2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following its 2022 updates, remained largely unchanged. A notable addition was the complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan for Tiguan owners. Available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, the Tiguan's price ranged from $26,950 to $37,680, excluding a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather interior. Despite offering seven exterior colors, four interior colors, and various wheel designs, the Tiguan's customization options were limited by trim level. The SEL R-Line stood out with its sporty appearance, 20-inch wheels, adaptive front lighting, and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the Tiguan boasted upscale materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof, though some materials reflected its base price.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was offered in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, with prices from $21,275 to $24,525, including a $1,375 destination charge. The Venue SEL, priced at $23,275, was recommended for its enhanced exterior and added safety features. Our test vehicle, a Limited trim with Ecotronic Gray paint, had an MSRP of $24,735. The Venue's design was appealing, with a mature look despite its affordable price. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastics but maintained a stylish appearance with seat stripes and white dashboard trim. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were highlights, offering quality finishes and operation. The Venue was a thoughtfully designed, high-quality small SUV.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system available. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes and settings. The Tiguan's EPA rating was 24 mpg combined, but our test yielded 22.6 mpg. The turbo-four engine provided adequate power, though it struggled at higher revs and exhibited turbo lag. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were commendable, with excellent tire grip and stability. The ride was compliant, and the steering was light and lively. However, road noise and an odd resonance on certain freeways were noted.

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, the Venue was agile in city and suburban settings. The Venue's suspension struggled on rough pavement, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, the Venue maintained pace but sounded buzzy under hard acceleration. Lacking AWD, the Venue had 6.7 inches of ground clearance, suitable for light snow. The Venue's EPA rating was 31 mpg combined, but our test averaged 30.3 mpg.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with FWD models featuring a standard third-row seat. Our SEL R-Line had comfortable front seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was generous, though the center armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a usability issue, with reflections and placement causing distractions. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and ample legroom. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a spacious cargo area, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easy. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. The back seat was cramped for three, and taller passengers disliked the hard plastic front seatbacks. 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 behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system had an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and a Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with sub-menus and touch-sensing controls causing distractions. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive subscriptions.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue had an 8-inch touchscreen with logical menus and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM, and a wireless charger. However, the Limited trim required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reducing the wireless charger's utility. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, with standard Front Assist and Side Assist. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective, with minimal false alerts. However, crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the NHTSA noted a safety concern with the driver's door unlatching during a side-impact test. The IIHS gave the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but not for 2023.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue included Hyundai SmartSense, with forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring, and the Limited trim included cyclist detection. The Venue's safety systems had some inaccuracies, but overall performance was satisfactory. The IIHS rated the Venue Good in three crash tests, with an Acceptable rating for the Limited trim's headlights. The NHTSA gave the Venue a four-star overall rating.