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- Highs Excellent value, surprising passenger space, many standard driver assists.
- Lows Apathetic highway acceleration, busy highway behavior, missing some desirable options.
- Verdict The Venue is affordable and agile urban transportation, but it's not ideal for road trips.
Overview
The 2020 Hyundai Venue is the company's newest little crossover, and it boasts distinctive styling and a budget-friendly price tag. With a boxy shape and diminutive proportions, it makes urban exploration easy and fun. Its four-cylinder powertrain isn't quick, and only front-wheel drive is offered, but the Venue is peppy at low speeds and the engine never sounds too coarse. The pleasant cabin is also roomy and bolstered by truly useful cargo space for this segment. The top-tier Denim model is by far the fanciest thanks to its exclusive white-painted roof and unique leatherette upholstery. While the little Hyundai exhibits busy behavior on the highway, the 2020 Venue is otherwise one of the best subcompact SUVs on the market.
What's New for 2020?
Hyundai introduces the all-new Venue for 2020, which represents the Korean automaker's smallest crossover.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The 2020 Venue is the cheapest crossover in America, but the SE version has a standard manual transmission and few fancy features. For that reason, we think the top-of-the-line Denim model is the best example. It alone has a white-painted roof with unique exterior accents as well as leatherette upholstery with white trim. There aren't any significant options, but every Denim is loaded with desirable equipment. Wondering why the mid-level SEL isn't our preferred Venue? That's because in order to get one with must-have features such as 17-inch wheels and passive entry, Hyundai requires shoppers to buy the Convenience and Premium packages ($2900 combine) that make a fully loaded SEL cost $100 more than an equivalent Denim model.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Every 2020 Venue is powered by a 121-hp four-cylinder engine, which delivers sufficient motivation around town but has a complete lack of passing power on the highway. While a six-speed manual transmission is available, it's only standard on the base model, which has a dearth of desirable features. Otherwise, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional on the base model and standard on the SEL and Denim. Shoppers who want all-wheel drive will be disappointed, because all models are front-drive only. We recently drove a Venue around Miami and learned that the subcompact SUV is agile in traffic thanks to its small proportions and reactive steering. Unfortunately, that steering was touchy on the highway, and our SEL model often required our attention to stay steady in our lane at highway speeds. That makes us think the tiny Hyundai is better suited for short commutes rather than highway road trips.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates the Venue with the manual transmission will earn 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Models with the CVT are rated at 30 mpg city and 34 highway. Those numbers are slightly worse than the Nissan Kicks, which has estimates of 31 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. We haven't tested either Venue on our 75-mph highway route, so we can't evaluate its real-world mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Despite its small dimensions, the Venue has a roomy cabin for its size. Both the front and rear seats have ample passenger space, and the cushions in both rows are comfortable. The design isn't particularly flashy, but the interior is well assembled and bolstered by sturdy switchgear, and an attractive gauge cluster and infotainment system. A leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and passive entry with push-button start are optional on the SEL and standard on the Denim. Too bad there's no dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, head-up display, power-operated adjustments for the front seats, or wireless phone charging. Also, base models don't have a center armrest, and the top-of-the-line Denim model isn't available with a sunroof. Still, the Venue cabin is a pleasant place to spend time, and with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats in use, it has 19 cubic feet of cargo room. That volume increases to 32 cubes when the back seat is folded flat.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every 2020 Venue comes with a user-friendly 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The infotainment system has attractive menus that responded quickly to our inputs, and the unit also has useful volume and tuning knobs below the screen. Those looking for built-in navigation with real-time traffic updates can have it on the SEL and Denim. Otherwise, the base SE has an audio system with four speakers, while the SEL and Denim offer six.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The 2020 Venue hasn't been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, Hyundai outfits every model with standard driver-assistance technology as well as available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard driver-attention warning
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Hyundai—and its corporate counterpart, Kia—provide the best powertrain warranty on the market as well as one of the best limited warranty plans, too. Hyundai also now offers complimentary scheduled maintenance that bests mainstream rivals such as Toyota.
- Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
