Volvo XC40 vs Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Volvo XC40 maintained its distinctive appearance, blending Volvo’s design language with a flat-roofed, SUV-like profile. Its clean exterior was free from unnecessary detailing, aligning with Volvo’s pro-electrification ethos by hiding tailpipes on gasoline models. Updates for 2023 included a pixelated design for the “Thor’s Hammer” headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 shared its Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform with the Volvo C40 Recharge and Polestar 2, making it the only CMA-based model in the U.S. available with a combustion engine. Inside, the XC40 featured a minimalist design with thin air vents, scalloped door elements, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Leather upholstery was available, with vegan leather for Recharge models. The XC40 Ultimate test vehicle included options like a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, though the all-black interior felt somewhat utilitarian.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, offered a stylish design with a sense of genuine style, despite its affordability. Our test vehicle, in Limited trim with Ecotronic Gray paint, had a subdued appearance. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics but avoided looking cheap, with stylish seat stripes and piping, and white trim around the dashboard air vents and transmission shifter. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were well-sized for the Venue. Controls exhibited typical Hyundai quality, and the Venue was thoughtfully designed with stylish details and high-quality finishes.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator to assist the gasoline engine. The base B4 powertrain combined this system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 197 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The B5 model offered a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four with 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only. The B4 and B5 models accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 and 6.1 seconds, respectively. The XC40 Recharge, with its two electric motors, produced 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and an EPA-rated 223-mile range. The Recharge also had a higher towing capacity of 4,409 pounds compared to the B5 AWD model’s 3,500 pounds.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue’s CVT maximized available power for city and suburban driving. The Venue excelled in urban environments with its small size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility. However, its suspension struggled on rough pavement, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue maintained pace with traffic but sounded buzzy under hard acceleration. The Venue lacked AWD, with power directed to the front wheels, but offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance. It achieved an EPA gas mileage rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, averaging 30.3 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while marketed as an SUV, was better suited for solo commuting than carpooling. It offered reasonable space among its competitors, with ample rear-seat headroom and average legroom. The XC40 provided 20 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with them folded. Interior storage was well-designed, with scalloped door panels and a spacious center console storage bin.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue’s increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. Despite its small size, comfort was decent, with manual height adjustment for the driver’s seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment. The back seat technically accommodated three people, but two would be more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. The Venue offered 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 featured an Android-based infotainment system with Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 9-inch touchscreen were standard, with a 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system available. The system lacked analog controls, relying on the touchscreen for most functions.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and logical menus. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Venue Limited added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a wireless smartphone charger. However, the Limited trim required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reducing the wireless charger’s usefulness.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 included standard safety features like lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. Upgrading to higher trims added features like a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise control. The XC40 received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though it had an “Acceptable” rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and a driver monitoring system. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue received Good ratings in IIHS crash tests and an overall four-star rating from the NHTSA.