2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2023 Audi Q5 showcased a blend of elegance and sportiness with its exterior design, featuring subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the standard SUV and the Sportback, which had a sleeker silhouette due to its sloping rear roofline. The Sportback's design included a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section, unlike some competitors with awkward rear ends. Inside, the Q5 offered a refined yet simple layout, though its age was noticeable since its last redesign was five years prior. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen was smaller compared to rivals, and while materials were of good quality, the Q5 felt less special as non-luxury brands improved their offerings.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, was priced between $21,275 and $24,525. The Limited trim, with Ecotronic Gray paint and carpeted floor mats, brought the MSRP to $24,735. The Venue's design was appealing for an affordable car, offering genuine style. Inside, it featured hard plastics but avoided looking cheap, with stylish seat stripes and white trim around the dashboard and shifter. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen were highlights, with controls exhibiting typical Hyundai quality. The Venue was thoughtfully designed, stylishly detailed, and high-quality for a small SUV.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine choices. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft, exclusive to the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI plug-in hybrid delivered 362 hp and 369 lb-ft, with an electric-only range of 23 miles. All models featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a delay in power delivery due to the transmission, making acceleration feel sluggish initially. However, handling was sporty, with precise steering and a balance between compliance and cornering. The cabin remained quiet, meeting luxury SUV standards.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's CVT maximized available power for city and suburban driving. Its small size, nimble handling, and visibility made it ideal for urban environments. On highways, it maintained pace with traffic but struggled with additional weight. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, with power directed to the front wheels, but offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, averaging 30.3 mpg in testing.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design remained largely unchanged since 2018 but was still effective. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned to minimize distraction, with traditional dials and buttons for climate control. Visibility was good, aided by a narrow front roof pillar. The front seats provided ample space, and the rear accommodated six-footers comfortably. Storage options were available, though some were oddly sized. Cargo space was 25.8 cubic feet, slightly reduced in the Sportback to 24.7 cubic feet.

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. The back seat technically fit three, but two passengers were more comfortable. Storage was limited, and there were no rear air vents. Cargo space was 18.7 cubic feet, expanding to 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Audi Q5 featured a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with sharp graphics and quick responses, though it took time to boot up and activate Apple CarPlay. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a Bang & Olufsen audio system on higher trims. The system could be monitored via a smartphone app, offering remote features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning. Mid-range trims included a customizable digital instrument panel.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue had an 8-inch touchscreen with modern graphics and logical menus. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM, a wireless charger, and Bluelink+ services. However, it required wired connections for CarPlay and Android Auto, reducing the wireless charger's usefulness. The infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five stars from NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars for rollover tests. IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera, and more.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received "Good" ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for LED headlights. NHTSA gave it an overall four-star rating.