Hyundai Venue vs Genesis GV80

The 2025 Genesis GV80 was a testament to sophisticated design, offering two engine options and five trims, with the top Prestige trim featuring a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged engine. The redesign enhanced its already handsome appearance, with a more aggressive lower bumper and a grille with added depth. The front fascia retained its traditional two horizontal bar headlights, now filled with a micro lens array, while the rear saw subtler changes. The interior was equally stunning, boasting quilted Nappa leather seats and unique accents like basalt or recycled newspaper trim. The center console featured three tactile dials, including a gear selector and drive mode selector, though the redundant infotainment dial seemed less practical.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, resembled a tall hatchback with its compact design and front-wheel drive. Its design leaned more towards a crossover, with an upright windshield and SUV cues like a bluff nose and roof rails. The Venue's interior was simple and functional, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen. The body-color trim added a touch of flair, but the overall feel was more utilitarian. The Venue's compact size made it ideal for city driving, though it lacked the luxurious touches of the GV80.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 retained its powertrain options, with a standard 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. The top Prestige trim featured a more powerful twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. All trims came with all-wheel drive, capable of sending up to 100% of torque to the rear wheels. The GV80 offered various driving modes, including Snow and Eco, enhancing its versatility. While acceleration was satisfying, the SUV was more suited for cruising than sporty driving. The brakes were firm and linear, ensuring confident stops even on rough roads.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing a modest 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. The power was channeled through a continuously variable transmission to the front wheels. Despite its low power, the Venue's lightweight design allowed for peppy city driving, though highway speeds required more planning for passing. The transmission's stepped gear ratios felt slurred, and heavy throttle caused engine droning. The Venue's small size and low weight contributed to agile handling, but the ride was jiggly on broken pavement due to its solid rear axle.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 was well-equipped with features like power-adjustable heated seats, power-folding mirrors, and the new Mood Curator for a spa-like experience. The top trim included heated armrests, three-zone climate control, and ventilated front seats. However, the seats were uncomfortably rigid, making long trips less enjoyable. The GV80 could seat five passengers, with the option for a third row in the Advance trim. Cargo space was expected to be similar to the 2024 model's 35 cubic feet, and the SUV could tow up to 6,000 pounds.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured cloth and H-Tex seats with manual adjustments, offering decent comfort and headroom. The rear seat accommodated average-sized adults, but taller passengers struggled with legroom. The rear seats folded flat to provide 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, though it was modest compared to other crossovers. The Venue's interior was dominated by hard black plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces, reflecting its budget-friendly nature.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 boasted a 27-inch OLED screen for its digital gauge cluster and infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available later. While the infotainment system was visually impressive, navigating menus could be cumbersome. Standard features included wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and four USB-C ports. The top trim offered a 12-inch head-up display and a digital rearview mirror. The 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system provided sophisticated sound quality, surpassing previous setups.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with a basic 8-inch touchscreen for infotainment, offering limited functionality but quick response. It lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium options. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information and was not programmable.

The 2025 Genesis GV80 was equipped with advanced driver aids, including lane keeping assist, forward collision avoidance, and blind-spot monitoring. Upper trims added features like remote smart parking and a 360-degree camera system. The Highway Drive Assist system included an attention monitor, though it struggled with certain sunglasses. The GV80 had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS for 2025, but the 2024 model received high safety scores.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features like forward-collision warning and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The Venue's safety ratings were mediocre, with a four-star rating from NHTSA and limited IIHS ratings. The driver attention monitor was overly sensitive, but the safety systems generally performed well.