drive (FWD) Sienna achieved fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions returned slightly lower figures. The Sienna's handling was surprisingly decent for a minivan, with a low center of gravity and broad base, though its steering response could be twitchy at higher speeds.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Most trims came with a continuously variable automatic transmission (IVT), while the base trim offered a manual option. The Venue's acceleration was underwhelming, and its engine noise was noticeable. It lacked AWD, making it more akin to a compact hatchback than an SUV. Despite its taller setup, the Venue handled corners with composure, though it transmitted road imperfections to the cabin. The Venue's lack of power affected its ability to handle tight spots and emergency situations. Fuel economy with the CVT was commendable, achieving 30 mpg city, 34 highway, and 32 combined.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet, surpassing competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which could be cumbersome with the bench configuration. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat was challenging. Toyota offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making it a practical choice for those needing mobility conversions.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue, while not particularly utilitarian, provided decent interior space. With the rear seats folded, it offered 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Hyundai Kona. However, both vehicles had similar cargo space with the rear seats up. The Venue's front seats provided ample head- and legroom, even for taller drivers, and the backseat offered usable legroom. The control layout was intuitive, with traditional buttons and dials for essential functions. The Venue's automatic climate control on higher trims had a unique design, but overall, it demonstrated Hyundai's attention to user-friendly design.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, supporting Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. While the screen size remained consistent, features varied by trim. The Limited trim included navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Driver Easy Speak system allowed the driver to communicate with rear passengers through the speakers, enhancing convenience for families.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all trims, offering 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 ergonomic, allowing users to brace their hands while using it, enhancing usability at speed.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on lower trims but standard on XLE and Limited trims. The Sienna earned five stars in NHTSA crash testing and received top ratings from the IIHS for its safety features.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features like 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.