Compare the2024 Kia SportageVS 2023 Hyundai Venue

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sportage are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Hyundai Venue doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sportage Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Venue doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sportage offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Venue doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Sportage Prestige has a standard Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Venue only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Sportage and Venue have Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, but the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Venue’s Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage and the Venue have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available blind spot warning systems.

The Kia Sportage weighs 635 to 1197 pounds more than the Hyundai Venue. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Venue’s 110-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The Sportage’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 66 more horsepower (187 vs. 121) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 113) than the Venue’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage is faster than the Hyundai Venue:

	Sportage	Venue
Zero to 60 MPH	9.3 sec	9.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16.9 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	82.1 MPH	80.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sportage’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Venue doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Sportage has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venue (14.3 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Venue:

	Sportage	Venue
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		10.3 inches

The Kia Sportage has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Venue. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Venue (235/65R17 vs. 185/65R15). The Sportage LX/X-Pro’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Venue (235/65R17 vs. 205/55R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage LX/X-Pro has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Venue. The Sportage SX Prestige/X-Line’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Venue SEL/Limited.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Venue has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Sportage has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sportage flat and controlled during cornering. The Venue’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Venue doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches longer than on the Venue (108.5 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Venue.

The Sportage X-Pro handles at .81 G’s, while the Venue Limited pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage X-Pro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Venue Limited (27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Sportage uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Venue doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Sportage has .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 7 inches more rear legroom, 9.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Venue.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The Venue’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venue with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 18.7 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venue with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 31.9 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The Venue doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Sportage has a 2500 lbs. towing capacity. The Venue has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Venue doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Venue doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro’s standard Easy Access Function glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Venue doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Sportage’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Venue has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Venue SEL/Limited’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Sportage’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Venue can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Venue doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Sportage’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Venue’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

When the Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Venue’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Prestige keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Venue doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sportage Prestige/X-Pro’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Venue doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Sportage has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Venue doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Venue doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Sportage and the Venue offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Venue doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro has a standard Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Venue doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Venue isn't recommended.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Hyundai Venue by almost five to one during 2022.