Hyundai Venue vs Toyota Corolla Cross

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was a stylish little crossover that seemed to defy the passage of time with its design. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a robust appearance that belied its compact size. The grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the car's overall design. The Venue's exterior updates from the 2020 model were minimal, with the most notable change being the replacement of 15-inch steel wheels with alloys on the base SE trim. The top-line Denim trim, with its white roof and unique paint job, was particularly eye-catching, while the SEL trim offered great value with standard features like 17-inch alloy wheels and advanced driver-assistance systems.

Inside, the Venue's cabin was a testament to Hyundai's ability to create a modern feel without a hefty price tag. While the materials were predominantly plastic, the design allowed for ample light, making the interior feel spacious. The SEL trim offered heated seats and a power sunroof, although the latter's mechanical tracks were visible. Despite its low-cost build, the Venue's interior managed to maintain a contemporary look, providing a comfortable driving experience.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross, on the other hand, took a more conservative approach to styling. Its design was reminiscent of the larger RAV4, with a snub nose and tall ride height, but it was clear Toyota aimed for subtlety. The Corolla Cross was compact, being 5.3 inches shorter than the RAV4, yet larger than the C-HR, offering more interior space. While the exterior had some interesting details, like scalloping around the rear door handles, the overall look was understated. The interior was very Corolla-esque, with a layout similar to the sedan and hatchback models. However, material quality was somewhat lacking, especially in the base L model, which felt basic. The XLE trim offered SofTex leatherette upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, but overall, the interior comfort was not particularly impressive.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was designed for economy rather than performance, and while it didn't offer thrilling acceleration, it was adequate for city driving. The Venue was only available with front-wheel drive, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) was the sole option, as the manual transmission was discontinued. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight construction allowed it to feel lively in urban settings, although it struggled on highways.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross featured a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a CVT that included an actual first gear for better acceleration from a stop. While the Corolla Cross offered more power than the Venue, it still faced typical CVT issues like engine droning and delayed response at higher speeds. The optional all-wheel-drive system provided better traction, but the Corolla Cross was not designed for off-roading. Its 1,500-pound towing capacity was modest, and the vehicle exhibited noticeable body roll during cornering.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered decent front-seat space with ample headroom and legroom, although storage was limited. The back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults, and cargo space was modest at 18.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded. Compared to competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport, the Venue fell short in cargo capacity.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross provided more passenger and cargo space than the Corolla hatchback, with improved rear-seat room and cargo capacity. It offered 26.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up in FWD models and 66.8 cubic feet with them folded. While it compared well to rivals in terms of space, the interior comfort was lacking, with hard and unsupportive seats. Storage spaces were minimal, and the driving position, while SUV-like, was not ideal for long trips.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue impressed with its tech offerings, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and responsive swipe functionality. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard, with customizable driver profiles. The interface was user-friendly, with physical buttons for easy access to media and settings.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen on base models, while higher trims received an 8-inch screen. The infotainment system was straightforward but lacked sophistication, with plain graphics and slow startup times. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with optional upgrades like a nine-speaker JBL audio system. The LE and XLE trims offered additional tech features like wireless charging and pushbutton start.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came equipped with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests for front collisions and rollover.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available for the Corolla Cross.