Compare the2024 Kia Sportage HybridVS 2024 Hyundai Venue

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Sportage Hybrid 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 Hybrid SX-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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid SX-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 Hybrid and Venue have Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, but the Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid weighs 794 to 1120 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.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sportage Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 58 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Venue last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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.

The Sportage Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 106 more horsepower (227 vs. 121) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 113) than the Venue’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Kia Sportage Hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Venue:

	Sportage Hybrid	Venue
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.7 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	83 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage Hybrid gets better mileage than the Venue:

			MPG
Sportage Hybrid
	FWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	42 city/44 hwy
	AWD	1.6 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/38 hwy
Venue
	FWD	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/33 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Sportage Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Venue doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sportage Hybrid’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. The Venue doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Sportage Hybrid has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venue (13.7 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sportage Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Venue (5). This means the Sportage Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Venue every 15,000 miles.

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

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

The Kia Sportage Hybrid 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.

For better traction, the Sportage Hybrid has larger tires than the Venue (235/65R17 vs. 185/65R15). The Sportage LX HEV’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 HEV has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Venue. The Sportage Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Venue SEL/Limited.

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

The Sportage Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Venue.

For greater off-road capability the Sportage Hybrid has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Venue (8.3 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Sportage Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Sportage Hybrid 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.

The Sportage Hybrid 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, .5 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 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 Hybrid’s rear seats recline. The Venue’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Venue with its rear seat up (39.5 vs. 18.7 cubic feet). The Sportage Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venue with its rear seat folded (73.7 vs. 31.9 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage Hybrid’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sportage Hybrid’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.

The Sportage Hybrid has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Venue has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage Hybrid 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.

When two different drivers share the Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige, 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 Hybrid SX-Prestige’s standard easy entry system 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid EX/SX-Prestige’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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid SX-Prestige 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid SX-Prestige 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 Hybrid SX-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 Hybrid SX-Prestige’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid and the Venue offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage Hybrid 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 Hybrid SX-Prestige 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.

The Sportage Hybrid SX-Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Venue doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage Hybrid, 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.