Honda Odyssey vs Hyundai Venue

The 2025 Honda Odyssey retained a familiar design lineage that harked back to its 2011 predecessor, presenting an aesthetic that was as predictable as a well-worn joke. Its interior followed suit with a traditional layout of buttons and knobs, which, despite being old-school, were appreciated for their practicality and ease of use. The Odyssey was available in EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, and Elite trims, with the base EX trim discontinued, resulting in a price increase for the entry-level model. Our test vehicle, an Elite trim, featured a new Smoke Blue Pearl exterior and a sophisticated two-tone leather interior, offering a touch of class to its otherwise utilitarian design.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, bore a resemblance to a tall hatchback with its compact and narrow appearance. Its design leaned more towards a crossover with SUV-like elements such as a bluff nose, roof rails, and black wheel flares. The Venue's interior was simple and functional, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled a tablet affixed to the dash. The Venue's design was practical, with body-color trim adding a touch of exterior flair to the interior.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a 10-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. Despite lacking AWD or a hybrid option, the Odyssey offered a rewarding driving experience for a minivan, with a fuel economy of 22 mpg in combined driving. Our test vehicle achieved 21.4 mpg on a test loop and 24 mpg during a week of varied driving. The Odyssey's performance was characterized by a natural driving experience, responsive handling, and a comfortable ride, even in challenging conditions.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue was powered by a modest 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Venue's performance was limited, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.5–8.8 seconds, but its lightweight design made it agile in city traffic. However, the Venue struggled at highway speeds, with the transmission slow to respond and the engine prone to droning. Despite its small size, the Venue offered stable handling and a comfortable ride, though it was less refined on rough surfaces.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey excelled in its primary role as a people and cargo carrier, accommodating up to eight passengers and offering 140.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The Elite trim featured power-adjustable leather seats with heating and ventilation, though taller drivers might find legroom limited. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided versatile configurations, though they required removal for maximum cargo space. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the Odyssey offered ample storage throughout the cabin.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior featured cloth and synthetic leather seats with manual adjustments, providing adequate comfort for most drivers. The rear seat offered limited legroom, suitable for average-sized adults, but cramped for taller passengers. The Venue's cargo space was modest, with 31.9 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 18.7 cubic feet with them up. The interior materials reflected cost-cutting measures, with hard plastics prevalent throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey received a technology update with a 7-inch digital driver display and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging, though the system's graphics and voice recognition were subpar. The rear-seat entertainment system, featuring Amazon Fire TV, proved challenging to use without the right cables, leading to frustration.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment functions, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While lacking features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, the system was user-friendly with large icons and quick response times. The Venue's audio system was basic, with no premium option available, but sufficient for casual listening.

The 2025 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, offering a suite of driving-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The Odyssey earned high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though it received a "Poor" rating in a new IIHS evaluation.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a solid set of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning and lane-keep assist. However, it lacked adaptive cruise control. The Venue received a four-star safety rating from NHTSA, with incomplete IIHS ratings at the time of writing. Its headlights received mixed ratings depending on the trim level.