2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a traditional SUV aesthetic, characterized by its tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch, aligning seamlessly with Volvo's signature design elements like the "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The gasoline models offered a retro touch with an optional white contrasting roof. The XC40 Recharge differentiated itself with a blanked-off grille, unique badging, and model-specific alloy wheels, alongside a gloss black roof and mirror caps. Its interior was minimalist yet premium, featuring real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a cohesive and upscale cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted a timeless design that seemed unlikely to age poorly. Its upright stance, almost horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a substantial appearance despite its compact size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. The Venue's exterior updates for 2021 included new alloy wheels across trims, with the top-line Denim trim offering a stylish white roof. Inside, the Venue's materials reflected its budget-friendly price, with prevalent plastic surfaces, yet it managed to maintain a modern look. The cabin felt airy due to its large windows and thin A-pillars, providing a greenhouse-like atmosphere.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a versatile powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline variants featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model, sharing its powertrain with the Polestar 2, boasted dual electric motors for AWD, generating a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery. The Recharge accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 achieved the same in 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. The XC40 emphasized luxury and comfort, with excellent ride quality and the capability for one-pedal driving.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue housed a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under its hood, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), was the sole powertrain option, as Hyundai discontinued the manual transmission for 2021. The Venue's FWD setup and selectable drive mode for snowy conditions provided adequate performance for its size. Despite its modest power output, the Venue's lightweight construction allowed for a lively driving experience in urban settings, although it lacked the power for more spirited highway driving.

The 2021 Volvo XC40, both in its gasoline and Recharge variants, offered clever storage solutions despite its limited interior space compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The center console featured a removable trash bin, and the glovebox door included a bag hook. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were relocated to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. However, the XC40's cargo space was smaller than rivals, and second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with practical storage solutions like a tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The back seat was tighter, suitable for short drives, and the cargo space was limited, offering 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 and Ford EcoSport, making it less ideal for those prioritizing storage.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, integrating Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. The system included a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, with OTA update capability for software-controlled vehicle functions. Gasoline models retained the previous infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Recharge model lacked a start button, allowing drivers to simply shift out of park to start the vehicle.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and intuitive controls, including customizable buttons for easy access to preferred functions. The infotainment system supported Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with the base SE trim set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future. The Venue's interface was designed for simplicity, featuring a user-friendly layout with quick swipe functionality and a charming radio interface.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 received top safety ratings, with a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and the highest rating from the IIHS for its gasoline models. The electric XC40 Recharge was not rated separately, but Volvo anticipated strong performance due to its structural design. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model also featured scalable driver aids capable of future updates.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its small size, offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, and automatic emergency braking. 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, demonstrating a reasonable level of safety for its class.