2024 Lexus GX vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Lexus GX presented a bold departure from its predecessor, embracing a more geometric design with a less pronounced spindle grille. Its front end stood more vertically, featuring standard triple-beam LED headlights and a flat hood with raised sides for better off-road visibility. The SUV's profile appeared as if carved from metal, with minimal character lines and a low window beltline enhancing visibility. The GX was available in six trims, with the Luxury+ and Overtrail+ highlighting luxury and off-road capabilities, respectively. Inside, the GX combined luxury with utilitarian materials, featuring a 14-inch touchscreen and physical controls for off-road functions.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue offered a more compact and stylish design, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525. The Limited trim, tested in Ecotronic Gray, provided a mature appearance. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was appealing, with unexpected style elements like seat stripes and white dashboard trim. The interior featured hard plastics but maintained a high-quality feel. The Venue's digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen were well-received, offering logical operation and modern graphics. Overall, the Venue was a thoughtfully designed small SUV with a focus on style and quality.

The 2024 Lexus GX transitioned from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6, producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain offered impressive low-end torque, enhancing off-road capability. Built on the GA-F truck platform, the GX provided a stable ride both on and off-road. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time 4WD with a locking Torsen limited-slip center differential. The Overtrail trims added a locking rear differential and advanced suspension technology, improving wheel articulation. Despite its weight, the GX handled well on-road, with effective brakes and minimal body roll.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds, the Venue's CVT maximized available power, making it suitable for city and suburban driving. Its small size and nimble handling were advantageous in urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough surfaces, leading to a busy ride. On highways, it maintained speed but sounded strained under heavy acceleration. Lacking AWD, the Venue relied on front-wheel drive, though its 6.7 inches of ground clearance offered some advantage in snowy conditions. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, slightly underperforming in real-world tests.

The 2024 Lexus GX's interior was minimalist and sophisticated, with fewer buttons but retaining essential controls. It offered comfortable seating for six-foot adults in the first two rows, with 41.2 inches of front legroom and 36.7 inches in the second row. The third row was tight, suitable only for children. The GX excelled in cargo space, offering 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 76.9 cubic feet with seats folded. Overtrail models provided even more space, with 90.5 cubic feet available.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance facilitated easy entry and exit. Despite its small size, it offered decent comfort, with adjustable front seats and heated cushions. The back seat was cramped for three, with limited storage and no rear air 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 Venue included practical storage solutions, like a dashboard shelf.

The 2024 Lexus GX featured a 14-inch touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered multiple USB-C ports and a 120-volt outlet in the trunk. The Lexus Interface included a voice assistant and subscription services for navigation and remote functions. A 10-speaker audio system was standard, with a 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo available on higher trims. However, subscription costs for certain features were a consideration for long-term ownership.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's 8-inch touchscreen provided modern graphics and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation, satellite radio, and a wireless charger. However, it 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 effective voice recognition and streaming capabilities.

The 2024 Lexus GX improved its safety offerings with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including pre-collision detection, adaptive cruise control, and lane-tracing assist. While not yet crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA, its modern architecture and ADAS enhancements suggested improved safety.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. The SEL trim added blind-spot monitoring, while the Limited included cyclist detection. Despite some inaccurate alerts, the Venue provided decent occupant protection. It received Good ratings from IIHS and a four-star NHTSA rating.