2021 Honda HR-V vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the passage of time with its design. Its upright stance, nearly horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a robust appearance that belied its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the car's design. The Venue's exterior updates from the 2020 model were minimal, with the most notable change being the replacement of 15-inch steel wheels with alloys on the base SE trim. The top-line Denim trim, with its white roof and unique paint job, was particularly eye-catching, while the SEL trim offered great value with standard features like 17-inch alloy wheels and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Inside, the Venue's cabin was a testament to how an inexpensive car could still feel modern and functional. While the materials were largely plastic, the design allowed for plenty of light, making the interior feel spacious. The SEL trim offered heated seats and a power sunroof, although the latter looked somewhat cheap. Despite its low-cost build, the Venue's interior managed to maintain a contemporary look, providing a comfortable driving experience.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda HR-V presented a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda's larger SUVs. Its distinctive styling included converging window lines near the taillights, which also housed the rear door handles. Most trims featured 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Sport model boasting matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. The interior was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. Higher trims like the EX and EX-L offered features such as push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L adding leather upholstery.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), as Hyundai discontinued the six-speed manual option. The Venue's front-wheel-drive setup was the only option, though it did offer a selectable drive mode for snowy conditions. While the Venue's powertrain didn't deliver thrilling performance, its lightweight build allowed for a lively feel in lower-speed areas.

The 2021 Honda HR-V, on the other hand, featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a CVT. All-wheel drive was available across all trim levels, though front-wheel drive was standard. The HR-V's powertrain was considered underpowered for highway driving, but its chassis made up for it by providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads. The HR-V's AWD system was not designed for off-road use, and its ground clearance was minimal, limiting its capabilities compared to more traditional SUVs.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage space. However, the back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space was also limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded down. Compared to competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport, the Venue offered less cargo volume.

The 2021 Honda HR-V excelled in cargo space, thanks to its "Magic Seat" 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the seat folded down, it provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), surpassing many competitors. The HR-V also offered generous rear-seat legroom, though front-seat legroom and headroom were average. While it lacked clever interior storage solutions, the HR-V's controls were sensibly designed, making it easy to use.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering a user-friendly interface with physical buttons for quick access to various functions. The infotainment system featured high-resolution graphics and swipe functionality, along with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profiles, appealing to families with multiple drivers.

In comparison, the 2021 Honda HR-V's base LX trim came with a 5-inch display screen and a four-speaker audio system. Upgrading to the Sport trim level provided a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. While the infotainment system was functional, the 7-inch touchscreen was smaller than many competitors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard on the base trim.

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

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Marginal" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The HR-V earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. Honda Sensing safety features were available on the EX and EX-L trims, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.