It’s a tale as old as time: which SUV is right for me?
Toyota Yaris Cross 
Hyundai Venue
The Toyota Yaris Cross and Hyundai Venue have been consistent players in the light SUV space, though both trail behind the best-selling Mazda CX-3 on the sales charts.
The Toyota Yaris Cross received tech upgrades for 2024, including a new infotainment and safety kit upgrades, along with minor styling tweaks. It’s now also available with hybrid power only, with the base petrol gone.
The 2024 Hyundai Venue has not seen any major changes since its 2023 upgrades, which included a standard wireless phone charger, a 4.2-inch colour instrument cluster screen, and rear occupant alert.
A top-end Hyundai Venue lines up with a base Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid on paper. Here’s how they stack up.
Pricing
There is a $1650 cost difference between the Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD and Hyundai Venue Elite auto with the Yaris Cross the more expensive vehicle.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | $30,900 |
| Hyundai Venue Elite auto | $29,250 |
Drivetrains and efficiency
The 2024 Hyundai Venue is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, while the Yaris Cross features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid powertrain.
The Hyundai Venue produces slightly higher outputs of 90kW and 151Nm, when compared to the Yaris Cross.
Drive is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission in the Yaris Cross, and a six-speed automatic transmission in the Venue.
The Toyota Yaris Cross stacks up as the more fuel efficient of the two vehicles on paper, with a claimed fuel economy figure of 3.8L/100km as opposed to the Venue which uses 7.0L/100km.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5-litre 3-cylinder hybrid | 1.6-litre 4-cylinder |
| Battery | 4.3Ah lithium-ion | No |
| E-motor outputs | 59kW + 141Nm | N/A |
| Engine outputs | 67kW + 120Nm | 90kW + 151Nm |
| Peak power | 85kW | 90kW |
| Peak torque | N/A | 151Nm |
| Transmission | CVT auto | 6-speed auto |
| Driven wheels | Front wheels | Front wheels |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 3.8L/100km | 7.0L/100km |
| Fuel capacity | 36L | 45L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON | 91 RON |
Dimensions
Both light SUVs are very similar in size, sharing only a few differences on paper.
The biggest difference between the pair is their towing capacity, with the Venue capable of towing 400kg more than the Yaris Cross.
Both vehicles can seat a maximum of five passengers, including the driver.
You will also find a few extra litres of storage in the Yaris Cross’ rear, totalling to 390L as opposed to the Venue’s 335L.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 43180mm | 4040mm |
| Width | 1765mm | 1770mm |
| Height | 1590mm | 1592mm |
| Wheelbase | 2560mm | 2520mm |
| Boot capacity | 390L | 335L |
| Kerb weight | 1235kg | 1225kg |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GWM) | 1650kg | 1700kg |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 400kg | 800kg |
| Ground clearance | 170mm | 170mm |
Servicing and warranty
Both vehicles offer the same warranty coverage period of five years and unlimited kilometres.
In addition, both vehicles also require logbook servicing every 15,000km or 12 months – whichever comes first.
Currently, capped price servicing at Hyundai is $65 more than Toyota, with an average of $315 for the first five services.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 5-year, unlimited-kilometre | 5-year, unlimited-kilometre |
| Service Intervals | 12 months or 15,000km | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Avg. annual service price first five years | $250 | $315 |
Safety
Both the Toyota Yaris Cross and Hyundai Venue have up-to-date ANCAP safety ratings.
The Yaris Cross has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2021, whereas the Hyundai Venue has a four-star safety rating based on testing in 2019.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection score | 86 per cent | 91 per cent |
| Child occupant protection score | 86 per cent | 81 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection score | 78 per cent | 62 per cent |
| Safety assist score | 82 per cent | 62 per cent |
Here is a breakdown of each vehicle’s standard safety features:
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 8 airbags | 5 airbags |
| Adaptive cruise control | Yes | No |
| Automatic collision notification | Yes (Toyota Connected Services) | Yes |
| Autonomous emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Blind-spot monitoring | No | Yes |
| Blind-spot assist | No | No |
| Driver attention warnings | No | Yes |
| Lane departure warning | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keep assist | Yes | Yes |
| Park assist | No | No |
| Parking sensors | No | Yes, rear |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | No | Yes |
| Reversing camera | Yes | Yes |
| Surround-view camera | No | No |
| SOS Emergency call | Yes (Toyota Connected Services) | No |
| Traffic sign recognition | No | No |
| Tyre pressure monitoring | No | Yes |
Standard features
The Toyota Yaris Cross and Hyundai Venue are both kitted with a plethora of standard equipment.
High-grade Yaris Cross pictured to show new screen 
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 16-inch alloy | 17-inch alloy |
| Spare wheel | Yes | Yes |
| Headlights | Halogen headlights | Automatic halogen |
| Side mirrors | Power-folding exterior mirrors | Power-folding exterior mirrors |
| Sunroof | No | Yes (unavailable with two-tone roof) |
Both vehicles share similar interior and exterior features, however they do have their differences.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstery | Cloth | Cloth with leather accents |
| Front seats | Manual | Manual |
| Rear seats | 40:20:40 split | 60:40 split |
| Steering wheel | Leather accented steering wheel | Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter |
| Climate control | Single-zone climate control | Single-zone climate control |
Both these cars have an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, although there are spec differences setting them apart.
| Toyota Yaris Cross GX FWD | Hyundai Venue Elite auto | |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument cluster | 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster | Analogue with 4.2-inch colour trip computer |
| Head-up display | No | No |
| Infotainment | 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system | 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system |
| Satellite navigation | Cloud-based satellite navigation | Yes |
| Smartphone mirroring | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Wireless phone charging | No | Yes |
| USB | 2 x USB-C outlets (front) | 1 x USB-A outlet (front), 1 x USB-C outlet (front), 2 x USB-C outlets (rear) |
| Sound system | Six-speaker sound system | Six-speaker sound system |
| Key | Keyless entry and start | Keyless entry and start |
Which light SUV would you opt for? Let us know in the comments.
BUY: Buy a Toyota Yaris Cross
MORE: Everything Toyota Yaris Cross
BUY: Buy a Hyundai Venue
MORE: Everything Hyundai Venue
