2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a testament to Mazda's ambition to rival luxury brands. It showcased an elegant design that borrowed from its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, but on a grander scale. The SUV's imposing presence was accentuated by its large grille, wide-set front end, and substantial wheels, ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Inside, the CX-90 offered a luxurious experience, especially in the higher trims, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents. The interior design was sophisticated, and the vehicle was available in 11 different trims, catering to a variety of preferences and budgets.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue was a more compact and affordable option, with a design that exuded genuine style despite its lower price point. The Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525. The Limited trim, which was tested, featured Ecotronic Gray paint and carpeted floor mats, giving it a mature appearance. Inside, the Venue's interior was practical, with hard plastics that didn't look cheap, and stylish details like seat stripes and white trim. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display added a modern touch, making the Venue a thoughtfully designed small SUV.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option and a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S version offered 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. All models came with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90's driving modes, including Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, allowed for a dynamic driving experience, although the transmission occasionally showed inconsistent behavior in Sport mode. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Weighing just 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, the Venue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized its power for city and suburban driving. While the Venue handled well at lower speeds, its suspension struggled on rough roads, resulting in a busy ride quality. On the highway, the Venue maintained pace with traffic, but the engine and CVT became noisy under heavy acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance provided some advantage in snowy conditions. The EPA rated the Venue at 31 mpg in combined driving, though our testing yielded 30.3 mpg.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered various seating configurations, with lower trims accommodating up to eight passengers and higher trims featuring captain's chairs for a more luxurious experience. The Turbo S models had a two-seat configuration in the third row, providing slightly more cargo space. Total cargo capacity ranged from 74.2 to 75.2 cubic feet, depending on the seating arrangement. While the CX-90 improved on the CX-9's cargo space, it still fell short compared to competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The interior featured clever storage solutions, comfortable seats, and high-quality materials, making it a comfortable choice for families.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier, and its compact size offered decent comfort. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, and the steering wheel was tilt-and-telescopic. The back seat technically accommodated three passengers, but two would be more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. The Venue provided USB ports for rear-seat passengers but lacked air conditioning vents and privacy glass. Cargo space 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 2024 Mazda CX-90 focused on minimizing distractions with its Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen. While the intention was to enhance safety, the system's quirks often led to frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that used facial recognition to adjust settings for individual drivers. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless connectivity in higher trims. Despite the rotary controller, touchscreen controls were available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, providing a more familiar interface.

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, wireless Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. The Limited trim added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+ connected services. However, the Limited trim required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a drawback. Despite this, the Venue's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition capabilities.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came standard with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The top-spec Turbo S Premium Plus trim added cruising and traffic support, which combined lane-centering with adaptive cruise control. While the CX-90 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, it was expected to perform well based on the CX-9's safety ratings.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured Hyundai SmartSense, a collection of driver assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring and 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 its LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Venue an overall rating of four stars.