Hyundai has added a new “urban compact” to its SUV mix—the 2020 Venue. Even though the vehicle is the teeniest offering by the manufacturer, slipping in right below its sis, the Kona, it is still categorized as a five-seater. The lil bugger has a 99-inch wheelbase and a 159-inch overall length, measurements that make it a city dweller’s dream for scooting about and parking in congested urban areas.
The Venue has a youthful appeal with chunky proportions, a nice mix of sharp lines, attractive wrap around slit-like headlamps, cascading grille, and squared-off taillights. The Venue’s cabin is pretty spacious head and legroom-wise and can surprisingly accommodate folks just a smidge north of 6-feet. The seating is supportive and comfy enough front and back. Overall, you won’t find a fancy bells and whistles cabin design in the Venue, but you won’t think it’s stark either. There are zero complaints regarding the vehicle’s dash layout; all of the controls are within an easy reach, and nothing requires a peep at a manual. The buttons and knobs are nicely textured and feel good to the touch.
Everything within the subcompact has a definite sense of purpose. The Venue’s boxy/upright design offers the driver excellent visibility and over the shoulder sightlines, a real plus. The Venue provides 18.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which is kind of skimpy compared to a few of its rivals like the Kia Soul. And speaking of the compact’s rear seats, they do fold almost flat for extra space.
The Venue’s infotainment system’s 8-inch color touchscreen display is intuitive and not overwhelming. The base SE model comes with AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a four-speaker sound system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard offerings as well.
The Korean manufacturer has got you covered on the safety front. All Venue models get standard forward collision-avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning, optional on the SEL and standard on the Denim is blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
The Venue is exclusively front-wheel drive, though you can option the entry-level model with a manual transmission. Power comes from a 1.6L 4-pot putting out 121 ponies and 113 lb-ft of torque. The urban warrior is not fast on the draw, so driving it is a little underwhelming, but it is agile, smooth, a cinch to handle, and offers an overall fun driving experience. Parking the Venue is also a breeze because of its light steering and easy maneuverability. The Venue is no lush at the pumps and comes in at 30 mpg/city and 33 mpg/highway.
Here is one of the best reasons to consider a Venue—value. The Hyundai Venue is a brand new model and has not been recalled. Hyundai will cover the Venue with a noteworthy five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, a seven-year/unlimited-mile corrosion warranty, drivetrain cover for ten years, or 100,000 miles, as well as five years of roadside assistance. Hyundai also offers free maintenance for three-years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first).
True dat, Hyundai is aiming its Venue at those buyers with Similac still on their breaths. However, the 2020 Venue can also be enjoyed by seasoned folks and those looking to buy a second vehicle. If you’re searching for a comfy compact SUV with decent driving manners and a sticker that won’t stress your budget, hightail it over to Hyundai to check out the Venue.
Prices start at $18,750. Need more info? www.Hyundaiusa.com
