2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The 2023 Honda Pilot underwent a complete redesign, showcasing a more rugged and substantial look. Its upright grille and boxier styling contributed to a larger appearance, and indeed, it was bigger than its predecessor. The new dimensions included an increase of 3.4 inches in length, up to 1.5 inches in width, and 0.8 inches in height. These changes complemented the all-terrain-capable TrailSport model, which featured a one-inch taller ride height, unique 18-inch wheels, chunky all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates. The interior adopted a more conventional style, maintaining attractiveness and functionality, with materials meeting elevated class standards.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, offered a price range from $21,275 to $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, with a mature and subdued appearance, especially in Gray. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics but avoided looking cheap, with stylish seat stripes and white trim accents. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were highlights, and the controls exhibited typical Hyundai quality. Overall, the Venue was a thoughtfully designed, stylish, and high-quality small SUV.

The 2023 Honda Pilot was powered by a new 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all models and standard on the Elite and TrailSport trims. The Pilot offered quick acceleration and adequate power, with a soft brake pedal for smooth stops. It handled corners well for a three-row SUV, prioritizing comfort over sporty driving. The TrailSport model added an inch of ground clearance and all-terrain tires, enhancing its off-road capabilities without sacrificing on-road comfort.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue was agile in city and suburban settings, with nimble handling and excellent visibility. However, its suspension struggled on rough pavement, leading to a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue maintained pace but sounded buzzy under hard acceleration. Lacking all-wheel drive, it offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance, suitable for snowy conditions with winter tires. The Venue achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, averaging 30.3 mpg in testing.

The 2023 Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional, with a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. The LX and Sport trims featured a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims had a nine-inch display. The Elite trim's touchscreen was adequate but seemed small for the space. Climate and drive mode controls were logically placed, with ample storage options, including a large center console bin. The standout feature was the stowable second-row center seat, providing a pass-through for third-row access. The Pilot offered generous space, with up to 114.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. The back seat technically accommodated three, but two passengers were more comfortable. Storage space was limited, and there were no rear air 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 Honda Pilot's EX-L trim and above offered a larger infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims included a multi-view camera system, head-up display, and digital instrument panel. The infotainment system was functional, with quick responses and a logical layout. Features like Honda's CabinTalk and a Bose premium audio system enhanced the experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen with modern graphics and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM, and a wireless charger, though it required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite this, the infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition and streaming capabilities.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but it received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and more. Higher trims added low-speed automatic braking and parking sensors. The safety systems functioned well, with no false alarms during testing.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring, and the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating.