2021 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Hyundai Kona was a funky small SUV that combined mild and wild styling elements. Its front end featured a busy array of lighting, including a grille flanked by lights, additional lights above, and fog lights on some trims. This playful design appealed to younger buyers. The rear, however, was more subdued, with a standard crossover shape and lighting configuration. Inside, the Kona maintained its fun attitude without being overly whimsical. The seats had neat patterns and standard cloth upholstery, with higher trims offering leather upgrades. The interior was well-organized, featuring an infotainment system touchscreen mounted high on the dash and intuitive physical climate controls, making it user-friendly despite its compact size.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was a stylish little crossover that seemed timeless. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a unique look that belied its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. Roof rails and wide-spaced letters spelling "Venue" added to its appeal. The Venue's headlights were split into two pieces, and the taillights featured an interesting pattern. While the exterior saw minimal changes from the 2020 model, the Venue's top-line Denim trim stood out with its white roof and unique paint job. Inside, the Venue used inexpensive materials but managed to avoid feeling spartan. The cabin was bright and airy, thanks to its shape and large windows, and the heated seats in the SEL trim added a touch of comfort.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona offered two powertrain options. The base model had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 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. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,400. While neither engine was particularly powerful, they provided enough power for city and highway driving. The Kona's handling was surprisingly confident, offering agility and engagement, with a comfortable and composed ride on curvy roads. Fuel economy varied depending on the configuration, with the base engine and FWD achieving an EPA-estimated 27/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, as all-wheel drive was not available. The Venue's performance was modest, but its lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas. The Venue's powertrain was adequate for its size, but those seeking more power would need to look elsewhere. Despite its limited power, the Venue's small size and weight made it feel sprightly when pulling away from a stoplight.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona provided decent headroom and legroom for front-seat passengers, with a view that was not particularly exciting. The optional sunroof did not significantly reduce headroom. The front seats were wide and well-padded but lacked support for spirited driving. The rear seats offered good headroom but limited legroom, and large rear-facing car seats could pose challenges for taller front passengers. The Kona's cargo space was limited, ranking near the bottom of its segment, but the rear seats could be folded to expand the space. Small-item storage was generous, with large door pockets and a spacious center console area.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue's front seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with decent storage space. A handy tray ahead of the gear selector and another in front of the passenger provided convenient storage options. The center console's bin was small but functional. The Venue's automatic climate control effectively managed the cabin temperature. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, though headroom was sufficient. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport, making it less suitable for those prioritizing cargo space.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona came equipped with a solid list of tech and entertainment 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, making it easy to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were significant benefits, especially for lower trims, providing navigation, streaming audio, and voice controls.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue also boasted an impressive array of tech features. An 8-inch touchscreen was positioned at the top of the dash, flanked by air vents. Physical buttons below the screen provided quick access to media sources, navigation, and settings, with a customizable starred button. The screen offered high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profile customization, appealing to families with multiple drivers. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While the base Venue SE was set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future, the upgraded systems in the SEL and Denim trims did not.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) with "Good" scores in all crash test areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars overall. Standard safety features included 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 features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and parking sensors.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its small size, offered a commendable suite of safety features. Standard on all trims were automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Hyundai's advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) were seamlessly integrated, avoiding distracting alerts. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for driver-side and passenger-side front collisions and rollover.