2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly big-car feel. Its upright design provided a commanding view of the road, with a headlight design that, while busy, seamlessly integrated into the grille. The aggressive approach angle of the lower front bumper hinted at off-road capabilities, even though it wasn't designed for such adventures. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added a touch of modern flair and hinted at its on-road prowess. Inside, the Seltos boasted a straightforward design with clean lines and tech features reminiscent of upscale brands. The LCD screen for climate controls and the touchscreen atop the dash added visual symmetry, while the handle framing the tray below the center stack emphasized its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue presented a timeless design that seemed unlikely to age poorly. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a substantial appearance, belying its small size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. Roof rails and wide-spaced letters spelling "Venue" at the back added to its crossover appeal. The Venue's exterior updates from 2020 to 2021 were minimal, with the most notable 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, stood out as the most stylish option, while the SEL trim offered better value with standard features previously part of an extra-cost package.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, it lacked power at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway maneuvers. The Seltos also featured a Drive Mode dial with Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright layout, the Seltos handled well, with minimal body roll and a smooth ride.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue housed a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under its hood, delivering 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, was the sole option, as Hyundai discontinued the six-speed manual transmission. While not the most powerful, the Venue's lightweight design allowed it to move sprightly in lower-speed areas. Front-wheel drive was the only drivetrain option, with a selectable drive mode for snowy conditions. The Venue's performance was comparable to rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport, though it lacked the power of larger engines.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, offering 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray. The Seltos provided ample rear-seat space, with generous head- and legroom, and featured numerous cubbies and compartments for storage.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, while compact, offered decent front-seat headroom and legroom. Storage space was limited, with a small tray ahead of the gear selector and a modest center console bin. 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, lagging behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base S trim, while the SX Turbo boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a helpful home button and hard buttons for easy navigation. However, only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, and plugging in a smartphone defaulted to the phone's audio output.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue impressed with its tech features, including an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and quick swipe functionality. Physical buttons provided easy access to media sources, and the infotainment system allowed for driver profiles with customized radio presets. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with wireless CarPlay available on the base SE trim in the future.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. All trims except the base LX included driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered 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 front collision and rollover tests, with its ADAS seamlessly integrated for a non-intrusive driving experience.