2023 Genesis GV80 vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Genesis GV80 showcased a sophisticated and graceful exterior with its quad-lamp headlights and bold grille, embodying a stately presence at over 16 feet long. The Prestige trim featured 22-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its elegant appearance, especially with the matte Brunswick Green paint. The rear echoed the quad lamp design with four-part taillamps above the dual exhaust, and the hands-free liftgate maintained a boxy, yet elegant look. Inside, the dark green quilted leather seats complemented the metal and matte wood trim, while the center console was highlighted by three large dials for infotainment, transmission, and drive modes. The two-spoke steering wheel added a unique touch, although the 14.5-inch infotainment screen seemed awkwardly placed atop the dash. Despite this minor annoyance, the interior was spacious and luxurious, offering a pleasant environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, presented a more affordable yet stylish design. The Limited trim, with Ecotronic Gray paint, gave the Venue a mature and subdued appearance. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was appealing, with unexpected style elements like seat stripes and piping, and white trim around the dashboard air vents and transmission shifter. The interior, though featuring hard plastic, did not appear cheap, and the digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were well-suited for the Venue. The controls exhibited typical Hyundai quality, making the Venue a thoughtfully designed, stylishly detailed, and high-quality small SUV.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 offered all-wheel drive with a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, or a turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite its power, the GV80 was not particularly athletic or nimble, taking about five and a half seconds to reach sixty, which was slower than some competitors. However, it excelled at highway driving, with smooth power delivery and shifts, and an electronically controlled suspension that adjusted for road conditions. The active noise cancellation further enhanced the driving experience, making freeway commutes smooth and quiet.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generating 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque, was lightweight at 2,612 pounds in base SE trim. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized available power, making it suitable for city and suburban driving. The Venue's small size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility made it ideal for urban environments. However, its suspension struggled on rough pavement, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue could maintain freeway speeds, but the CVT and engine noise were noticeable under hard acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle snow better than typical cars. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, though our testing loop averaged 30.3 mpg.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 compensated for its lack of driving excitement with numerous luxury features. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, while our tester included ventilated front and rear seats with Nappa leather upholstery. The Ergo Motion driver's seat offered fatigue-reducing adjustments. A third-row option was available, but with limited legroom. The GV80 featured Genesis puddle lamps, a proximity key, and a digital key. The tri-zone climate control and optional 21-speaker stereo system added to the luxury experience. The GV80 boasted one of the largest cargo spaces in its class, with 34.9 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 84 cubic feet with seats folded. It also had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. Despite its small size, comfort was decent, with a manual height-adjustable driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The front seats featured fabric inserts, artificial leather bolsters, and heated cushions. The back seat technically accommodated three, but two passengers were more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. Rear-seat USB ports were provided, but storage space was limited, and there were no air conditioning vents. The Venue's cargo room was comparable to a compact car, with 18.7 cubic feet of space, expanding to 31.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch 3D digital gauge cluster. The head-up display projected information into the driver's field of view. The infotainment screen was slightly out of reach, and the dial control was cumbersome, though it offered a "clicky" feel and handwriting detection. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but neither was wireless. Wireless charging, four USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, and a 110-volt outlet were available. The GV80's remote smart parking assist allowed the car to maneuver in and out of parking spaces without the driver inside, using the key fob.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display featured modern graphics, logical menus, and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bluelink connected services, and a six-speaker sound system. The Venue Limited added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+. However, the upgraded system required wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making the wireless charger less useful. Despite this, the Venue Limited's infotainment system was sophisticated, with an impressive native voice recognition system. Music streaming through Apple Music and Pandora was effortless, though the stereo speakers could be improved.

The 2023 Genesis GV80 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver's aids, including forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. A standout feature was the video feed of the car's blind spot displayed in the digital gauge cluster. Highway Drive Assist used cameras, radar, and navigation to provide a hands-on/eyes-up driving aid, though it struggled with sun glare. The GV80 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating for crashworthiness from the IIHS, with Superior front crash prevention ratings.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist were not available. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Venue a four-star overall safety rating.