Fresh off the successful launch of the Hyundai Palisade at the high end of the range (the neighbor of the house I’m working on just traded in a Jaguar XF for one, go figure) and its Kia Telluride stablemate, Hyundai finally introduced its smallest CUV-ette at the low end of the range, the new Venue. Actually it launched late last year and sold just over 1,000 by the end of the year with almost another 1,000 finding homes in January. Today as I was on one of my Sunday dealer walks I came across the first one that I’ve seen in the metal. They had about half a dozen on the lot but this one was unlocked so let’s take a closer look.
First impressions are good, frankly it looks more European, perhaps one of the far-flung VW brands than Korean. It’s quite square without being completely Kei-car about it and has some decent touches that aren’t overboard, such as the fairly square tail lights that have an interesting pattern within.
Looking at the front makes it obvious it’s not ashamed of showing lots o’ grille, with an interesting basketweave sort of pattern. The actual headlights are the larger units below the squinty running lights, just like in the larger Kona and the pre-facelift Jeep Cherokee. The look has grown on me, it’s probably not my favorite thing ever, but if it works then whatever. I’ve seen worse things.
And the rear shows a large hatch and lower lights in the bumper that are the turn signals. I’m not sure if I prefer them down there, they seem kind of out of the way, but on the plus side they are distinctive when they flash and don’t get lost within the brake lights as with some/many other vehicles. A rear wiper is always welcome and the contrasting black trim to my eyes makes it look pricier than it is.
Popping that hatch gives access to a fairly spacious area with a solid cargo cover tray held up with strings just like an older watercooled VW and makes obvious that the rear seats can fold in a split arrangement.
Underneath the floor is a space saver spare tire and the tools to install it if needed. The paint down here looked good and solid, many pricier cars seem to skimp on this rarely seen area as of late.
Taking a look inside reveals a modern dashboard arrangement with minimal center console to intrude on one’s self, the de rigueur large touchscreen (8″ in this case, one of the larger ones in a non-premium car), and logically arranged controls including steering wheel mounted cruise control and redundant audio controls. A drive mode selector is below the transmission lever, the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, and the HVAC is of the automatic variety. Various plugs/outlets are also on board at the lower edge of the console.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as well at no extra charge as are LaneKeep Assist and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection as well as Driver Attention Warning. Some don’t like these things, I figure anything that helps me avoid some moron that decides to walk off the sidewalk while looking at his phone and ends up in front of me is welcome.
The instrument cluster displays the basics in an easily legible font and arrangement with a subtle pattern on the rings surrounding the dials and a center display that can vary the information shown.
The seats are upholstered in a nappy cloth that doesn’t feel as cheap as I feared, it actually feels quite durable and has an attractive pattern stripe that wouldn’t be out of place in some sort of GT model. Two basic cupholders, a manually operated parking brake (!) and a glovebox with a little supplemental shelf above it round out this part.
Lots of hard (spelled “d-u-r-a-b-l-e”) plastics as with everything in this class but they don’t look penalty box cheap somehow. Remote keyless entry is included but you do need the key to start the car, a little throwback to the good old days they threw in for those that are afraid of the new technology (Yes, I’m kidding!)
The back seat was roomy enough for me with my knees just touching the front seatback when adjusted for myself in the driver’s seat (6’1″, 32″ inseam for reference). Plenty of headroom (no sunroof in this SEL trim level) and big windows make this livable for some distance.
Opening the hood revealed the 1.6liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 121HP and 113lb-ft of torque backed by a continuously variable transmission. Not huge numbers but then again it isn’t a huge car. And is rated at 30mpg city/34hwy and 32combined on regular gas. What struck me about this engine is how low it sits in the chassis, the body isn’t particularly tall but the top of the engine seems to be about 8″ or so below the hoodline which may bode well for the handling.
But then again the 185/65-15 tires don’t seem to send a message that handling is a priority. However little French cars seem to handle exceptionally well and they are never over-tired either so maybe…hope springs eternal. All four wheels sport disc brakes behind them.
Here’s a comparison shot with a handy Ford Fiesta for a visual size comparison. Not much bigger outside but I’ve been in a Fiesta and the Hyundai seems leagues bigger inside. Being square like SpongeBob helps.
So how much is this thing? Well, this is the SEL trim level so quite well equipped and rings in at $19,150 above the line. Add a couple of minor options like floormats, mudguards etc in this case and the delivery charge of $1,095 and the grand total for this one is $20,530 before any discounts. Note that the standard features include plenty of safety items and lots of convenience items but there is a more basic version that starts in the $17k range that doesn’t seem to skimp that much either (Here is the spec comparison chart at the manufacturer’s site) and even includes a manual transmission for those that still want that; it’d probably up the fun factor quite a bit. Either way, at $20k or so, this one’s about $8,600 in 1986 dollars (Hyundai’s first year in the US market) and this thing absolutely blows away anything Hyundai offered here that year. (and the base one at $17k is equivalent to about $7,200 in 1986 dollars)
More the the point though, the obvious competition includes the Nissan Kicks at very similar price points and also FWD only (that’s right, no AWD for the Venue), the Ford EcoSport starts at $20k so this seems like a better value and (to me at least) doesn’t look nearly as odd, the Chevy Trax starts at around $22k as well as FCA’s Jeep Renegade and Compass, both at around the same $22k as their value leader options in FWD. I’m sure ALL of these are available with discounts that vary by dealer, location, and a buyer’s qualifications, hence I can only compare the stickers here in which case the Hyundai looks very compelling.
The point of that last paragraph is that the domestics had better get serious about offering even better value entry level CUVs as I fear that Hyundai (and Nissan as well) have a couple of great value plays going on here and if the customers are happy they won’t be leaving to visit a different dealership the next time. Note of course that Hyundai also has several sedan lines priced even lower with likely the same quality and feature sets and can upsell into a Venue, the domestics pretty much START at that point now and are likely pricing some consumers out completely. Hyundai includes their 10yr/100k powertrain warranty on this as well and yes it’s available in a range of different actual colors (green, red, blue, etc). But wait, there’s more! Hyundai now also includes three years of maintenance as we learned here a couple of weeks ago. At this end of the market that kind of thing can make a difference.
I like this FAR better than I thought I would. It’s a contender and will be interesting to watch. Hyundai now has five different vehicles in the CUV/SUV space, all of which sort of overlap each other. And sister brand Kia has at least that many as well. The domestics need to watch out that they don’t get reduced to body on frame shops only.
The only thing left is for me to actually drive it. Shame on me for visiting on a Sunday when they are closed in order to avoid everyone…
Looks like what we get here as the Hyundai Creta, which along with the Tucson has been outselling the Accent and Elantra since its introduction around 2016 or so.
The Creta is larger than the Venue (about a foot longer and a little taller), in some markets they are both available.
I haven’t seen one in the metal yet, but the only reason why it wasn’t on my test-drive list while buying recently was that I wasn’t aware it had actually shipped. The (closely related) Kia Soul was on the short list but lost out to the Honda Fit due to dealership issues.
It’s curious that Hyundai discontinued the Accent hatchback in the US to make room for this car but still sells it in Canada with a much smaller potential-buyer pool and copypasted regulations.
You have a good point. But, it is worth noting that there are a few cars we get that the US does not, or at least get different options. Canadians, at least in my experience, still have some affinity for wagons, hatchbacks and manuals. (Admittedly, I drive a wagon). We (until 2019) got the Mercedes Benz B class, got the small Acuras (CSX). We also currently get the C class wagon, and the A class hatch which the US does not, and the A6 allroad was confirmed for Canada before the US. As far as I recall, some vehicles offered manuals in Canada, but not for the US. Oh, and some small Nissan. Basically, I think it makes sense for them to sell it here because it might actually sell.
It is very nice for the price. My local Hyundai dealer has them priced lower. The manual model (SE) they had was $14,000 (cannot remember the exact dollar amount but it was under $15k)
The manual had a lot of the goodies (Apple/Android interface and all power options etc)
It did have rear drums
Right now Hyundai has the following models that start at $22,000 or under
Accent
Venue
Kona
Elantra
Elantra GT
Veloster
Sonata
Ford has really nothing at those price points. That ecosport is ugly and awkward looking and if I can believe the sales guy that sold my folks their Escape , just a way to lure folks in to buy an Escape (he said most folks that came in to look at the Eco sport bought an Escape instead)
GM seems to be retreating from any model that sells less then 100,000 per year. which is stupid. Hyundai only sold 73,326 Kona and they call the car a success. GM needs to get off the high horse and realize that it not 1956 and that they will never be able to dominate the auto industry. It is better to have a bunch of cars selling 50,000 or 60,000 units annually instead of 1 or 2 that sell about 100,000 units each
Also, I think that car you looked at has Blue Link in it where you can start your car from your phone anywhere you and the car get a signal. You can even set it to warm up for you on a time basis (I have mine go on at 5:30am)
I was wondering if this is related to the Kia Seltos, as they look to be rather similar sizes. But no, they have different origins, as this venue is based on the Accent while the Seltos is based on the Hyundai Creta/ix25. It does get rather challenging to keep track of all of H-K’s platforms and the various offshoot.
Since this Venue is on an Accent platform, the engine is bound to look a bit low in that body’s taller engine compartment. In all of these typical transverse FWD cars, it’s not really very feasible to change the engine’s relationship to the platform, and a look underneath will show that their blocks/oil pans are all pretty much in the same relative position versus the transaxle and axle centerlines.
True. And more than that, the Seltos and Venue are at opposite ends of the subcompact spectrum.
The Venue is a sub-subcompact crossover, just like the aforementioned Nissan Kicks.
Meanwhile, the Seltos is actually a subcompact-plus crossover. It’s bigger than most subcompact crossovers and is just closer to compact. Other examples of that are the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the Nissan Rogue Sport and the upcoming Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer siblings.
I would expect the Venue is more closely related to the Kia Soul. Both are FWD-only.
Feel free to correct me, but I believe the Soul is based on the Elantra/Forte platform, which is a size up from the Accent.
This car comes across to me as an updated version of a 1980s Toyota Tercel wagon and that is a compliment. This Venue should sell well if it earns a reputation for reliability. I’ve heard from people that have driven the current generation Hyundai Accent that it feels built to a price point and I wonder if the Venue feels the same way.
Note that it is one of the few CUV left in this class (or any class) that is available with a manual transmission. At least theoretically. A search of Cars.com on 2/17/2020 reveals there are 18 available within 500 miles of Las Vegas and 172 available nationwide.
As Paul noted, the Venue is built on the same platform as the Accent, and it’s probably best to think of it as a replacement for the recently-departed Accent hatchback.
Wow, they even bothered to make that an option in the US? I think we’ve already got a Future CC subject.
Here is one of the 172
https://www.antwerpenhyundaiclarksville.com/new-Baltimore-2020-Hyundai-Venue-SE-KMHRB8A30LU014921
It is at the dealer i bought my Elantra from.
Did you get enough interior time to give a verdict on the outward visibility? Looks okay from the pictures, but after recent debacles like the new Mazda 3 hatchback it seems not enough manufacturers pay attention to such things. This does appear to be a very impressive vehicle for the price.
Great review. Hyundai (and Kia) seem to be on a real roll with successful introductions these days.
I have to wonder though if their dealers (in the US) have upped their game also. I’ve never been in a Hyundai or Kia dealership but from what I’ve read, they’re rated fairly low, especially after-sale. Jim.
i love mine. They were quick to address my warranty issue the time I went in with one(the steering column moaned and they had to replace the complete column and they did it with no fuss)
Not true in the least, had my Sonata serviced as necessary with the dealer, no fuss no muss
I purchased a Kia last year, and in comparison shopping, visited two dealerships. Having heard numerous poor reviews of Kia dealers, I was curious what to expect. Ultimately, these two dealerships wound up being polar opposites.
One was a startlingly poor experience — the facilities were old, shabby and small, and the staff was less-then-stellar. They tried some rather tired salesmanship tricks to get us to hurry up and buy the car right away.
The second experience (and where we ultimately bought the car) was the most professional and stress-free dealership experience I’ve ever had. No games, no hidden charges, knowledgeable & helpful staff, etc. The difference between Dealership #1 and #2 couldn’t have been greater. I HOPE that Kia is migrating towards the type of positive and professional dealer experience like where I bought my car; it makes a big difference.
That was about 18 months ago, and I haven’t had the car serviced at a dealership yet, so I can’t report on that angle.
This might be a very attractive option for those of us (and I mean me!) who aren’t interested in larger crossovers. I’m a small-car guy, but with so many manufacturers abandoning traditional body styles, I was a little concerned the small, well-built entry level car might go the way of the dinosaur. But I would look at one of these. Size-wise, it reminds me a lot of my current driver, a Scion xD. I plan to keep the Scion a long time, but I would seriously consider one of these as a replacement in the future.
Shhh, don’t give away the COALs! 🙂 But yes it’s perhaps well described as a mix between xD and 2nd gen xB from a size vs shape standpoint. Feels bigger inside than the outside dimensions might indicate but not quite as large as an xB.
Well, now you know one of my upcoming COALS! But I won’t give any more away, and I have a couple to do before I get to that one. It was hard to tell by the photos exactly how large it is, so thanks for the description. It does look like it has more cargo room in the back than an xD. Hyundai and Kia remind me of what the Japanese we doing about 30 years ago, turning out nicely designed products that seem to hit buyers’ sweet spots. Hard to believe they were an automotive joke in the not too distant past.
I think Hyundai will sell a lot of these. I really liked the one I sat in at the auto show last year. The denim seats were great!
That (the Denim) is the highest trim level, there wasn’t one on this lot, but even this mid-level one was quite good and I don’t see even the base version lacking that much. When you think about it there are many things they could do with something like this, such as Scion-like special editions, limited run colors, even more powerful engine options, they have plenty of choices.
These have replaced small cars.
GM is there with their tiny SUVs
Jeep is there with their inexpensive FIAT thing.
Hyundai is there with these and other mini-SUVs
Kia is there.
But Honda is still working out the bugs with that Civic thing, Ford is peddling an EcoSport that isn’t good enough, Nissan is having serious internal problems scaring buyers away, and Subaru is too comfortable to care about this entry-level market.
So it is Kia and Hyundai all day long.
Pretty much except the imports mostly seem to still have small cars available as well. (In fairness GM also still has the Sonic and Spark in their small car stable at this point).
I wonder if the general public (the ones that don’t read this stuff constantly) really has any inkling of Nissan’s internal issues. Yes their sales are down but a lot (much?) of that also has to do with cutting back incentives etc as opposed to anybody really caring about Ghosn etc. Hyundai and Kia have had plenty of internal management shuffles as well as a lot of criticism that their lines aren’t as fleshed out as they should/could be – which they’ve very much addressed over the last two years.
Just look at that “Happy Face” steering wheel/gauge pod profile, LOL! Reminds me of the first Neon commercials. The six speed also makes this very attractive for us that still like manuals! 🙂
Am I the only one who finds these MINI-UTES as comical? I mean, what is utility about them? They are way too short to handle anything like a stack of 2 by 4’s or anything like that. To me they are just extremely boxy and un-aerodynamic tiny cars. I dont know what would be the benefit of this over a nissan versa note? I know everyone wants a SUV these days, but I’m not seeing the draw on a such a “short” car. For $20,000 you could do a lot better in the 2-3 year old off lease market. That said, my goodness they seem to be flooding the market with this class of car. The Jeep Renegade, the nissan rogue sport, buick encoure/chevy trax (admittedly a touch bigger, but kind of the same in my mind). Maybe we are just in the exact opposite of the 1960’s lower/wider/longer design concept.
“Maybe we are just in the exact opposite of the 1960’s lower/wider/longer design concept.”
And thank God for that in my opinion. As someone who grew up in the 70’s, those land barges were a cramp in the ass to maneuver. My first ride in a VW bug was a revelation (sure, underpowered yet highly responsive and easily maneuverable), although for some reason bugs made me car sick.
Sitting slightly higher and more comfortably in a considerably smaller package is a godsend. That I can fold the seats and fill the hatch area is a bonus.
This was a very attractive option as I shopped for my college-age daughter’s (newly licensed) first car. I didn’t want to be “that” dad who bought their kid a new car, but multiple safety mechanisms (like adaptive cruise, cross traffic alert, blind spot detection) were all must-haves; heated seats, sunroof and Apple CarPlay on the ‘wish’ list. The Venue is a tremendous value, and I actually really like the styling. We ended up with a screaming deal on a barely used (4000k miles) Rogue SL Premium for less than the Venue, so I thought the heavier weight of the Rogue was better protection overall.
H-K is got it going on, I’ll say that….