Mitsubishi Outlander vs Hyundai Venue

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was available in ES, SE, and SEL trims, offering both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. Its distinctive front design, characterized by a thin upper eyebrow functioning as a daytime running light and a large, square headlight beneath, was hard to miss. Despite subtle changes to the grille and diffuser, the Outlander maintained its unique, albeit polarizing, appearance. Inside, the top SEL trim boasted quilted leather seats and soft-touch surfaces, with physical controls for the HVAC system. The Yamaha speaker faces, inspired by traditional Japanese patterns, added a touch of elegance, although some plastic elements detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, classified as a crossover SUV, resembled a tall hatchback with its compact design. It featured a high nose with lower headlights and high-set daytime running lights, complemented by roof rails and black rocker panels. The Venue's interior was simple and functional, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen. The cloth and H-Tex seats in the SEL trim provided comfort, though legroom was limited for taller passengers. The rear seats folded flat to offer 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, but the Venue's cost-cutting measures were evident in the hard plastic materials used throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Its AWD system, developed from rally racing experience, provided stability on curvy roads. The suspension was retuned for 2025, offering more comfort and less body roll. However, the Outlander struggled with acceleration, and its continuously variable transmission (CVT) exhibited a droney, rubber-band feeling. The Outlander achieved a fuel rating of 26 miles per gallon combined, falling short of competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The plug-in hybrid variant offered 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with a fuel rating of 64 MPGe and 38 miles of all-electric range.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, with its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The Venue's performance was modest, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.5–8.8 seconds. Its lightweight design made it nimble in city traffic, but the CVT struggled at highway speeds. The Venue's handling benefited from its small size and low weight, though the ride was jiggly on broken pavement due to the solid rear axle. The Venue's 6.7 inches of ground clearance allowed for some lean in corners, but the steering remained stable and direct.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a third row of seating, though it was cramped with only 18.7 inches of legroom. With the third row in place, cargo space was limited to less than 11 cubic feet, but folding the seats expanded it to 30 cubic feet. The driver's seat offered easy access to physical controls for the HVAC system, and the top-line tester included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. However, the cup holders were shallow, causing issues with larger bottles during braking.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior featured cloth and H-Tex seats with manual adjustments, providing comfort and adequate headroom. The rear seat accommodated average-sized adults, but taller passengers struggled with legroom. The rear seats folded in a 60/40 split, offering 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, though the Venue's overall cargo capacity was modest compared to larger crossovers. The Venue's interior materials were primarily hard black plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces, reflecting its budget-friendly nature.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander boasted a Yamaha premium sound system with eight speakers, expandable to a 12-speaker, 1,650-watt system in upper trims. The system offered customizable sound modes and volume adjustments based on speed and ambient noise. The Outlander featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a physical volume knob and camera system button. Upper trims included a digital gauge cluster, rear camera mirror, and head-up display. Mitsubishi Connect and Remote Services were available, offering features like remote start and live traffic information.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment functions, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the screen size felt small, it was functional and responsive. The Venue lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot, but its digital instrument cluster provided essential information. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium options available.

The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander offered a limited suite of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. The Outlander received mixed safety ratings, with a four-star rollover rating from NHTSA and a "Good" rating for headlights from IIHS. However, its front crash prevention received a "Poor" rating.

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