Kia Stonic v Hyundai Venue 2024 Comparison

Small SUVs have become the default choice as inner-city runabouts, offering plenty of space and practicality for urbanites, empty-nesters and first-car owners on a budget.

The Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue are among the most affordable and most popular models in this class.

So, which is the better choice?

It depends on how you add up the sum of their parts, including fuel economy, servicing costs (both of which we’ll get to later) and which model from each range you’re looking at. But, in terms of sticker price, the 2024 Hyundai Venue is fractionally cheaper to get into than the 2024 Kia Stonic.

Both models are available in three specifications – S, Sport and GT-Line for the Kia and standard Venue, Active and Elite trim levels for the Hyundai – with the latter offering the most affordable entry point at $22,000 plus on-road costs.

The base-model Stonic S costs just $290 more, priced from $22,290 plus ORCs, but once you add auto transmission the positions are reversed with Venue from $24,000 and Stonic S from $23,790 (both plus ORCs).

In the mid-grade versions, the Hyundai Venue Active commands an almost $1000 premium over the Kia Stonic Sport (from $25,290) by virtue of the latter having a manual gearbox option (the Venue Active doesn’t) – but compare the autos and there’s just $540 difference in favour of the Venue Active (from $26,250). The Stonic Sport auto starts at $26,790 plus ORCs.

At the top of the range the difference is more significant, with the Kia Stonic GT-Line priced from $30,790 compared to the flagship Hyundai Venue Elite at $28,750 (both plus ORCs). See our full price list below.

Although Hyundai and Kia work together under the same parent company, and many of its models share the same fundamental structures, mechanical elements and features, the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue are not as closely related to each other as seen with larger SUVs like the Seltos and Kona, Sportage and Tucson and the Sorento and Santa Fe.

Instead, the Stonic uses an older-generation platform from the Rio hatchback while the Venue uses newer underpinnings from the i20.

That makes the Stonic slightly longer (4140mm v 4040mm in overall length), but it is fractionally narrower (1760mm v 1770mm) and not as tall (1520mm v 1592mm). But really, that’s splitting hairs.

The biggest differences are in the styling – the Stonic’s sleeker shape is more of a high-riding hatchback whereas the Venue’s boxier design makes it look like a shrunken SUV – as well as what’s under the bonnet.

All three variants of the Hyundai Venue are powered by the same 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, with the entry-level model offering the choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission while the mid-grade Active and range-topping Elite can only be had with the self-shifting gearbox.

The Kia Stonic, on the other hand, has two engine options depending on the model grade, with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder in the S and Sport versions (each with the choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmission) or a more modern 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder in the GT-Line that only comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Depending on the model choice, there are some very slight differences in specifications and features between the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue.

But both come with a generous list of standard equipment – even at the entry point – that includes air-conditioning, cruise control, power windows and an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen infotainment display with Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone mirroring.

The range-topping Venue Elite does come with Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car service (something Kia doesn’t offer in the Stonic) that uses a smartphone app and allows owners to access important data and operate some functions of the car remotely, including starting the engine, activating the air-conditioning, lights and horn or opening or closing the windows.

Owners can also integrate Google or iCloud Calendar appointments and send navigation instructions to the infotainment system.

Both the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue are compact five-seater urban runabouts that are roughly the same size in terms of dimensions, but the styling differences impact on interior space.

The Venue’s taller body and more upright stance means it offers more headroom for taller occupants (especially in the back seat) than the Stonic, and it has fractionally more useable cargo space in the boot (355 litres v 332L).

If you’re only looking at the ANCAP safety ratings, the Kia Stonic appears to provide a greater level of safety than the Hyundai Venue as it scores five stars compared to the Venue’s four.

But that doesn’t tell the complete story, as the Stonic’s results are based on the Rio hatchback from 2017 while the Venue was tested under stricter protocols when it was first introduced in 2019.

Either way, both the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue come with a decent amount of safety gear in their respective base models, including six airbags, electronic stability control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keeping assistance and a reverse camera.

However, the range-topping Hyundai Venue Elite does have a few additional features that are missing from the comparable Kia Stonic GT-Line, including blind spot collision warning and rear cross traffic alert.

Yes, the smaller-capacity engines used in the 2024 Kia Stonic are all more fuel efficient than the 1.6-litre in the 2024 Hyundai Venue.

The 1.4-litre four-cylinder in the Stonic S and Stonic Sport has a claimed average fuel consumption of 6.0L/100km with a manual transmission and 6.7L/100km with an automatic, while the Hyundai uses a claimed average of 7.0L/100km with a manual and 7.2L/100km with an automatic.

The Kia Stonic GT-Line is the most affordable variant to run, consuming an average of 5.4L/100km.

There’s very little to separate the driving experience between the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue.

Both are zippy around town with light yet precise steering and surefooted handling. The Kia is marginally more comfortable over rough sections of road, but the smaller 1.4-litre engine (with 74kW and 133Nm) needs to be worked harder than the 1.6-litre (with 90kW and 151Nm) in the Venue.

Neither of them is totally comfortable at highway speeds (especially with the automatic transmission) as the gearbox constantly hunts for the right ratio – even on gradual inclines.

The Kia Stonic GT-Line, however, does offer a unique – and more sporting – character, if that’s what you’re after in a small car.

While on paper the 1.0-litre doesn’t seem to offer much more performance (it produces the same 74kW as the 1.4L), it has significantly more torque (174Nm) across a wider band of revs.

The dual-clutch transmission is also more responsive from a standstill and the gearshifts are faster when on the move. Plus, the engine produces a glorious, thrummy exhaust note.

That, along with its firmer suspension tune and grippier Continental tyres, makes the GT-Line feel more engaging to drive while also more relaxed on the open road.

At this end of the spectrum, there’s nothing too complicated about the 2024 Kia Stonic and Hyundai Venue and both should prove to be reliable and hard-working runabouts.

Each has simple mechanical underpinnings and use mass-produced powertrains that have been well proven in numerous other models from both brands over time.

But Kia does trump its sister brand in terms of warranty coverage, with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee compared to Hyundai’s five years with the same mileage.

However, while both car-makers offer affordable, long-term capped-price servicing schemes with roadside assistance, the Kia is slightly more expensive to maintain over the same period.

When comparing base models (both with manual transmissions), the Venue will cost $2546 over seven years whereas Kia will charge $2909 for the same period.

It’s a close call, this one. And it will come down to your priorities and which end of the model range you’re looking at.

At the entry level, the 2024 Hyundai Venue is slightly more affordable to buy and maintain and offers a roomier cabin and more boot space.

But, at the other end, the 2024 Kia Stonic GT-Line is more stylish, engaging to drive and fuel efficient.

How much does the 2024 Hyundai Venue cost?
Venue manual – $22,000
Venue auto – $24,000
Active auto – $26,250
Elite auto – $28,750
*Prices exclude on-road costs

How much does the 2024 Kia Stonic cost?
S manual – $22,290
S auto – $23,790
Sport manual – $25,290
Sport auto – $26,790
GT-Line auto – $30,790
*Prices exclude on-road costs