The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact SUV/crossover that was first revealed back in 2019 and is still in production today. It is the cheapest and smallest SUV you can buy with a Hyundai badge which means a lot considering how popular the brand is and how popular SUVs are in general. So, is Hyundai Venue a good car?
The Hyundai Venue is a really good SUV considering how much it costs. It gets a decent engine that might now be the most exciting engine out there, but it sure gets the job done without any issues. The design is up to personal taste, but the Venue looks like a true SUV which is not something you can say for many other SUVs in this segment.
Reliability-wise, the Hyundai Venue is really good, but it is still too early to tell how well it is going to cope long term. There are some issues worth talking about, especially those associated with the seatbelts, the transmission, the electricals, and the exterior lightning.
Value-wise, you are really getting a lot with the Venue because it costs less than $20,000. Practicality is decent, but rear-seat passengers are likely going to feel a bit cramped. Visibility is excellent, and so is getting in and out of the car.
Hyundai Venue – The powerplant
The Hyundai Venue is available with three different engine options depending on your market. Two of those engines are petrol-powered while one version gets a diesel engine. In the US, we are only getting a 1.2L gasoline-powered inline 4-cylinder engine with 121hp and 113lb-ft of torque. This is okay for the car, but it really isn’t anything to brag about.
0-60mph takes less than 9 seconds which is good, but the top speed is limited to just 115mph. This engine is mated to a CVT automatic gearbox with 7 gears while other markets also get manual options as well. The Venue is a strictly FWD car which means that it really isn’t an SUV in its truest form as it is not designed for off-roading at all.
All in all, the powertrain you get with the Venue is okay for this type of car. We also need to consider the initial price tag as you really can’t buy many other SUVs at this price at all.
Hyundai Venue – Design and chassis
When it comes to design, the Venue looks decent from all angles, but it also isn’t anything special. They designed it to look like a Hyundai, but it isn’t as exciting as some other larger Hyundai SUVs. The interior is well-appointed, some might even say too good considering the price. All in all, looks-wise, the Venue is not going to ruffle any feathers, but it also isn’t going to offend anyone.
The chassis and suspension tuning are solely tailored towards comfort and ease of use which means that the Venue does roll into corners quite a bit. You certainly do notice the weight transfer while going through corners faster which immediately tells you that this is not a sports SUV by any means.
Hyundai Venue – Reliability and common issues
As far as reliability is concerned, the Venue is excellent as it manages to achieve a near top-level experience up until this point. This comes as no surprise as Hyundai is known for making dependable cars. This was, and still is the case with almost all Hyundai modern models. However, there are some issues worth talking about in greater detail.
For starters, the car tends to suffer from various engine issues such as those associated with seatbelts. Hyundai even recalled the Venue for this very same reason. Other issues include dim headlights, active safety systems issues, and issues with the CVT transmission.
Hyundai Venue – Value and practicality
With a starting price of less than $20,000, the Venue is one of the cheapest SUVs you can buy right now which certainly seems promising. Used models can even be had for $14,000 or even less which is a great value. All in all, you really can’t expect too much out of a $20,000 SUV, but you’d be surprised as the Venue does come with many amenities.
Practicality is not top-level, yet that is to be expected from a tiny SUV. The front seating space is more than welcoming while the rear passenger space is a bit cramped. The trunk space is enough, the visibility is really good, and the car does get quite a few family-friendly features.
FAQ Section
Which Hyundai Venue model should I buy?
You should go all out and buy the $24,000 top-spec Limited model as it gets everything you get with lower-end models in addition to much better-looking exterior colors and interior upholstery materials. You also get a dash-in navigation system, a wireless charging pad, heated front seats, 17-inch wheels, and cool-looking seat fabric inserts.
If you go for lower-end models, you are going to downgrade your experience quite a bit. Sure, $24,000 is not as “cheap” as $20,000 or $21,000, but you are likely going to be able to tell immediately that the additional few grand was well worth it, especially if you plan on using your car as a daily driver.
How efficient is the Hyundai Venue?
Efficiency is an incredibly important aspect of a modern-day mass-produced car which means that the Venue is also fairly efficient. You can expect to get around 29MPG in the city and 33MPG on the highway which is decent, but there are other cars from this segment that can do even better.
For example, the Nissan Kicks can return up to 31MPG in the city and around 36MPG on the highway. Even though the difference isn’t huge, you are going to be able to tell the difference.
Does the Hyundai Venue get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The good news is that you will not have to upgrade to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on your Hyundai Venue as both of these are available with even entry-level models. As such, all Venue models get an 8-inch touchscreen straight from the factory which isn’t something you get in all cars from this segment.
