2021 Hyundai Venue vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair was introduced as a refined replacement for the Lincoln MKC, which had been based on the Ford Escape platform since 2014. Despite a facelift in 2019, the MKC's cabin felt dated and lacked the athleticism of its Ford counterpart. The Corsair, however, rode on the new C2 platform, shared with the latest Escape, and successfully differentiated itself from its Ford sibling. Lincoln's move away from lettered naming conventions was refreshing, and the Corsair's design, with its slab sides and blacked-out rear pillars, gave it a larger presence. Inside, the Corsair shared design cues with the Aviator and Navigator, featuring a flowing dash and floating center touchscreen. However, it didn't match the fit and finish of its more expensive siblings, with more hard-touch materials present.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was a stylish little crossover that seemed timeless in its design. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steeply dropping tailgate gave it a substantial appearance despite its compact size. The Venue's grille was appropriately sized, drawing attention without overwhelming the design. The exterior updates for 2021 included 15-inch alloys for the base SE trim and 17-inch alloys for the SEL and Denim trims. The top-line Denim trim, with its white roof and unique paint job, was particularly eye-catching. Inside, the Venue's cabin was simple yet modern, with plenty of light thanks to its large windows and thin A-pillars. While the materials were inexpensive, the Venue managed to avoid feeling spartan, offering a pleasant driving environment.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a choice between two turbocharged engines. The base 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder produced 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, providing adequate power for most driving situations. However, the optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, with 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, delivered stronger acceleration. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the 2.3-liter was exclusively AWD. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter offering a sportier driving experience. The suspension was designed to absorb road imperfections, though some road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors for a total of 266 horsepower and an efficiency rating of 78 MPGe in electric mode.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Venue was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD) as the only option. While the Venue's performance was modest, its lightweight design allowed it to feel lively in lower-speed areas. The Venue's powertrain was adequate for city driving, but it lacked the power for more spirited highway driving. The absence of a turbocharger or alternative engine options limited its appeal for those seeking more performance.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seating and ample storage space. However, the pronounced lip when entering or exiting the vehicle was a notable downside, requiring occupants to be cautious. The rear seats were reclining and sliding, providing impressive legroom for a compact SUV. The Corsair offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was average for its class. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its compact size, provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage space was decent, with a handy tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The Venue's back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults on longer drives. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded. These figures lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks and Ford EcoSport, making the Venue less suitable for those prioritizing cargo capacity.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running SYNC 3, featuring a logical menu layout and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel premium audio system, and a head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue boasted an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and quick swipe functionality. The infotainment system included physical buttons for easy access to media and settings, along with customizable driver profiles. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Venue's interface was user-friendly, with charming design details like tube-amp-style radio displays.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus package added advanced features like adaptive LED headlights and a 360-degree parking camera. The Corsair earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating when equipped with high-feature headlights.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety systems were well-integrated, providing alerts without being intrusive. In NHTSA crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars for front collision and rollover.