The Venue is the entry-level SUV in Hyundai’s lineup and is their most affordable offering since its introduction in the 2020 model year. Although the Hyundai Venue is one of the lowest-priced crossovers on the market today, it still features a surprisingly high level of standard equipment.
With its spacious interior, fuel-efficient engine, and high safety rating, the Venue is a great choice for the first-time customer, especially those looking for a sub-compact family hauler. Some of the competition in the budget-friendly entry-level crossovers space include the Nissan Kicks, Kia Soul, and Toyota C-HR.
With a 121 horsepower four-cylinder engine, it lacks the horsepower for serious performance, but it is quite capable of cruising city streets. While many crossovers offer AWD, the Venue is only available in FWD.
Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the Venue has a spacious cabin, providing a roomy feel and can comfortably seat two adults in the rear seats, with limited space for a third passenger. While the design of the Hyundai Venue may not be swanky, its interior is thoughtfully crafted and features robust buttons and switches. When it comes to safety, the Venue stands out by offering a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assist systems as standard, which contributed to its Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
2023 Hyundai Venue Performance and Capability
The Hyundai Venue comes equipped with a standard 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission option is a CVT. This engine delivers adequate performance in urban environments, although it lacks grunt when pushed. The Venue’s compact dimensions and responsive steering make it an excellent city navigator, which will be its primary habitat. The ride quality of the Hyundai Venue is noteworthy, as it effectively minimizes the impact of most road imperfections. However, some may find it slightly on the stiffer side, bordering on being too firm.
2023 Hyundai Venue Price
|
Trim |
Price |
|
SE |
$19,650 |
|
SEL |
$21,000 |
|
Limited |
$22,900 |
The Hyundai Venue comes in three trims, the base SE which starts at $19,650 MSRP, SEL which costs $21,000 MSRP, and the top-of-the-line Limited trim which costs $22,900 MSRP. These performance numbers are as expected from an economy crossover, however, the Venue compensates for this with better-than-average fuel efficiency. As per the EPA, the 2023 Hyundai Venue returns 29 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway for a combined 31 MPG.
Exterior And Interior Styling
With its slightly smaller size compared to the Kona, the Venue sports a more traditional SUV appearance upfront with narrow turn signals and square headlights, reminiscent of the flagship Hyundai Palisade. It is available in eight colors which incude
- Onyx Black
- Green Apple
- Ecotronic Gray
- Scarlet Red Pearl
- Shimmering Silver
- Lunar White
- Ceramic White
- Intense Blue
Exterior Dimensions
|
Length |
159.0 in. |
|
Width |
69.6 in. |
|
Height |
62.6 in. |
|
Wheelbase |
99.2 in. |
|
Ground Clearance |
6.6 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
2568 lbs |
The base SE trim comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, while the SEL and Limited trim come with larger 17-inch alloy wheels. The Limited trim also comes with LED headlights/taillights and DRLs.
Despite its compact size, the Hyundai Venue surprises with its spacious cabin, offering ample room for both front and rear passengers. The well-put-together cabin is further enhanced by a digital gauge cluster and an attractive 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto support, while navigation is available in the highest Limited trim. The SEL trim is the only variant with an optional Gray interior, in addition to the Black.
The SEL trim also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, while heated front seats and passive entry with push-button start as options. On the Limited trim, these features come standard. It’s worth mentioning that the Limited trim does not offer the optional power sunroof, but the SEL trim does, which is an interesting choice by Hyundai.
Interior Dimensions
|
Head room (front/rear) |
39.4 / 38.6 in. |
|
Leg room ( front/rear) |
41.3 / 34.3 in. |
|
Cargo Capacity |
31.9 cu.ft |
Base trims come with a center-console armrest as standard. The Limited trim offers the option of wireless charging, a feature that was previously absent. Despite these considerations, the Venue’s cabin has 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and provides 19 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding the back seat flat expands the cargo area to an impressive 31.9 cubic feet.
Safety
Across all trims, the Venue comes equipped with standard safety features such as tire-pressure monitoring, a rearview camera, electronic stability control, traction control, and ABS. The Venue also impresses with its array of driver-assist technologies. These encompass features like
- Lane-keeping assist
- Pedestrian detection
- Collision warning
- Driver-attention warning
- Automatic high beams
- Rear-seat occupancy alert (New for 2023)
For added peace of mind, the higher two trims feature blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert.
While the Hyundai Venue may lack premium features, a closer look at the safety features reveals that Hyundai has done an admirable job of equipping even its most affordable model with essential safety technologies. There is also a comprehensive airbag system consisting of six airbags, including dual-front, front-side, and curtain airbags for all outboard seating positions.
The Competition
Despite its boxy unconventional looks, the Kia Soul remains nimble in corners with its confident handling and 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine, it maintains a smooth ride quality in different driving conditions. The Kia Soul stands out as a great alternate choice for buyers seeking great value and a roomy interior packed with an array of standard features. The Kia Soul is also very similarly priced, starting at $19,890.
The Nissan Kicks has a similar powertrain with 122 horsepower, it is similarly affordability and has impressive fuel efficiency. The Kicks may appear sluggish on paper, but its main strength lies in its excellent fuel economy. Front-wheel drive is the only option here as well, but it delivers an impressive 36 MPG on the highway. The Nissan Kicks starts at $20,440.
The Mazda CX-30 stands out in this space with its impressive performance and more upscale interior. Equipped with a peppy 191-horsepower base engine, this compact SUV delivers ample power for most driving situations. Mazda offers an enhanced driving experience by pairing it with a six-speed automatic transmission, providing a more engaging feel compared to the CVTs found in rivals. Additionally, the CX-30 comes standard with all-wheel drive, further enhancing its appeal. At $22,950 it is comparatively a little more expensive, but the Mazda has performance to back up the premium.
Final Impressions About The 2023 Hyundai Venue
At this price, Hyundai has put together a capable SUV which is a great choice for folks who are looking for their first car. While there is some good competition to consider, the Venue has a proven track history with reliability, safety, and fuel economy. Maybe in the next generation, we will get to see a version with AWD or a hybrid powertrain to make it more appealing.
In the event of any unforeseen issues, it brings peace of mind to know that the Venue is backed by one of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry. Hyundai offers a generous five-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty, ensuring confidence in the quality and reliability of the vehicle. The powertrain is covered by an impressive ten-year/100,000-mile warranty, providing long-term protection for critical components.
Additionally, Hyundai includes a seven-year anti-perforation warranty, offering coverage against rust and corrosion regardless of the mileage accumulated. For added reassurance, 24-hour roadside assistance is available for five years, ensuring support in case of emergencies or breakdowns. With such an extensive warranty package, the Hyundai Venue demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to delivering exceptional reliability and customer satisfaction.