2021 Subaru Outback 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, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a robust appearance that belied its compact size. The grille was tastefully 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 distinctive white roof and unique paint job, was particularly appealing to those drawn to the Venue's fashion-forward style. Inside, the Venue was not luxurious, but it was far from spartan. Despite the prevalence of plastic, the interior felt modern, with features like heated seats and a sunroof, albeit with visible mechanical tracks.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback maintained a familiar and comfortable design, reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior was refreshed, especially in trims above the base, which featured a large 11.6-inch portrait display. Quality materials were evident, with the Onyx Edition XT offering a unique gray and black StarTex upholstery. The exterior was practical, with high gray cladding to protect against scratches and a smooth, balanced design. The Outback's standout feature was its lifted wagon design, offering a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs. Changes for 2021 were minimal, with new paint options and standard adaptive LED headlights. The Outback's design was functional, prioritizing capability and safety over speed, with a focus on comfort and off-road proficiency.

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 designed for economy rather than power, and it was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Venue's front-wheel-drive setup and selectable drive mode for snowy conditions provided adequate performance for its size. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight construction allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas, although it lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport in terms of power.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered two engine options. The base model featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. This setup struggled with the Outback's weight, especially when fully loaded, resulting in slow and noisy performance. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a significant improvement in performance, making the Outback more capable of keeping up with traffic. The Outback's handling was designed for comfort, with long-travel springs and high ground clearance for off-road capability. Subaru's electronically-variable all-wheel-drive system was a standout feature, offering superior off-road performance compared to many competitors.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered decent interior space for its size, with ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage options were limited but practical, with a handy tray for small items. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, and cargo space was modest at 18.7 cubic feet with the seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them down. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport.

The 2021 Subaru Outback excelled in interior space and functionality. It offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. The Outback's visibility was excellent, thanks to thin pillars and large windows. Storage options were plentiful, with large map pockets and bottle holders in each door. The Outback's standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and cost savings. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen with a user-friendly interface. The system included physical buttons for easy access to media and settings, and the screen offered high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The Venue's infotainment system supported Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with the option for wireless CarPlay in the future.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system felt dated, with graphics reminiscent of older technology. However, it offered modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The optional navigation system was more modern-looking, and the large single screen was more cohesive than the base model's dual-screen setup. Subaru EyeSight was standard, providing adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking.

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. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for driver-side and passenger-side front collisions and rollover.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard airbags and driver assists. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and received five stars from the NHTSA in crash tests, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and rollover.