2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Acura MDX offered a blend of luxury and performance with its standard and Type S versions. The Type S, particularly in the Advance trim, featured a striking Apex Blue Pearl paint and Orchid interior, priced at $74,995. Despite its high price, the MDX Type S aimed to deliver quality and driving dynamism but fell short in some areas. Its subtle design included chicane-design LED lights, 21-inch wheels, and a panoramic sunroof. Inside, it boasted perforated Milano leather, aluminum trim, and a Sport Appearance package, though some design choices like gloss black plastic and electronic transmission switchgear were less user-friendly.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, was a more affordable option with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525. The Limited trim, tested at $24,735, featured Ecotronic Gray paint and carpeted floor mats. Despite its budget-friendly nature, the Venue impressed with its stylish design and mature appearance. Inside, it offered hard plastics but maintained a sense of style with striped seats and white trim. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen were well-suited to the Venue's compact size, providing a high-quality feel.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Despite the power boost, the Type S was heavier, impacting its performance. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's SH-AWD system, offering various driving modes, including a unique Lift mode. However, the performance enhancements didn't fully integrate, leading to issues like indecisive transmission and poor brake modulation. Fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 16.9 mpg, below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, with its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds, it was agile in city settings, aided by a CVT that maximized power. While it handled well in urban environments, the Venue struggled on rough roads due to its suspension setup. On highways, it maintained speed but sounded strained under pressure. The Venue lacked AWD, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance offered some versatility. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg, though our test returned 30.3 mpg.

The 2023 Acura MDX provided ample functionality with three rows of seats and flexible cargo space. The Type S Advance trim featured luxurious 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. However, the seats didn't fully support the performance-oriented design. The second-row offered adjustable seating, but the third row was tight for adults. Cargo space was generous, with 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 71.4 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue offered easy access due to its higher ground clearance. Despite its compact size, it provided decent comfort with manual seat adjustments and heated front seats. The back seat was cramped for three, and storage was limited. Cargo capacity was 18.7 cubic feet, expanding to 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats down, comparable to a compact car.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a 12.3-inch digital cockpit and infotainment display, but lacked a touchscreen, relying on a True Touchpad Interface. This system was less intuitive, taking up valuable console space. However, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers provided excellent sound quality. A 10.5-inch HUD added convenience, though some tech features were prone to errors.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly, with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation and SiriusXM, though it required wired connections for smartphone integration. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment was sophisticated, with a strong voice recognition system, though the sound system could be improved.

The 2023 Acura MDX included Acura Watch, offering features like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. It received high safety ratings, with a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. However, some systems were prone to false alerts, and an incident with the collision warning system was concerning.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim added cyclist detection. While some alerts were inaccurate, the Venue generally performed well. It received Good ratings from IIHS and a four-star rating from NHTSA, though its smaller size posed challenges in collisions with larger vehicles.