Toyota Highlander vs Hyundai Venue

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 appealing to those drawn to the Venue's fashion-forward style.

Inside, the Venue offered a modern look despite its budget-friendly build. While the interior was dominated by plastic, the design allowed for plenty of natural light, making the cabin feel airy. The SEL trim, which included features like heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, provided good value. However, the Venue's interior materials reflected its price point, with visible mechanical tracks for the optional sunroof and a lack of soft-touch finishes.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance. However, the interior was spacious, offering clever storage solutions for families. The XSE trim, with its bold red leather package and sport-tuned suspension, stood out for its unique styling and performance features. The Highlander offered a range of trims, from the base L to the luxurious Platinum, each adding more comfort and technology features.

The Highlander's interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring deep cargo pockets, multiple storage trays, and a center console compartment. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, which was more suitable for short trips. The Limited and Platinum trims added upscale features like genuine leather upholstery and a hands-free power liftgate, enhancing the Highlander's appeal for those seeking a more luxurious experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This small, economical engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD), as all-wheel drive (AWD) was not available. The Venue's lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas, despite its modest power output. However, it lacked the thrilling performance of more powerful vehicles, and its performance was comparable to competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Highlander's V6 provided strong pickup, especially at highway speeds, and emitted a throaty exhaust note. The XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension enhanced handling, reducing body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander also offered a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for families with towing needs.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered ample headroom and legroom in the front seats, with a decent amount of storage space. However, the back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. This was less than many hatchback competitors, making the Venue less suitable for those prioritizing cargo capacity.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander excelled in cargo space, offering up to 84.3 cubic feet with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet of space, and 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The Highlander's interior was designed for practicality, with deep cargo pockets, multiple storage trays, and a spacious center console compartment. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, which was more suitable for short trips.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring high resolution and quick swipe functionality. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. The Venue's interface was designed for simplicity, with physical buttons for easy access to media sources and settings. The infotainment system also allowed for customizable driver profiles, appealing to families with multiple drivers.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system featured a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy navigation. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen was available, though it was less intuitive than the base system. The Highlander also offered an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system as an option.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received four out of five stars in the NHTSA's driver-side and passenger-side front collision tests, as well as for rollover.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view parking monitor. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were active, sometimes feeling intrusive on certain roads.