By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(October 8, 2020) We first drove the Hyundai Venue when it was all new for 2020, and was introduced to the media in Miami. We came away from that first introduction more than impressed with Hyundai’s smallest and least-expensive SUV that slots below the excellent subcompact Kona.

The auto industry is always riding the wave of change, especially when it comes to the car buying public and their insatiable appetite for crossover utility vehicles. It is with that in mind the entry-level five-door hatchback Hyundai Venue was conceived. With it, the South Korean brand is chasing after urban dwellers and younger buyers, enticing them to buy a new car with a roomy interior, advanced safety features and a great warranty for about what you’d spend for a three- or four-year-old used Toyota or Honda.

Of the over 41 million used car buyers in the U.S. last year, Hyundai says about a third of them shopped for a new car but couldn’t find something affordable. The Venue was specifically designed to meet that need and fill the gap.

The Venue shares the same platform that also underpins the Hyundai Accent. At just 159 inches long, Venue is one of the shortest vehicles on sale today, but we found interior space surprisingly ample with enough leg, hip, head and shoulder room even for this 6-foot 6-inch journalist. True, rear seat passengers won’t be able to stretch their legs out, but they won’t feel cramped either.

For 2021 Venue is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL and Venue Denim. All are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 121 horsepower all-wheel drive with an intelligent continuously variable transmission (CVT), a type of automatic transmission with no set gears.  While a manual transmission was standard on the base SE last year, it has been discontinued for 2021 most likely because the take ratio was exceptionally low. Also discontinued for 2021 are the 15-inch steel wheels.

While 121 horsepower doesn’t sound like much — and it isn’t — the Venue isn’t a lot of vehicle either. We found it to be adequate. Venue quickly got up to highway speeds and performed well in city and suburban driving. It easily zipped around busy city traffic and, with its short turning radius, its maneuverability, ample visibility, and ease of driving was certainly welcome.  

Road noise was minimal, braking competent. The ride quality was comfortable and visibility excellent. There are three drive modes that can be selected via a button on the center console including one called Snow that allows increased wheel spin for maximum traction. In Normal drive mode, the Venue powertrain responds in typical fashion to throttle inputs; in Sport mode, the transmission stays in lower ratios longer, allowing for higher engine rpms resulting in a sharper acceleration response.

Safety features are important for all vehicles, and especially smaller ones. Hyundai has made over 70 percent of the structure with advanced high-strength steel and other high-strength materials. Smartsense, the safety suite of features, is standard on all 2021 Venue trim levels and includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist.

Our test 2021 Venue SEL came with even more features than last year. Now standard are items that were formerly bundled into last year’s $1,150 optional convenience package, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, blind-spot monitoring system, power sunroof, sliding armrest, and 17-inch wheels. The SEL also adds rear disc brakes in lieu of the SE’s drum brakes, automatic climate control, chrome front grille, roof side rails, dual USB charge ports, six-speaker audio system, voice control, and driver’s auto-up window. Heated seats and passive entry with push-button starting are optional.

We especially liked the Venue’s operating controls, which were intuitive, well laid out, and easy to read. There are big knobs for controlling and adjusting the heating, ventilating and air conditioning — ditto for the infotainment controls. An eight-inch touch screen located in the middle of the instrument panel between two air vents is also easy to use, and pairs with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Know that those wanting built-in navigation with real-time traffic updates will need to opt for the SEL or Denim trim.

Still, you can opt to pair your smartphone and connect via Bluetooth and use the navigation program on your phone, displayed on the eight-inch touch screen. It’s what we did and it worked perfectly.

The Venue is the least expensive crossover in America; the SE trim level has a starting price of $18,750, excluding shipping and handling. But it’s not equipped with a many of the desired features that most shopper will want. We think the best choice is the SEL, which includes all the extras for just $1,050 more.

Bottom line, we liked almost everything about the Venue. It isn’t the most exciting car I’ve driven, and it could use more horsepower, but it still has enough punch for just about any driving situation. Given its diminutive size, it’s incredibly easy to drive and handling is confident and predictable. If you’re considering buying a used car for yourself or a new driver in the family, I strongly suggest putting the Venue on your test drive list.

For the money Venue is an excellent choice. It’s loaded with standard safety features, there’s Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and five-year comprehensive warranty, and we beat the combined 32 mpg fuel economy by almost five mpg during our weeklong testing. It’s a perfect combination for fun-fashion youth who still care about style and practicality. The overall look is fresh, stylish and nicely designed.

Vital Stats
Base Price: $20,975
Price as Tested: $23,580
Engine/Transmission: 121-horsepower, four-cylinder paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
Fuel Economy: 30/34/32 mpg City/Highway/Combined
Seating: Up to 5

Crash Test Ratings: The 2021 Venue received an overall 4 out of 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and earned a 2020 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Where Built: Ulsan South Korea

Competes With:
Chevrolet Trax
Ford EcoSport
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Kona
Jeep Renegade
Kia Soul
Mazda CX-3
Nissan Kicks

Fab Features
Excellent affordability and value
Surprisingly roomy
Impressive agility and driving charismatics