Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs Hyundai Venue

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class retained its iconic boxy design, a nod to its origins as the utilitarian "G-Wagen" from 1979. Despite subtle styling updates like a new grille and bumpers, the G-Class maintained its traditional features, including a flat hood and prominent corner lights. The vehicle's robust doors and latches added to its unique character. Functional changes included a repositioned rearview camera and new A-pillar trim for the G 550 models. The interior was opulent, featuring large round vents, ambient lighting, and metallic trim, with AMG models offering sportier steering wheels.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, had a design that leaned more towards a tall hatchback. Its small and narrow appearance, upright windshield, and SUV-like cues such as roof rails and a bluff nose gave it a distinctive look. The Venue's interior was simple and functional, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen. The body-color trim added a touch of the exterior feel inside, but the overall design was straightforward and practical.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class offered a range of powertrains, including the G 550 with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. The AMG G 63 retained its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. Both models featured a mild-hybrid system and a nine-speed automatic transmission with permanent 4WD. The G 550 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, while the G 63 achieved it in 4.2 seconds. The AMG G 63 also boasted an AMG Active Ride Control suspension system, enhancing both off-road and on-road dynamics.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT driving the front wheels. It had a 0-60 mph time of 8.5–8.8 seconds, aided by its lightweight 2,738-pound frame. While peppy in city traffic, the Venue struggled at highway speeds due to its limited torque. The transmission's stepped gear ratios felt slurred, and heavy throttle caused engine droning. Despite its small size, the Venue handled well, with stable steering and a generally comfortable ride, though the solid rear axle made it jiggly on rough surfaces.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, though not small, was more compact than other luxury SUVs. It offered ample headroom but limited legroom due to its tall-yet-short passenger compartment. The G-Class had a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds and 22.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. Its design provided good forward visibility and ease of parking, despite its size.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue featured cloth and synthetic leather seats with manual adjustments and seat heating in SEL models. While headroom was ample, legroom was limited for taller occupants. The rear seat accommodated two adults comfortably, with a 60/40 split for folding to expand cargo space to 31.9 cubic feet. The Venue's interior was marked by cost-cutting measures, with hard black plastic dominating the dash and door panels.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class was equipped with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It had dual 12.3-inch screens, an off-road menu, and a "Transparent Hood" feature. Augmented reality navigation and voice recognition were notable MBUX features. A Burmester 3D surround sound system was standard, with options like a dashcam and rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot but offered a simple six-speaker audio system. The digital instrument cluster displayed limited information, and no premium audio option was available.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA. It included standard driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Pre-Safe system prepared the vehicle for imminent crashes, and new features for 2025 included route-based speed adaptation and automated lane centering.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features such as forward-collision warning and lane-keep assist. It had a four-star NHTSA rating and received a "Good" score in the IIHS small front overlap test. The Venue's headlights received mixed ratings, and adaptive cruise control was not available.