2020 Hyundai Venue – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Spec
No Frills, No Compromise!
Small, practical and affordability are the check boxes the Hyundai 5-door Venue cross-over ticks. And when I say affordable – I meant it. The base Essential model can be had for as little as $17,000. Add larger rims, safety tech features and a larger 8″ infotainment screen bumps up the price to just $25,000 for the highest Ultimate trim. That being said, bang for the buck marketing appeal calls out for young couples and family starters.
It’s practical because of the box-like form factor with the upside of larger cargo space and an upright seating position with the benefit of better front window visibility. The caveat here is the lack of sleek and contemporary cross-over looks alike the Mazda CX30, or even one of Hyundai’s Tuscon alternatives. Still, the mesh-grid front grille, futuristic LED headlamps and exotic colors all makes for a fun and enjoyable ride.
Powertrain
The FWD Hyundai Venue is powered by a miniature 1.6L 4 cylinder engine netting just 121 horsepower and 113 lb.ft of torque. That is minuscle considering that even a Honda Civic has 160 horses. A 6-speed manual transmission is offered in the base Essential mode with all other trims available only with Hyundai’s IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmision).
Amenities
The exterior offers a fun and playful look while the interior sports an 8″ infotainment touchscreen with a 6-speaker audio system available with Sirius XM. Safety tech features including blind-spot monitoring, rearview camera and lane-assist can be had only with the upper Ultimate trim. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are also fitted with the infotainment system for seamless smartphone connectivity.
Exclusive to the Ultimate trim is also Blulink – a vehicle data gathering device built into the vehicle that tracks vehicle health and statistics to help keep your vehicle in optimal conditions. All this information can be pushed up to the cloud and connected to your smartphone for convenient data access while ensuring the vehicle is in top notch condition.
The Drive
With a miniature 1.6L 4-cylinder and limited cabin sound insulation, expect the engine tone to be obnoxious and unrefined especially at higher revs. Unfortunately, this is the most frequent experience with the Venue as the engine has to operate at higher revs to maintain adequate power output to meet typical city and highway driving demands due to its small engine displacement. The CVT transmission does help smooth out some of the power delivery, but the general engine harshness persists.
The Venue is only offered in a front-wheel-drive configuration, which may lead to a less suitable choice for harsh weather conditions. Still, multiple drive mode controls configures the ABS and steering rate sensitivity for different driving scenarios based on road conditions. On the upside, you’ll get exceptional fuel economy of 31 mpg city/highway combined.
The upright seating position can feel a bit awkward and may also lead to driving fatigue over long distances if not accustomed to. Still, the box-car structure offers good headroom for both front and rear passengers.
Despite its shortcomings, the Venue is an excellent appeal to starting buyers who are looking for a no-frills go-around-get-around vehicle with absolute bargain basement pricing. Bang for the buck is Hyundai’s forte and the Venue doesn’t speak any clearer than that.
Specifications
- Vehicle : 2020 Hyundai Venue
- Model : Ultimate
- Price as Tested : $24,899
- Vehicle Type : Compact Cross-over
- Seating Capacity : 2+3
- Powertrain Configuration : FWD
- Engine : 1.6L 4-Cylinder
- Transmission : Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT_
- Horsepower : 161 hosepower
- Fuel Economy: 7.8 L/100 km
Pros
- Low cost
- Fun and modern exterior styling
- Generous offering and clean interior design
- Great fuel economy
Cons
- Limited power output
- Obnoxious engine tone leading to an uncomfortable ride for longer distances.
- All-Wheel-Drive not avaiable for the Venue