The Hyundai Venue is classified as a crossover-utility vehicle and is a well-equipped urban runabout. Though not aimed at the midsized family market, it could certainly serve families in crowded urban areas with small children.
But the communication around the vehicle clearly is aimed at a young audience, which means it will work just as well for older buyers, who are looking for a practical vehicle and no longer need or want a larger vehicle to impress the neighbors.
Overview
Considering rather astonishing low price point, 2021 Hyundai Venue is very well equipped with convenience features and technology, including suite of driver’s assistance features. The performance of Venue is not overpowering by any means, but it is perfectly adequate for the vehicle’s size and Hyundai also done clever things with color to dress up the vehicle to show the youthful spirit critical for small vehicles.
Exterior
The 2021 Venue presents a handsome silhouette to the world. That form makes it look somewhat larger and more expensive than it is while the sheet metal, starting with the curved hood, and bowed sides are nicely integrated in the overall design package. It has a handsome front fascia and smartly designed with Hyundai insignia and a well-integrated rear liftgate finishes the package.
The LED headlights in the vehicle I drove were also nicely integrated into the front of vehicle and the contrasting color scheme, which once was more common on vehicles, served the Venue well. The white roof was nicely set off by darker, “denim” lower body color and gave the Venue a very distinctive appearance. The highly styled 17-inch wheels and roof rails on the top of the car also contributed to the appearance.
Interior
Use of the available space is critical in any small vehicle and the designers of the Hyundai Venue have done a good job of making the cabin seem spacious and comfortable. There is plenty of headroom, ample shoulder room and even enough leg room for the driver and front-seat passenger. Adults will find the rear seat tight, but it is adequate for smaller children, who are probably the most likely passengers in everyday use.
The interior is nicely furnished and the denim package in the vehicle that I drove was quite attractive, I thought. The Venue also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls for radio and cruise control as well as an 8-inch screen in the center stack that on paper might seem small, but in the vehicle dominates to dashboard. There also a sliding arm rest and telescoping steering wheel. Visibility from the driver’s seat also is quite comfortable.
Powertrain
As a small vehicle with a short wheelbase, the Venue is equipped with a sprightly, lightweight 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with double overhead cam shafts and an intelligent variable transmission that handles the responsibility for moving the vehicle into the proper gear at different speeds and under varied operating conditions. The engine and transmission combination produces 121 horsepower, according to Hyundai, and 113 pound-feet of torque. This combination gives the Venue a solid power-to-weight ratio.
The combined fuel economy is a solid 31 miles per gallon on the Environmental Protection Agency tests, including 30 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The driver also can select an operating mode and the Venue also is equipped with a “Hill Start” feature, which holds the vehicle in place as it started — a handy feature if you have a steep driveway.
Safety and Technology
The 2021 Hyundai Venue comes well equipped with technology, including driver-assistance features such as forward-collision alert, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot detection. It also is equipped with intelligent high beams and a monitor to track driver attentiveness, which is useful if you have been behind the wheel for a while.
The Venue also is equipped with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and an 8-inch screen that can be used for entertainment and navigation. It is also equipped with rear-view camera, and rear cross-traffic alert as well as multiple airbags for protection against frontal- and side-impact collisions and electronic stability control.
Driving Impressions
As private vehicles go, the 2021 Hyundai Venue is a genuine lightweight, tipping the scales at just over 2,600 pounds, which means the small engine delivers a big punch when you step on the accelerator. In addition, the Venue has a solid suspension which helps give the vehicle as solid feel on both on the highway, on urban streets and over all kinds of pavement.
The four-wheel disc brakes also quite efficient and effective under all kinds of conditions and the steering also helps with the overall driving dynamics and makes fun to drive. Not surprisingly, the Venue is quite maneuverable, which particularly helpful in crowded urban areas where being able to squeeze in and out of tight spots is premium attribute in crowded area.
Wrap Up
Small utility vehicles do not create a lot of excitement in a market that is now dominated by big SUVs and very expensive trucks. But I found the Hyundai Venue quite roomy, versatile and fun to drive in a variety of conditions.
What really caught my attention was the price, $23,380, including the destination charge, for a vehicle that was stylish and very well equipped. With the price of vehicles rising steadily in the past couple of years, I had to check it multiple times to make sure it was not a misprint, but it turned out to be genuine, making something of bargain even if it is on the small side.
