2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525, including the destination charge. The SEL trim, priced at $23,275, was recommended for its enhanced exterior appeal and added convenience and safety features. The Limited trim test vehicle, painted in Ecotronic Gray and equipped with carpeted floor mats, had an MSRP of $24,735. While the gray color lent a mature and subdued appearance, the Venue's design was generally appealing, offering genuine style uncommon in affordable cars. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics that didn't appear cheap, with stylish elements like seat stripes and white trim around the dashboard and center console. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were highlights, showcasing Hyundai's attention to quality and thoughtful design.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged and customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model being the most balanced in appearance. Base prices ranged from $58,525 for a Defender 90 to $120,525 for a 130 V8, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. The test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, included the Extended Black Exterior Pack and off-roading technology, with an MSRP of $106,092. The Gondwana Stone paint and orange brake calipers were less appealing, but the interior featured premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric. The industrial-themed cabin used quality materials, offering a purposeful look rather than traditional luxury. Despite some aesthetic mismatches, the Defender's design was robust and functional.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized available power, making it suitable for city and suburban driving. Its small size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility were advantageous in urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough surfaces, leading to a busy ride quality. On highways, it maintained pace with traffic but sounded unpleasant under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, with power directed to the front wheels, but offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance. Its EPA rating was 31 mpg combined, though it averaged 30.3 mpg during testing.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with a mild-hybrid system. An eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive with a low-range setting supported its off-road capabilities. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road prowess. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was primarily driven on pavement during testing, where it handled urban environments well. The 130's 11.4 inches of ground clearance and various angles made it adept off-road, though its 5,685-pound weight affected on-road agility. The Defender averaged 16.2 mpg, below the expected 19 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance facilitated easier entry and exit. Despite its small size, the Venue offered decent comfort, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment. The front seats featured fabric inserts and heated cushions, while the back seat was better suited for two passengers. Rear-seat amenities included USB ports but lacked air conditioning vents and privacy glass. Cargo space was comparable to a compact car, with 18.7 cubic feet available behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required effort to enter and exit unless the air suspension was lowered. It offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. Visibility was excellent, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The Defender's panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open feel, while storage space was ample in the front but less so in the rear. The second-row captain's chairs were heated and ventilated, with a four-zone climate control option. The third-row seat was accessible and comfortable, providing more space than the Defender 110. The side-hinged cargo door was cumbersome, but the Defender offered 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 89 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and logical menus. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM, a wireless charger, and Bluelink+ services. However, the switch to wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback. Despite this, the infotainment system was sophisticated, with an impressive voice recognition system.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and connected services. Previously unimpressive, Pivi Pro performed well during testing, with accurate voice command responses and an intuitive user experience. The Defender also featured a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The Meridian premium sound system was impressive, and the Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a driver monitoring system. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded it a four-star overall rating.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender included automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A Driver Assistance Mode menu allowed customization of assistance levels. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally misdirected the vehicle. Adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, with minor issues in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at press time.