Toyota 4Runner vs Hyundai Venue

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was classified as a crossover SUV, though its design leaned more towards a tall hatchback. It featured only front-wheel drive and had a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, which was higher than a typical car but not as tall as most crossover SUVs. The EPA classified it as a midsize car due to its interior space. The Venue's design was more crossover-like, with a small and narrow appearance reminiscent of European runabouts. It had an upright windshield, a bluff nose, and standard roof rails, giving it an SUV-like look. The Venue's high nose was complemented by lower headlights and high-set daytime running lights, while black wheel flares around its small wheels added to its SUV cues. Inside, the Venue had a simple and functional look, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen that resembled an iPad on the dash.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner shared design elements with the Tacoma pickup, making it difficult to distinguish the two from the front. It had a muscular look with pronounced haunches and black wheel flares for off-road models. The sheet metal was creased and angled, with deep creases along the sides. The grille sat high above a lower intake, especially on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter models, which featured heritage-inspired front ends with "Toyota" lettering and an integrated light bar. The rear side windows extended into the roof, reminiscent of the original 4Runner from the 1980s. Wheel sizes ranged from 18 to 20 inches. Inside, the 4Runner had a simple, utilitarian look with chunky control dials and an abundance of hard plastic. Cloth upholstery was standard, with synthetic leather and leather options available on higher trims.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue was not known for its performance, as it was one of the least powerful vehicles on the market. It was powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produced only 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The power was delivered 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, which was better than expected given its power output, thanks to its lightweight of 2,738 pounds. The Venue felt peppy in city traffic but struggled at highway speeds, where the transmission was slow to downshift. Handling was aided by its small size and low weight, making it easy to maneuver in traffic and fit into tight parking spots. However, the ride was jiggly on broken pavement due to its solid rear axle.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner offered a choice of two powertrains and rear-wheel drive or two four-wheel-drive systems. The base engine, known as i-Force, was a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder that generated 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The i-Force Max hybrid system added an electric motor, increasing output to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft. The 4Runner hybrid had a mid-to-low seven-second 0-60 mph time. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-matched to the engine, with more aggressive tuning in Sport mode. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with features like a locking rear differential, Bilstein dampers, and a Multi-Terrain System with various drive modes. However, its on-road dynamics were compromised, with a firm suspension and notable lean in corners. The Limited and Platinum models offered a more street-friendly ride.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior featured cloth and H-Tex seats with black upholstery and white contrast stitching. The seats were comfortable, with six-way manual adjustments for the driver. Headroom was plentiful, but legroom was lacking for taller individuals. The rear seat had enough room for average-sized adults, but taller passengers would struggle for legroom. The rear seats folded flat in a 60/40 split, providing 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was modest compared to typical compact crossovers. The Venue's interior was dominated by hard black plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner could be configured with two or three rows of seats. The front seats were the most comfortable, with manual adjustments as standard. Heated front seats were standard on most trims, with power adjustments available on higher trims. The second row offered decent space but lacked comfort due to low seat bottoms. The three-row version was less accommodating, with limited legroom. Cargo space was competitive with midsize rivals, but accessibility was an issue. Gas-only two-row models had 48.4 cubic feet of space behind the second row, while hybrid models had slightly less due to a higher load floor.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment features. While it felt small by modern standards, it was functional and responsive. It included phone, radio, media, and phone-projection connections, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, it lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The audio system was a simple six-speaker unit, with no premium option available.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner featured a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with larger screens available on higher trims. The 14-inch touchscreen was easy to use, with quick access to functions like navigation and entertainment. The 4Runner came with a one-year trial of Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster provided programmable information, and the standard tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a satellite radio trial, and a wireless phone charger on most trims.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a good set of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a driver-attention monitor. However, it lacked adaptive cruise control. The Venue received four out of five stars from the NHTSA and had mixed ratings from the IIHS, with some tests still pending.

The 2026 Toyota 4Runner was equipped with Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 suite, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more. It also had blind-spot monitors and cross-traffic alert. The 4Runner received four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with mixed results from the IIHS, including a Marginal score in the moderate front overlap crash test.