2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid marked a significant shift in design from its predecessors, presenting a more assertive and truck-like appearance. It was longer and wider, with a muscular stance that was visually evident. The classic D-pillar taillights were modernized with three L shapes, contributing to a more aggressive look. The Sport Touring trim, driven in deep Canyon River Blue, featured special Sport styling elements like black roof rails and mirrors, dual chrome exhaust finishers, and larger 19-inch wheels. Inside, the CR-V Hybrid followed the design direction of the 2022 Civic and 2023 HR-V, with a premium feel enhanced by high-quality materials and attractive contrast stitching.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, offered a more mature and subdued appearance, especially in Ecotronic Gray. Despite its affordable price range, the Venue's design was appealing, with a sense of genuine style. The interior, while featuring hard plastics, did not look cheap, and unexpected style elements like stripes and piping on the seats added flair. The Limited trim included digital instrumentation and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, with controls exhibiting typical Hyundai quality. The Venue was thoughtfully designed, stylishly detailed, and high-quality for a small SUV.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid offered a choice between a turbocharged and a hybrid powertrain, with the latter providing more power without compromising efficiency. The hybrid setup combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a two-motor hybrid-electric system, producing 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. This made it the most powerful CR-V to date, capable of reaching speeds up to 115 mph. The CR-V Hybrid also introduced a fourth drive mode, Snow, and featured an updated Real Time AWD system. A new "B" shifter position allowed for increased regenerative braking, enhancing fuel efficiency. The front-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrid achieved impressive fuel economy ratings of 43 mpg city, 36 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing just 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's CVT maximized available power for city and suburban driving. However, its suspension struggled on rough pavement, resulting in a busy ride quality. The Venue lacked AWD, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle accumulated snow with winter tires. The Venue's fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg combined, though it averaged 30.3 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid's larger exterior translated to increased interior volume, with 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 76.5 cubic feet with them folded. The Sport Touring model featured a hands-free power tailgate, and all CR-Vs had wide-opening rear doors for easy access. Rear seat legroom increased to 41 inches, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The interior offered ample storage, with eight cupholders and a best-in-class console.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. The driver's seat had a manual height adjuster, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. The back seat technically accommodated three people, but two would be more comfortable. Rear-seat passengers had USB ports but limited storage and no air conditioning vents. Cargo space was 18.7 cubic feet with the seats up and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen display with physical volume and tuning knobs, while the Sport Touring trim had a 9-inch touchscreen with a volume knob. Both Hybrid models included USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats. The Sport Touring trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and logical menu structures. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a wireless smartphone charger. However, the better-equipped infotainment system required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a drawback.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, and lane-keeping assist. New features for 2023 included traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and low-speed braking control. The CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured Hyundai SmartSense, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. The NHTSA gave the Venue an overall rating of four stars.