2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept from 2013. This update included new lighting elements, most notably the light-up VW logos similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover. The front logo illuminated in white, while the rear logo shone red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, which were part of the new LED headlights reminiscent of those on a Ford Expedition. These subtle changes gave the Atlas a new "face," emphasizing American swagger over European influences. At the rear, the taillights seamlessly blended into a full-width light bar housing the illuminated logo. All trim levels received new wheel designs, with the base SE model featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims boasted 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering a more rugged appearance with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique exterior colors. Inside, the Atlas received a revised interior with a freestanding infotainment touchscreen and a minimalist design that contrasted with its truck-like exterior. Volkswagen aimed to elevate the interior's upscale feel with improved materials and stitching, although some areas still felt more suited to a base model.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525, including the destination charge. The Venue SEL was recommended for its enhanced exterior appearance and added convenience and safety features. The Limited trim, tested in Ecotronic Gray paint, featured carpeted floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $24,735. While Gray wasn't the most expressive color, it lent the Venue a mature and subdued look. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design exuded genuine style, a rarity in basic transportation. Inside, the Venue's interior featured hard plastics but managed to avoid looking cheap. Unexpected style elements included seat stripes and piping, along with white trim around the dashboard air vents and transmission shifter. The test vehicle's digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were well-sized for the Venue. Controls exhibited typical Hyundai quality in terms of finishes, markings, and operation. Overall, the 2024 Venue was thoughtfully designed, stylishly detailed, and offered high quality for a small SUV.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas saw a reduction in powertrain options, leaving only a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, compared to the previous VR6 engine's 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The new turbo-four engine, part of VW's EA888 family, was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The additional torque over the VR6, peaking at 1,550 rpm, made the 2024 Atlas quicker than its six-cylinder predecessor. FWD models achieved 0 to 60 mph in an estimated eight seconds, while AWD models took 8.3 seconds. Despite these improvements, the Atlas remained a family-oriented vehicle, prioritizing comfort and efficiency over performance. The ride quality was consistent with previous models, and the Peak Edition's all-terrain tires and Offroad driving mode were more suited for pavement than rugged terrain. The Atlas maintained a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated for 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. While not powerful, the Venue's lightweight design, weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, allowed it to perform adequately. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized available power, making the Venue suitable for city and suburban driving. Its compact size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility made it ideal for urban environments. However, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough surfaces, resulting in a busy ride quality and structural shudders. On highways, the Venue could maintain freeway speeds with one occupant but struggled with additional passengers or cargo. The Venue lacked all-wheel drive, relying on front-wheel drive, but offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance for better snow clearance. The 2024 Venue achieved an EPA gas mileage rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, with a test average of 30.3 mpg.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats on the base SE trim. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while leather upholstery and heated second-row seats became standard on the SEL trim. The Atlas accommodated seven passengers with a three-seat second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The third-row bench was standard, providing competitive headroom and legroom across all rows. The Atlas balanced passenger and cargo space, offering 96.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, 55.5 cubic feet with only the third row stowed, and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place. It boasted more cargo space than most rivals, except the Chevy Traverse.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made it easier to enter and exit the front and back seats. Despite its small dimensions, the Venue offered decent comfort. The driver's seat had a manual height adjuster, and the steering wheel provided tilt-and-telescopic adjustment. Front seats featured fabric inserts, artificial leather bolsters, and heated cushions. The back seat technically accommodated three passengers, but two would be more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. Rear-seat amenities included USB ports but limited storage space and no air conditioning vents. The Venue lacked dark-tinted rear privacy glass, necessitating window shades for infants. In the front, there was decent storage space, including a dashboard shelf. Cargo capacity was comparable to a compact car, with 18.7 cubic feet in the trunk and 31.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received more standard tech features, including a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard. The Atlas featured six USB-C ports, with up to eight available, including a dash cam port on higher trims. A head-up display was standard on SEL and higher trims. The premium audio system switched from Fender to Harman Kardon, offering a 12-speaker system on higher trims. The upgraded infotainment system was user-friendly, with sharp graphics and a map view in the digital instrument cluster. However, VW's reliance on haptic touchpads for controls made them less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics, logical menus, and simple operation. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bluelink connected services, and a six-speaker sound system. The Venue Limited added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+ for connected services. However, the Limited trim required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, diminishing the wireless charger's utility. Despite this quirk, the Venue Limited's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive native voice recognition. Music streaming through Apple Music and Pandora was seamless, though the stereo speakers could have been better.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn't released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received "Good" scores in most crash tests. The Atlas featured more standard driver-assist features, including VW's IQ.Drive package with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist for highway driving. The SEL Premium R-Line added park assist and a surround-view camera system. Emergency features included automatic post-collision braking and a crash response system.

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's safety systems occasionally produced inaccurate alerts, but overall, it provided decent occupant protection. The IIHS rated the Venue "Good" in three crash tests, with an "Acceptable" rating for the Limited trim's LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Venue an overall four-star rating.