2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have likened to a frog-like appearance. Kia described the styling as "Euro-focused," and the two-row crossover SUV was well-suited for city driving due to its short wheelbase and overhangs. The headlights were carried over from the previous year, and the Sportage offered wheel options ranging from 17 to 19 inches. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen served as the focal point, complemented by physical buttons and knobs for easy control. While the interior wasn't the most tech-forward, it provided a pleasant environment for occupants.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was designed to maintain its stylish appeal over time. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a unique look that belied 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 character. The Venue's exterior updates for 2021 included replacing the 15-inch steel wheels with alloys and making 17-inch alloys standard on higher trims. The top-line Denim trim stood out with its white roof and unique paint job, while the SEL trim offered great value with standard features previously part of an extra-cost package.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered a range of trims, including LX, EX, and SX Turbo, with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models were equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy varied, with FWD models achieving 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw slightly lower figures. The Sportage's suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left room for improvement.

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 paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered only front-wheel drive. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight design allowed for sprightly performance in lower-speed areas. The Venue's performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, and Toyota C-HR, though it lacked the option for a more powerful engine or all-wheel drive. The Venue's selectable drive mode for snowy conditions was a notable feature, despite the absence of AWD.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and 8-way power adjustment for the passenger, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, falling short compared to other compact crossovers.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with decent storage options, including a tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives, though headroom was sufficient. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 31.9 cubic feet with it folded, lagging behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport. The Venue's hatchback design offered some versatility, but it was not the best choice for those prioritizing cargo capacity.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with standard Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports. Most trims also included Kia's UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus and physical controls, though not the most cutting-edge.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The interface included physical buttons for easy access to media and settings, along with a customizable starred button. The Venue's infotainment system supported driver profiles and included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. The base SE trim was set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future, while the SEL and Denim trims offered upgraded infotainment systems.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage received high safety ratings, with the SX Turbo earning Top Safety Pick status from the IIHS and strong crash test results from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its small size, offered a range of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning as standard. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's ADAS were well-integrated, avoiding excessive alerts. In crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA's front collision and rollover tests.