2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia, despite its attempts to stay modern, showed its age with a design that dated back to 2007. The 2018 facelift brought minor updates to the headlights and grille, but the overall look remained largely unchanged. The new Nightshade Special Edition added some flair for 2021, but the Sequoia's massive size and outdated interior design, with its multi-tiered center dash and small 7-inch touchscreen, were reminiscent of mid-2000s styling. The cabin offered ample space, yet the front seats felt bulky, limiting headroom for taller drivers, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats provided generous headroom and legroom, ensuring comfort for passengers.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue presented a stylish and modern appearance that seemed timeless. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a unique look that belied its small size. The grille was well-proportioned, and the split headlights and distinctive taillight patterns added to its charm. The Venue's exterior updates for 2021 included new alloy wheels for the SE and SEL trims, enhancing its appeal. Inside, the Venue's design was simple yet functional, with plenty of light entering the cabin through large windows and thin A-pillars. While the materials were budget-friendly, the Venue managed to maintain a modern look, offering a comfortable driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was powered by a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration, even for a vehicle weighing up to 6,000 pounds. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled those of a truck, with a soft suspension and powerful brakes, appealing to those who appreciated a traditional SUV feel. However, its towing capacity of 7,400 pounds lagged behind competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe, which offered higher towing capabilities.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. While not particularly powerful, this engine was adequate for the Venue's lightweight design, allowing it to navigate city streets with ease. The Venue's front-wheel-drive setup and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) provided a smooth driving experience, although it lacked the excitement of more powerful options. Despite its modest power, the Venue's low weight made it feel lively in urban settings, although it was less suited for highway driving.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia boasted a spacious interior, with nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and an impressive 120 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. This made it a practical choice for those needing ample storage. The Sequoia's power-retractable rear window was a unique feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area without fully opening the hatch. While the front-row space could have been better utilized, the Sequoia offered deep in-door pockets and a massive center console, providing plenty of storage options.

In comparison, the 2021 Hyundai Venue offered a more compact interior, with ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage options included a handy tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The Venue's back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer journeys. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded, falling short of competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport. However, the Venue's hatchback design allowed for more versatility than a traditional sedan.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. While the system was user-friendly, it felt outdated compared to modern offerings. The larger 9-inch screen in our test model still appeared small on the expansive dash. Despite its dated technology, the Sequoia's infotainment system was straightforward and easy to navigate, with physical buttons for quick access to essential functions.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, in contrast, offered a more modern tech experience with an 8-inch touchscreen positioned between air vents. The Venue's infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons for easy access to media and settings. The high-resolution screen supported swipe functionality, and the radio interface featured charming tube-amp-style bulbs. The Venue also allowed for customizable driver profiles, making it ideal for families with multiple drivers. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with wireless CarPlay available on the base SE trim in the future.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, offering features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, the Sequoia's older platform resulted in a four-star rating in the NHTSA's rollover test, with no further crash test ratings available.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its small size, offered a comprehensive suite of safety features. Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety systems were well-integrated, providing alerts without being intrusive. In NHTSA crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars for driver-side and passenger-side front collisions, as well as rollover.