Jeep Wrangler vs Hyundai Venue

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler was a vehicle that stood out with its iconic design, featuring an upright, military-style stance and a distinct seven-slot grille. Its removable doors and roof, along with the option to fold down the windshield, offered a unique open-air experience. The Wrangler was known for its extensive customization options, ranging from basic to luxurious trims. Our test model, the Willys ’41, was finished in a special army green color with matching wheels and a ’41 hood graphic. The interior was utilitarian, with rugged materials and a minimalist design, but it was practical for adventurous drivers. The Willys ’41 had weather-proof floor mats and tan-colored cloth seats, which were easy to clean. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the Wrangler's adventurous intentions made them fitting. The presence of hard buttons and dials for the HVAC system was appreciated, and the vehicle was peppered with fun easter eggs, like the old-school Wrangler climbing up the windshield.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, had a design that leaned more towards a tall hatchback. It offered only front-wheel drive and had a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, which was higher than a car's but not as tall as a typical crossover SUV. The Venue's design was more crossover than car, with a small and narrow appearance, an upright windshield, and SUV cues like a bluff nose and standard roof rails. The Venue's high nose was flanked by lower headlights and high-set daytime running lights, while black wheel flares around small wheels nodded to an SUV. Inside, the Venue had a simple and functional look, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled an iPad tacked onto the dash. Body-color trim surrounded the air vents and shifter, bringing some of the outside feel inside the vehicle.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler offered a range of powertrains, including the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, and a 6.4-liter Hemi V8. Most models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, but the V6 engine offered a six-speed manual option. Our Willys ’41 test vehicle featured the V6 engine, delivering 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided ample power for everyday driving and highway merging, with low-end torque that was beneficial for off-road crawling. The Wrangler's maneuverability was impressive, making it easy to handle tight turns and city parking. However, the knobby off-road tires and upright stance resulted in rough handling and significant wind noise at highway speeds, making phone calls challenging.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The power was channeled through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to the front wheels. The Venue's 0-60 mph time ranged from 8.5 to 8.8 seconds, aided by its lightweight of 2,738 pounds. While peppy from a stop, the Venue struggled at highway speeds, with the CVT slow to change gears. The engine droned under heavy throttle, and the lack of sound deadening made it more noticeable. The Venue's small size and low weight contributed to its nimble handling, but the 6.7 inches of ground clearance resulted in some lean in corners. The ride was generally comfortable, though the solid rear axle made it jiggly on rough pavement.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler was a practical choice for off-road adventures, with a standard 9.7 inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford up to 30 inches of water. The four-door model offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The swing-out tailgate and lift-up rear glass provided easy access to cargo, and the spare tire was conveniently mounted on the back. However, the Wrangler's high step-in height and tight back seat made it less practical for regular back-seat passengers. Front seat space was also narrow, and amenities like cup holders and storage cubbies were limited.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured cloth and H-Tex seats with black upholstery and white contrast stitching. The seats were comfortable, with six-way manual adjustments, and seat heating was available in SEL models. Headroom was plentiful, but legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat could accommodate average-sized adults, but three adults would find it cramped. The rear seats folded flat in a 60/40 split, providing 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, while the space with the seats up was 18.7 cubic feet. The Venue's rear cargo floor lifted to access the compact spare tire, but the lack of sound deadening was evident. The interior featured hard black plastic, with soft-touch surfaces limited to the center console and door armrests.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability. A two-year free trial of the Trails Offroad app was included, allowing drivers to explore trails and maps via the infotainment screen. Optional tech features included a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a forward-facing TrailCam. Our Willys ’41 test vehicle had the Alpine audio system and a 7-inch display screen in the instrument cluster. The TrailCam, available on certain models, was useful for off-road tire placement.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment functions, including phone, radio, media, and phone-projection connections. While it lacked navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio, it did offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information and was not programmable. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium option available.

The 2026 Jeep Wrangler included basic safety features, with advanced safety tech available at a cost. The base Sport trim lacked extra safety tech, while the Sport S trim offered adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Wrangler received mixed safety ratings, with "Good" ratings in some crash tests and "Poor" or "Marginal" scores for headlights.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with a good set of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Blind-spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert were available on all but the base SE. The Venue received a four-star rating from the NHTSA, with "Good" scores in some crash tests, but full IIHS ratings were unavailable.