2025 Acura RDX vs 2026 Hyundai Venue

The 2025 Acura RDX, positioned between the smaller ADX and the larger MDX, offered a refined aesthetic with a few updates for the year. It featured a frameless grille and new wheel designs, with paint options like Sonic Silver and Urban Gray Pearl. The A-Spec Advance model, which we tested, boasted a sportier look with gloss black accents and a finned rear diffuser. Inside, the RDX impressed with ambient lighting, premium leather, and soft-touch materials, although the red-marked gauges were hard to read in daylight. The True Touchpad Interface (TTI) for infotainment was less desirable, but the vehicle had plenty of intuitive controls.

In contrast, the 2026 Hyundai Venue presented a more compact and functional design, resembling a tall hatchback rather than a traditional SUV. Its upright windshield and SUV-like cues, such as roof rails and black wheel flares, gave it a distinctive look. Inside, the Venue was simple and functional, with a digital instrument cluster and a small touchscreen. The interior featured body-color trim and hard black plastic, with limited soft-touch surfaces. Despite its modest size, the Venue offered a practical and straightforward design, suitable for urban environments.

The 2025 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel. The Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) allowed drivers to choose from Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Snow modes, with adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims. Despite its lively performance, the RDX's fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 19.3 mpg in real-world testing.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, was equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Power was sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Venue's performance was modest, with a 0-60 mph time of 8.5–8.8 seconds. Its lightweight design made it agile in city traffic, but highway acceleration was less impressive. The Venue's handling benefited from its small size, though the ride could be jiggly on rough surfaces.

The 2025 Acura RDX offered a comfortable and spacious interior, especially in the A-Spec Advance trim. It featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, as well as a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The cargo area provided 29.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The RDX's interior layout was practical, with generous storage options and a power liftgate for easy access.

In comparison, the 2026 Hyundai Venue's interior was more compact, with cloth and synthetic leather seats offering decent comfort. The front seats had six-way manual adjustments, while the rear seats provided just enough room for average-sized adults. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 31.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Venue's interior was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, with limited soft-touch areas.

The 2025 Acura RDX featured a 10.2-inch display for infotainment, controlled via the True Touchpad Interface (TTI). While the TTI required some acclimation, the system offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa Built-in. The RDX also included a premium sound system with 16 speakers and a navigation system on higher trims.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue came with an 8-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment functions. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but lacked features like navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Venue's audio system was a simple six-speaker setup, with no premium option available.

The 2025 Acura RDX came equipped with the AcuraWatch safety package, including features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, the lane-assist systems were found to be intrusive during testing.

The 2026 Hyundai Venue offered a solid set of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. However, it lacked adaptive cruise control. The Venue received a four-star rating from the NHTSA, with mixed results from the IIHS.