2021 Hyundai SUVs Model Overview

The SUV market continues to rise in popularity with American drivers. Whether it’s the elevated driving position, spacious interior, or increased safety, there are many compelling reasons to purchase a new SUV. Hyundai is a stalwart name in the SUV market. For 2021, there are several Hyundai models to consider if you’re on the lookout for a new SUV. This article provides an overview of four different 2021 Hyundai SUV models with a focus on technology, exterior features, interior, trim levels, safety features, and more. 

2021 Hyundai Venue

The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover SUV that debuted in the United States in the 2020 model year. The 2021 Hyundai Venue is a small and nimble vehicle with a huge focus on safety. With a maximum seating capacity of five and a compact size, the Venue makes it suitable for singletons, couples, or small families. There are three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Denim. 

All trim levels receive power from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 160 horsepower. An 8-inch color touch screen comes standard with all trim levels. The infotainment system integrates seamlessly with your smartphone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All models come with a plethora of advanced safety features, including lane-keeping assistance, forward collision avoidance, front pedestrian alerts, electronic stability control, and a tire-pressure monitor.

The main perks if you upgrade to higher trim levels come when you opt for the SEL plus a Premium package or the Denim trim. On the outside of the vehicle, the notable differences include alloy wheels, heated front seats, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. Inside, the touch screen includes a navigation system and the audio system is upgraded from four speakers to six speakers. 

Regardless of the trim level, the 2021 Venue comes with 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space; this figure increases to 31.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. 

2021 Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is another subcompact crossover SUV, and its first release was in the 2018 model year.  There’s an impressive variety of trims available for the 2021 Hyundai Kona: SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Night, Limited, and Ultimate. 

Under the hood, the 2021 Hyundai Kona comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can output a maximum of 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque on trim levels up to SEL Plus. Starting at the Night trim, you get a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that outputs 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is available if you want improved traction on difficult surfaces and better cornering, however, front-wheel drive is the standard. The transmission with the base engine is a six-speed automatic. You get a seven-speed transmission with the turbocharged engine. 

The Kona comes with 16-inch alloy wheels as standard — however, these wheels increase in size to 18 inches at higher trim levels. Cargo volume stands at 19.2 cubic feet, which is a decent amount of space for your things. Cargo room increases to 45.8 feet if you fold the second row down. 

Once again, an impressive level of detail goes into safety at all trim levels of the 2021 Hyundai Kona. As standard, you get electronic stability control, traction control, front crumple zones, forward collision avoidance, and an anti-theft system. All models come with LED daytime running lights. 

Inside, you get a six-way adjustable driver’s seat and a multi-information display highlighting key information about your vehicle, including average fuel consumption and the distance you can drive until your fuel tank is empty. Infotainment is delivered via an 8-inch color touch screen. This information system is worth asking your local Hyundai dealer about. 

2021 Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson is a compact crossover SUV that has been around since the 2005 model year. As a compact crossover, the 2021 Tucson has two rows and enough seating for five people. There are six available trim levels for the 2021 model year: SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, Ultimate. 

The SE and Value trims both come with a 2.0-liter engine that outputs 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. In all trims starting from the SEL, the engine improves in power to a 2.4-liter four-cylinder outputting 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque.  Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is optional for all trims. The larger engine increases the Tucson’s maximum towing capacity from 1,500 pounds to 2,000 pounds. 

Some key features at the base trim level include 17-inch alloy wheels, dual automatic temperature control, front USB outlets, and a six-way adjustable driver’s seat. Features at higher trim levels include larger 19-inch alloy wheels, second-row USB outlets, premium side sills, and LED accents. 

Infotainment is delivered via a 7-inch color touch screen display audio system with six speakers. You also get steering-wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth, and cruise controls. There are several more premium infotainment and comfort features at higher trim levels, including an eight-way power driver’s seat, power lumbar support, heated front seats, and wireless device charging for compatible devices. Cargo space comes in at 31 cubic feet; this figure increases to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. 

The base suite of safety features includes lane-keeping assistance, body-side reinforcements, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, and driver attention warnings. At higher trim levels, you can also get blind-spot collision warnings. The blind spot system uses radar to detect vehicles within your Tucson’s blind spots and it sends you both visual and audio warnings. The other advanced safety feature at higher trim levels is rear cross-traffic collision warning, which uses advanced scanners to detect vehicles to the rear when you reverse. 

What’s the Difference?

The main differences between these three models come down to size and space while there are also some minor differences in terms of power. If you want something nimble and fuel-efficient, opt for the 2021 Venue. If you’d like a slightly roomier vehicle than the Venue but with similar levels of power and performance, the Kona is a good choice. Lastly, the Tucson provides the most fun driving experience and has the most cargo space. 

That rounds up this overview of three Hyundai 2021 SUV models. The Tucson, Kona, and Venue are all reasonable choices that you can’t go wrong with if you want an SUV and you plan to have no more than five people in your vehicle. Check out our new Hyundai SUVs today.