I drove the Subaru Crosstrek and Hyundai Venue for a week — here's the sub-$40K SUV I'd buy with my own money

(Image credit: John Velasco / Tom's Guide)

Just last week I put the Subaru Forester and Mazda CX-5 to the test, and while they’re the right size and price for most families, I prefer something a bit smaller. That’s why I drove the Subaru Crosstrek and Hyundai Venue for a week to see how these compact crossovers compare to each other.While the base trims of both models are quite affordable, there’s a substantial price gap between the two specific trims I tested. The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Limited Hybrid commands an as-tested price of $38,015, while the 2026 Hyundai Venue SEL with Two-Tone Roof comes in at a far more attractive $24,440.With a spread of roughly $15,000, it raises the question of what you’re actually getting extra — or missing out on — by choosing one over the other. After calculating their real-world fuel economy and factoring in their feature packages, I was surprised by the one I ended up recommending.Subaru Crosstrek vs. Hyundai Venue: Specifications

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2026 Subaru Crosstrek Limited Hybrid

I drove the Subaru Crosstrek and Hyundai Venue for a week — here's the sub-$40K SUV I'd buy with my own money

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