2023 Cadillac Escalade vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade stood as a towering presence, nearly six-and-a-half feet above the ground, requiring a substantial 18 to 19 feet of length to park. It was a motorized cargo container with three rows of leather seats and an array of advanced technology. The Escalade ESV extended this grandeur by an additional 15 inches, primarily in the wheelbase. This SUV was designed for show, appealing to pop musicians, large families, and those who wanted to make a statement. Despite its size, Cadillac managed to give the Escalade an athletic and trim appearance with thin LED lights and darkened chrome accents, especially in the Sport Platinum trim.

Inside, the Escalade's first row exuded luxury with a 38-inch curved screen and fine wood inlays. However, the allure diminished in the second and third rows, where cheaper GM parts were evident. The seats, though visually appealing, lacked support. Cadillac's attention to detail was evident in the driver's space, but the rest of the cabin fell short of the luxury expected at its price point. The 2023 Lyriq hinted at a future where Cadillac could deliver a more cohesive luxury experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, offered in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, was a more compact and affordable option, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525. The Limited trim, with its Ecotronic Gray paint, gave the Venue a mature appearance. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was stylish and appealing. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics but managed to avoid looking cheap. The interior had unexpected style elements, such as striped seat piping and white trim accents.

The Venue's digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were well-suited to its size. Controls were of typical Hyundai quality, making the Venue a thoughtfully designed and high-quality small SUV. The Limited trim added features like navigation and a wireless smartphone charger, enhancing its appeal. Overall, the Venue offered a stylish and practical option for those seeking an affordable and compact SUV.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade offered a pleasant driving experience, though its standard 6.2-liter V8 engine, with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, didn't deliver the acceleration its sound suggested. It was suitable for cruising, with a combined 16 mpg fuel economy. The Escalade-V variant addressed acceleration with a supercharged Corvette V8, producing 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. The optional 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 provided smoother torque delivery and better fuel economy at 22 mpg combined.

The Escalade's 4WD system was rudimentary, requiring manual engagement for low-traction surfaces. Its magnetic dampers and air suspension improved maneuverability, though wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds. The Escalade felt more like a pickup truck than a luxury SUV in this regard.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing just 2,612 pounds, the Venue's CVT maximized available power for city and suburban driving. Its nimble handling and excellent visibility made it ideal for urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough roads, resulting in a busy ride quality.

On highways, the Venue maintained pace with traffic but sounded strained under heavy acceleration. Without AWD, the Venue relied on front-wheel drive, though its 6.7 inches of ground clearance helped in snowy conditions. The Venue achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, though our testing yielded 30.3 mpg.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade boasted an exceptionally spacious interior, with 25 cubic feet behind the third row, 73 cubic feet behind the second, and 121 cubic feet with both rows down. The Escalade ESV offered even more space, making it a packaging marvel. Generous headroom and legroom in every row ensured comfort for six adults. The controls were intuitive, with a smart infotainment system and optional features like a front console refrigerator. Power-retractable side steps and an air suspension eased access and loading.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance facilitated easy entry and exit. Despite its small size, the Venue offered decent comfort, with manual seat adjustments and heated front seats. The back seat was better suited for two passengers, with limited storage and no rear air vents. Cargo space was comparable to a compact car, with 18.7 cubic feet available, expanding to 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade featured cutting-edge technology, including a vast OLED screen array and a high-resolution front camera display. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option, provided the best hands-free highway driving experience, with infrared eye-tracking for safety. Night vision and a 36-speaker AKG audio system added to the tech appeal, while the rear-seat entertainment system offered streaming capabilities.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display was user-friendly, with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation and a wireless charger, though it required wired connections for smartphone integration. Despite this quirk, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition and streaming capabilities.

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade earned four out of five stars from the NHTSA, with lower ratings for front-passenger protection and rollover resistance. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking and a Safety Alert seat. Optional features like reverse emergency braking and Super Cruise enhanced safety, though some systems produced false alerts.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue received Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its smaller size posed challenges in collisions with larger vehicles.