2024 Acura MDX vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Acura MDX presented a striking exterior with its large shield grille, rakish headlights, and modern intake vents, creating a refined presence. Inside, the MDX was high-tech but cluttered, with a center console filled with controls that could be overwhelming at first. The MDX offered various trims, including the Technology, A-Spec, and Advance Packages, each adding unique features like ambient lighting, upgraded audio systems, and ventilated seats. The Type-S Advance package, which was reviewed, included a 26-speaker ELS sound system and massaging front seats, providing a luxurious experience despite the busy interior.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, was a more affordable option with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525. The Limited trim, tested with Ecotronic Gray paint, offered a mature appearance for the compact hatchback. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was stylish, with unexpected touches like seat stripes and white trim. The interior featured hard plastics but maintained a quality feel, with digital instrumentation and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The Venue was thoughtfully designed, offering a high-quality experience for a small SUV.

The 2024 Acura MDX came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The Type-S variant featured a twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for front-wheel drive or Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive System. The Type-S Advance model provided strong acceleration and a comfortable ride, with adaptive air suspension and Brembo performance brakes enhancing its sporty feel. The MDX's towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds with AWD, while FWD models maxed out at 3,500 pounds.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized its power for city and suburban driving. The Venue excelled in urban environments with its nimble handling and excellent visibility. However, its suspension struggled on rough roads, and the engine became noisy under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle light snow with winter tires. The Venue achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed slightly lower results.

The 2024 Acura MDX offered three rows of seating, with the first two rows providing comfort and support, while the third row was more suitable for children. Cargo space measured 16.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 39.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and a maximum of 71.4 cubic feet with all seats down. The MDX featured a power liftgate, with a hands-free option available on higher trims. The Type-S Advance model included a second-row bench with a fold-down center console and cupholders, though the center stack of controls was cluttered and unintuitive.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier, with decent comfort despite its small size. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel offered tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. The back seat technically accommodated three people, but two would be more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. The Venue provided USB ports for rear passengers but lacked air conditioning vents and privacy glass. Cargo space was comparable to a compact car, with 18.7 cubic feet available, expanding to 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Acura MDX's infotainment system was its weak point, with a 12.3-inch display controlled by a touchpad that was unintuitive and frustrating. Despite this, the MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The center console cleverly hid charging ports, and the touchpad was paired with a leather handrest. However, the system's complexity detracted from the overall experience, especially compared to competitors like the Genesis GV80.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and logical menus. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless charger, and Bluelink+ services. However, the upgraded system required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reducing the wireless charger's usefulness. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated and user-friendly, with impressive voice recognition capabilities.

The 2024 Acura MDX came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more. The Technology Package added parking sensors and reverse automatic emergency braking, while the Advance package included a 360-degree camera system and head-up display. The MDX earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and was a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with Superior crash-prevention technology. However, the infotainment system's complexity posed a distraction risk.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue included Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and a driver monitoring system. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, with cyclist detection standard on the Limited trim. The Venue lacked adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist, and some driver assistance systems produced inaccurate alerts. The Venue received Good ratings in three IIHS crash tests and an Acceptable rating for its LED headlights. NHTSA awarded the Venue an overall rating of four stars.