2024 Hyundai Venue vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender showcased a blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights connected it visually to other Land Rover models, while the interior emphasized durability and adventure-readiness, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics, complemented by modern features like a panoramic glass roof and a 10-speaker Meridian sound system.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Venue presented a more compact and urban-friendly design. Offered in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, the Venue's pricing ranged from $21,275 to $24,525. Our Limited trim test vehicle, painted in Ecotronic Gray, exuded a mature and subdued appearance. Despite its affordability, the Venue's design was stylish, with unexpected touches like seat stripes and white dashboard trim. The interior, though featuring hard plastics, maintained a quality feel, and the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display was well-sized for the vehicle.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged V8 options, with the P525 variant producing 518 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2. It could tow up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and V8 engines.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue, equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. Weighing 2,612 pounds, the Venue's CVT maximized its power for city and suburban driving. While it handled well in urban settings, the Venue's suspension struggled on rough roads, and its performance on highways was limited by its engine and CVT noise. The Venue lacked AWD, but its 6.7 inches of ground clearance provided some advantage in snowy conditions. It achieved an EPA rating of 31 mpg combined, though our test averaged 30.3 mpg.

The Defender balanced luxury and functionality with soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied from five to eight, depending on the model. The Defender 130 offered the most cargo space, with up to 76.1 cubic feet available. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row configuration. The two-door Defender 90 offered 58.3 cubic feet with seats folded. The interior was practical, with easy-to-clean surfaces.

The Hyundai Venue's higher ground clearance facilitated easy entry and exit. Despite its small size, it offered decent comfort, with manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering. The back seat was cramped for three, and storage was limited. 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 Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was straightforward, with home buttons for easy navigation. The 10-speaker Meridian stereo system added to the refined yet utilitarian interior.

The Venue's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was user-friendly, with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited trim added navigation, SiriusXM, and a wireless charger. However, it required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was inconvenient. The Venue's voice recognition system was impressive, and music streaming was seamless.

The Defender came with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. However, its lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive. As of the review, it had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The Venue included Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Limited trim added cyclist detection. While adaptive cruise control was absent, the Venue received Good ratings in IIHS crash tests and a four-star rating from NHTSA.