2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525, including the destination charge. The Venue SEL, priced at $23,275, was recommended for its enhanced exterior appearance and added convenience and safety features. The Limited trim test vehicle, painted in Ecotronic Gray, had an MSRP of $24,735. Despite limited options, the Venue's design was appealing, offering a sense of style uncommon in affordable cars. 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, contributing to the Venue's reputation as a thoughtfully designed, high-quality small SUV.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner was a throwback to an earlier era, with its last redesign dating back to 2010. Despite some refreshes, it retained a boxy shape that suited its rugged personality. The TRD Pro model, with flared fenders, underbody skid plates, and all-terrain tires, exuded a serious off-road attitude. However, the interior showed its age with old-school styling and outdated technology. The analog instrument panel and small infotainment touchscreen felt like relics from the past. While the interior had hard plastics, cushioned panels provided some comfort. The 4Runner's design leaned heavily on nostalgia, reminiscent of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, but lacked modern touches.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized available power, making it suitable for city and suburban driving. Its small size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility made it ideal for urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough roads, resulting in a busy ride quality. On highways, it could maintain pace but sounded strained under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, with power directed to the front wheels, raising questions about its crossover SUV classification. It offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance and achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded slightly lower results.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-liter V6 engine generating 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While comparable to the Bronco and Wrangler, the 4Runner's five-speed automatic transmission hindered acceleration and fuel economy. The TRD Pro model came with standard four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case, while other trims offered rear-wheel drive with optional 4WD. Off-road, the 4Runner excelled, but on highways, it felt sluggish, requiring aggressive acceleration. The soft suspension, designed for off-road articulation, resulted in noticeable rear-end squat and engine noise. Handling suffered with significant body roll and floatiness over bumps. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner's suspension absorbed larger road imperfections, though passengers prone to motion sickness might need precautions.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance facilitated easy entry and exit. Despite its small size, it offered decent comfort, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment. 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. 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 Toyota 4Runner's interior design appeared dated, but its layout was user-friendly, with large climate-control dials and driveline levers. Sturdy handles ensured passenger stability during off-road adventures. Visibility was excellent, with forward-positioned roof pillars. Front seats offered ample space, though the steering wheel's limited telescoping range might inconvenience taller drivers. The second row provided generous legroom, but headroom was limited for taller passengers. A third row was available on select trims. The 4Runner excelled in storage, with numerous compartments for snacks and drinks. Cargo capacity reached 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 89.7 cubic feet with seats stowed. The sliding glass rear window and hitch receiver added convenience, while the 5,000-pound towing capacity accommodated small campers.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics and intuitive menus. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bluelink connected services, and a six-speaker sound system. The Limited trim added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+. However, the switch from wireless to wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition. Streaming music through Apple Music and Pandora was seamless, though the stereo speakers could have been better.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. It lacked off-road-specific apps and gauges found in competitors. The TRD Pro model included a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, but road noise and engine sounds diminished its impact. Additional terrain controls in the headliner console required familiarity with the owner's manual. Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems enhanced off-road capabilities, while differential controls maximized traction on uneven surfaces.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of driver assistance systems. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the Limited trim included cyclist detection. However, 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 the Limited trim's LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded it an overall rating of four stars.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings. The NHTSA awarded it four stars for overall and frontal crash protection, five stars for side impacts, and three stars in rollover evaluations. The IIHS gave it a Good rating for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests but noted Marginal and Poor results in the small overlap frontal test. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert. The TRD Pro and Limited trims featured a surround-view camera system, with the Limited adding parking sensors. Some safety alerts were oversensitive, but adjustments were possible.