2020 Hyundai Venue Review
What do our experts think of the 2020 Hyundai Venue? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
2020 Hyundai Venue – hyundainews.com | Shop 2020 Hyundai Venue on Carsforsale.com
What’s new for the 2020 Hyundai Venue?
The 2020 Hyundai Venue is an all-new model with no preceding model.
The Breakdown
Impressive interior quality
Solid fuel economy
Great safety equipment
Noisy cabin
Underpowered engine
No AWD option
More drivetrain options are needed
2020 Venue Specs
- 121 horsepower from base engine
- 113 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 18.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 31.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Standard Android and Apple connectivity
- IIHS Top Safety Pick
- 5-Year Limited Warranty
2020 Hyundai Venue Powertrain
Every single Venue is motivated by a 121-hp inline four-cylinder engine that develops 113 pound-feet of torque. That’s not very much by modern standards and it shows in the way this little car accelerates above 30 mph.
Below that, it’s quite punchy and fun which makes city driving and dwelling a breezy affair. In fact, Hyundai has imbued the Venue with sharp handling for a vehicle of its height and heft. We like how easily it changes direction and the excellent feedback it provides.
Jump on the highway and things are a little different. Not only is that engine a bit asthmatic, but the continuously variable transmission used in the top two trims howls away as the little car tries to gain speed. Once at higher velocities, the Venue isn’t as confidence-inspiring as we’d like either due to overly twitchy steering and a suspension that’s prone to shudder over poor road conditions.
We recommend the manual transmission if you can get it since it adds a little more engagement, enjoyment, and control. We also hope that Hyundai will provide a better drivetrain in future years.
2020 Hyundai Venue Fuel Economy & MPG
Among other small crossovers, the Venue is competitive with regard to fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the automatic version will get 30 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. Those who select the manual transmission will see those numbers change to 27 and 35 respectively.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Perhaps the best feature of the Venue is its exceptional cabin. Not only is it very spacious but it’s also well-equipped. The controls are easy to understand and simple to put into practice whether they’re on the steering wheel, the stalks, or the center control stack itself. Not unlike the similar Mazda CX-3, the switchgear itself feels great to use and doesn’t have the slack or play that lesser brands provide.
Seating is comfortable and supportive throughout the cabin though we’d love slightly stiffer cushioning in the rear where soft foam can struggle to keep passengers comfortable when the suspension is working over rough pavement. Despite that, we really appreciate the excellent headroom and legroom in each row.
Cargo room isn’t bad. At nearly 20 cubic feet, it’s far larger than we initially thought it might be after just a glance at the platform itself. Fold the rear seats down and that number climbs to more than 30 cubic feet. Those who need more might consider a vehicle like the Kia Soul instead.
Entertainment & Technology
At the heart of the Venue’s infotainment center is an 8-inch screen that on its own merits is easy to navigate and quite quick in its response to inputs. The user interface is easy to understand and the integrated navigation system is outstanding in practice. We also like the six-speaker sound system which sounds better than some units we’ve heard with twice that many.
Every 2020 Hyundai Venue comes equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard equipment. We’ll dig into the specific advanced safety features on the Venue in our safety section but we’ll take this chance to say that they work well and aren’t overly obtrusive in our experience.
Safety Features
The only downside to the Venue is that it only scored four stars in its NHTSA crash testing. Beyond that, it scored an IIHS Top Safety Pick and comes with a bunch of advanced safety equipment like a driver-attention warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and more. While some owners might not use these features we really appreciate their inclusion as standard equipment. That’s a lot more than manufacturers like Buick will offer.
2020 Hyundai Venue Trims & Pricing
SE – $18,525
The base Venue comes with 15-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment system, four speakers, front-wheel drive, automatic headlights, forward collision mitigation, and lane-keep assist.
SEL – $20,425
Step up to the SEL and you’ll get a snow drive mode, six speakers, automatic climate control, a center console storage box, an additional USB power port, and unique 15-inch wheels. Buyers can add a convenience package with a sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a sliding armrest. A premium package is also available with keyless entry, 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, and LED headlights.
Denim – $23,225
The top trim gets everything from the Premium and Convenience packages but loses the sunroof. It adds a special two-tone blue and white paint job along with faux leather upholstery.
Warranties
Every Venue comes with an outstanding five-year or 60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That alone is good enough that it embarrasses most of the rest of the segment but Hyundai also covers the first three years or 36,000 miles of maintenance as well.
What we think
2020 Hyundai Venue – hyundainews.com | Shop 2020 Hyundai Venue on Carsforsale.com
It might not be very engaging to drive but the Hyundai Venue is one of the most well-rounded small crossovers otherwise. It’s easy to drive, comfortable inside, and practical enough that using it every day is a pleasure. We really have no reason to resist recommending it aside from to those who prioritize power or AWD. It’s inexpensive, full of safety equipment, and packed with technology.
