2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that managed to maintain its appeal over time. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a unique shape that belied its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design, and the split headlights and 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. 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 predominantly 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 with visible mechanical tracks. Despite its low-cost build, the Venue's interior managed to maintain a contemporary look, providing a comfortable driving experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its design featured the new face of Hyundai vehicles, with a parametric grille that hid the LED daytime running lights and headlights. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, giving it a floating roof appearance, while the rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs. The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, and high-end models featured premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior was well-appointed, with stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats as standard, and sport combination and leather-trimmed seats available on higher trims. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered aesthetic contributed to a sense of spaciousness, making the Tucson a strong contender in the compact SUV segment.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was designed to provide just enough power for the Venue's lightweight frame, which weighed in at 2,612 pounds. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, although it was smaller and lighter. Front-wheel drive was the only option, with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) managing the power. While the Venue's powertrain didn't offer thrilling performance, its lightweight design allowed for a sprightly driving experience in lower-speed areas.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid powertrain offered 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid engine made the Tucson more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. All-wheel drive was standard on the Tucson Hybrid and available on ICE models, providing excellent performance in off-road conditions. The Tucson's fuel efficiency varied depending on the powertrain, with the hybrid models offering significantly better fuel economy than the ICE models. The forthcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power and efficiency, with an estimated total system output of 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered a surprisingly spacious interior for its size, with ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage space was decent, with a handy tray ahead of the gear selector and another in front of the passenger. The center console's bin was small but functional, and the automatic climate control effectively managed the cabin's temperature. However, the back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives. 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, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport, the Venue offered less cargo volume.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, in contrast, provided a more spacious and well-appointed interior. The new platform allowed for increased passenger and cargo space, with more room than competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. The Tucson featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated and ventilated front seats, memory settings, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The rear seats offered more legroom than the RAV4, and the cabin had ample space for a family of four. The Tucson's cargo area measured 74.8 cubic feet, comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly larger than the Escape. A 60-40 split-folding bench seat and dual-level cargo floor added to the Tucson's versatility.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a high-resolution display and responsive swipe functionality. Physical buttons below the screen provided easy access to media sources, navigation, and settings, while Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard features. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profiles with customized radio presets, appealing to families with multiple drivers. The base SE trim was set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future, although the upgraded systems in the SEL and Denim trims would not.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson boasted a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, although this required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Tucson's infotainment system was embedded within a larger head unit, with touchpoints for climate control and media functionality. While the touchpoints were responsive, their lack of physical differentiation made them challenging to use while driving. The Tucson also featured a fully digital instrument cluster on higher trims, adding to its modern appeal.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came equipped with a suite of standard safety features, including 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's safety features were seamlessly integrated, avoiding the distracting alerts common in other vehicles. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars in the NHTSA's driver-side and passenger-side front collision tests, as well as for rollover.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not yet been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it offered an extensive list of standard and available safety features. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and more. Additional features like blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system were available, providing a level of safety comparable to luxury SUVs. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a comprehensive warranty, including a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.