10 Things to Know About the 2020 Hyundai Venue

2020 Hyundai Venue front three quarter ・ Photo by Hyundai

The 2020 Hyundai Venue is an all-new crossover for the entry-level buyer. It’s stylish and sporty with plenty of curb appeal along with an attractive and comfortable interior. The Venue is also a budget-friendly choice with a starting price of only $17,350.

Despite that affordable price tag, the Venue still offers a wide range of standard features, even on the base trim. It’s an ideal choice for those who want more room than a sedan offers, but don’t need the passenger and cargo capacity of a large SUV. Here are 10 things to know about the 2020 Hyundai Venue.

1. The Venue is an all-new vehicle.

If you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of the Hyundai Venue before, that’s because it’s an all-new model in the Hyundai lineup. People are moving away from sedans toward SUVs and crossovers, so automakers are shifting their product lines to feature those vehicles. The Venue is the latest crossover from Hyundai, following the introduction of the eight-passenger Palisade and the subcompact Kona.

The Venue sits just below the Kona as Hyundai’s smallest and most affordable crossover. It’s budget-priced with key features that appeal to younger buyers. That lower price of entry means it doesn’t come with fancy features and an upscale interior, but it still offers a comfortable and well-equipped ride.

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2. There’s a range of three affordable trim levels.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue is affordably priced. The base SE comes in at $17,350 with a manual transmission or $18,550 with the continuously variable automatic, which is standard for the rest of the range. The SEL starts at $19,250 and the Denim is priced at $22,050. Pricing is manageable even if you go with the top trim.

There are also several packages available on the middle SEL trim only. The Convenience Package at $1,150 adds a sliding armrest storage box, power sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium Package adds multiple features that include heated front seats and navigation for $1,750. In any guise, the Venue is an affordable choice.

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3. It's one of the few cars available with a manual transmission.

The number of vehicles offered with a manual transmission in the United States is falling lower every year. There aren’t a lot of options for those who like driving one, but if you’re one of the die-hards who enjoy rowing through the gears, then the Hyundai Venue has you covered. It’s offered with a six-speed manual transmission on the base SE trim.

The downside is that you can’t get that manual on anything but the base trim, but at least it’s out there as an option. If you opt for the manual transmission, you also save a few dollars. It's priced $1,200 under the Venue with an automatic transmission, making it easier on your budget.

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4. It offers only one engine option.

While the Hyundai Venue has two transmission choices, both are hooked to the same engine. Under the hood, there’s a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque. That’s not a huge amount of power, but this isn’t a huge SUV. This is a subcompact crossover, so it does perfectly fine with a modest engine.

Press the accelerator and the engine easily gets the Venue up to speed. It’s great driving through city streets and has no trouble reaching higher speeds for merging with highway traffic. The Venue even delivers an extra bit of power for highway passing without a fuss.

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5. The Venue is front-wheel drive only, but there is a snow mode.

Those who live where it snows usually want a vehicle that offers all-wheel drive to manage that winter weather. Unfortunately, the Hyundai Venue is available only with front-wheel drive with no option for all-wheel drive on any trim. While that may be an obstacle for those who live in winter climates, there’s a little something extra to help when road conditions are poor.

The Venue offers a choice of three drive modes that are activated at the touch of a button. Choose normal for everyday driving, sport for a more responsive ride, or snow for advanced traction control. It’s not the same as all-wheel drive, but it increases the Venue’s capability in bad weather.

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6. It gets great fuel economy.

The Hyundai Venue is affordably priced, which makes it great for those on a tight budget. It also gets great fuel economy, so it’s more affordable in the long term, too, especially if gas prices rise. The base SE equipped with a six-speed manual transmission gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined.

The rest of the lineup, which features the continuously variable automatic transmission, does even better — 30 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. While that’s a slight drop on the highway, it’s an increase in the city, giving it better fuel economy overall. Either transmission choice is easy on your wallet.

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7. Infotainment is fully featured even on the base trim.

While some base trims severely limit infotainment, that’s not the case with the Hyundai Venue. Even the base trim includes a fully featured system. It has an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM/HD radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. There are also USB and MP3 auxiliary jacks, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and a four-speaker audio system.

The SEL trim adds the option for navigation and has standard dual USB charging ports along with a six-speaker audio system. Navigation becomes standard on the top Denim trim. Regardless of which Venue trim you choose, the infotainment system includes key features to keep you connected when you’re on the go.

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8. Advanced safety is offered across the trim range.

The 2020 Hyundai Venue has not yet been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Despite that lack of crash-test information, you can set your mind at ease knowing the Venue includes a solid range of standard safety features. These include a forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warning.

The SEL trim offers blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic collision alert as an option while the Denim makes this a standard feature. Including key advanced safety technology on even the base trim of the Venue helps make this crossover a great value.

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9. It’s ideal for city-dwellers.

Living in the city means dealing with narrow, congested roads and limited parking. What parking is available is often a tight fit making it a challenge to own a big SUV in more urban areas. The Hyundai Venue is perfect for city dwellers who crave the flexibility of an SUV but don’t want to deal with a cumbersome size.

The Venue’s petite dimensions make it easy to find a place to park, even when parking is at a premium. You won’t have to circle the block to find a larger spot when you drive the Venue because this subcompact crossover is ideal for city living.

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10. Don’t let its size fool you — there’s lots of room for cargo.

The Hyundai Venue is a subcompact crossover, but don’t let its small dimensions fool you. There’s still ample room for carrying cargo. There’s 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat, or you can fold it and get 31.9 cubic feet for cargo behind the front seats. The backseat splits 60/40 and folds flat, offering added flexibility to carry cargo and passengers.

That’s plenty of room for stowing groceries, luggage, or supplies for a weekend project. The rear hatch has a wide opening to accommodate larger cargo and there’s a low load floor, so it’s easier to lift heavy items into the cargo area without straining. The Venue might look small, but it offers good cargo flexibility.

Photo by Hyundai