2023 Dodge Hornet vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Dodge Hornet showcased a distinct Dodge DNA with its muscle-car styling cues, including a wide "raccoon mask" face, bulging hood, and dual extractors. Its illuminated Rhombi logo and taillights spanning the vehicle's width made it unmistakable from the rear. While the front exuded classic Dodge aggression, the rear design, reminiscent of a Porsche Macan or Cayenne, added a premium touch due to its Alfa Romeo Tonale roots. The standard silver 17-inch wheels appeared less appealing from afar, but the Blacktop and Track Pack packages offered more stylish alternatives. Inside, the Hornet emphasized performance with red stitching and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, offering various seating options, including perforated leather and Alcantara.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, offered a more mature and subdued appearance, especially in Ecotronic Gray. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was stylish, with unexpected interior elements like striped seats and white dashboard trim. The Limited trim featured digital instrumentation and an 8-inch touchscreen, enhancing its appeal. Though the Venue's interior had hard plastics, it maintained a high-quality feel, making it a thoughtfully designed small SUV.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet boasted "best-in-class performance" with its Hurricane 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, producing 268 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. This outperformed competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer and Honda HR-V. The Hornet's Sport mode improved throttle response and steering, achieving a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds. While acceleration was responsive at lower speeds, there was noticeable lag at higher speeds. The Hornet R/T's hybrid powertrain offered improved pickup.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds, it was agile in urban settings, aided by a CVT that maximized power. However, the Venue struggled on rough terrain due to its suspension setup. On highways, it maintained speed but sounded strained under pressure. Lacking AWD, the Venue relied on front-wheel drive, offering 6.7 inches of ground clearance. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, though real-world tests showed slightly lower efficiency.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet's GT Plus trim offered comfortable leather seats with four-way lumbar adjustment and memory settings. The cockpit was driver-focused, with well-placed controls and screens. Visibility was generally good, though the A-pillar design occasionally obstructed views. The Hornet's interior layout catered to performance enthusiasts, with heated and ventilated seats available in higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue provided decent comfort despite its compact size. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. Rear seating was limited, with hard plastic front seatbacks and minimal storage. The Venue's cargo space was comparable to a compact car, offering 18.7 cubic feet with seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with seats down.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet featured a driver-centric cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GT Plus trim added a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system and navigation. Despite minor quirks, the tech setup was user-friendly and comprehensive.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's 8-inch touchscreen offered modern graphics and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation and a wireless charger, though it required wired connections for smartphone integration. The Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with effective voice recognition, though it could benefit from better speakers.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet came with standard advanced driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The Tech Pack added Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. However, it had not yet been rated by safety organizations.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue included Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. The Limited trim added cyclist detection. While some systems produced inaccurate alerts, the Venue received Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star rating from the NHTSA.