2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the typical aging process of car designs. Its upright stance, 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 design, and the split headlights and patterned taillights added a touch of modern flair. 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, and the addition of 17-inch alloys on the SEL and Denim trims. The Denim trim, with its unique paint job and white roof, was particularly eye-catching, while the SEL trim offered great value with standard features that were previously part of an extra-cost package.

Inside, the Venue's cabin was a testament to Hyundai's ability to create a modern feel without a high price tag. While the materials were predominantly plastic, the design allowed for plenty of natural light, making the interior feel spacious. The SEL trim offered heated seats and a modern look despite its budget-friendly build. However, the sunroof's mechanical tracks were visible, detracting slightly from the overall aesthetic. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Venue's interior was functional and comfortable, especially for a vehicle in its price range.

The 2022 Ford Explorer, on the other hand, offered a more traditional SUV look with a long hood, short front overhang, and a rakish roofline. The King Ranch trim, in particular, featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The interior was a mix of quality and questionable materials, but overall, it felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag. The Explorer's rear-drive platform allowed for a floating roof visual effect, and the King Ranch's shiny 20-inch wheels and quad exhaust outlets added to its appeal. However, the third-row seat was best suited for children due to its limited legroom and accessibility.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by 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 lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas, but it lacked the power for more thrilling driving experiences. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, but it was the smallest and lightest of the group.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrain options. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive available. The Explorer's hybrid drivetrain, available on the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an electric motor to produce 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. The most powerful option was the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, generating 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided impressive acceleration and towing capacity, but at the cost of fuel efficiency. The Explorer's ride was robust and capable, handling both on-road and off-road conditions with ease.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage space for its size. The center console's bin was small, but there were trays for small items. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, and the cargo space was modest at 18.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them down. The Venue's cargo capacity lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport.

The 2022 Ford Explorer, particularly in the King Ranch trim, provided a comfortable experience for families of four. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with massaging functions and power adjustments. The second-row seats were nearly as accommodating, but the third-row seat was best suited for children due to its limited legroom. The Explorer's cargo space was more generous, with 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows down. However, practical storage space within the cabin was limited, with missed opportunities for additional storage solutions.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring high resolution and quick swipe functionality. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features, with the ability to set up driver profiles. The interface was designed for simplicity and ease of use, with physical buttons for quick access to media sources and settings.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system, with either an 8-inch or a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The larger screen felt like an afterthought, but the system included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a navigation system. The King Ranch trim featured a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system and a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display. However, the voice recognition system was less effective than Ford's newer Sync 4 technology, and the system struggled with certain commands.

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 and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with standard Ford Co-Pilot360 features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The Explorer's safety systems operated smoothly, though the lane-centering assist system occasionally disengaged on curvy roads.