Please make your way into the Venue
The A0 segment virtually exploded late last year when VW introduced the T Cross. VW reported impressive sales numbers for the first few months and this bode well for the new models that we were expecting from other manufacturers. Hyundai followed shortly with their own segment contender, the Venue, and we anxiously awaited our turn behind the wheel of the test car.
Related: The Hyundai Venue — Your new happy place
We were pleasantly surprised by how much this small crossover has to offer.
Styling
The Venue slots in quite nicely with the rest of Hyundai's design language. The preferred colour scheme for most buyers is the pearl white with black roof option and it is rather fetching parked in your driveway. The standout feature on the Venue is the reverse grille with its small star-shaped embellishments.
The top-spec Glide model comes with LED lighting all around, with chrome detailing on many of the trim highpoints of the car, while the fitment of chunky running boards and front and rear skid plates give the Venue the appearance of a vehicle that can tackle any off-road section it may encounter. Don't be fooled though, this is very much a soft-roader and serious off-roading is verboten.
The Hyundai staple of 16-inch wheels remains as standard fitment and the Hurricane style mags are a nice touch as well.
The Drive
The best way to describe the overall feel of the Venue would be, take an i20 for a spin. It feels very similar in its drive and performance. The 7-speed DCT gearbox is an absolute gem and shifts seamlessly while the power output from the engine is equally matched to the overall size and weight of the car. The overall package is very pleasant to drive and one can easily live with it as a day-to-day drive and school run/grocery getter.
Performance
The Venue is powered by a 1.0, 3 cylinder, turbo petrol engine. Coupled to a 7-speed DCT auto transmission, you get 88kW and 172Nm at the wheels. Now that may not sound like much to move an SUV styled vehicle around but it is actually quite sufficient. The overall size and weight of the Venue mean that it never feels laboured or strained when getting this crossover up to speed.
Space and Comfort
External dimensions of 3995mm (L) x 1770mm (W) x 1617mm (H) give the Venue a deceptive amount of interior space. 4 children easily fit on the back seat while 350l of boot space swallows up school bags and shopping with ease. The interior is specced with a partial cloth and leather trim on the seats while the dash gets a piano black and hard-wearing vinyl treatment. For entertainment, you get Apple Car Play and Android Auto through an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4 speaker sound system. There is also automatic aircon, steering wheel controls for the Bluetooth and onboard computer and keyless start for those who like to keep their keys in their pockets.
Safety
The Glide derivative that we tested had all the bells and whistles when it came to safety systems. ABS, TSC, PDC with rear camera, ISOFIX, high-level brake light, and no fewer than 6 airbags.
Fuel Consumption
After a week of combined city and highway driving, we handed back the vehicle back with consumption figures hovering around the 9l / 100km mark. Manufacturer claims are 6.9l / 100km and you can realistically expect low 7's to 8's if you drive conservatively.
Price
The grade walk is quite comprehensive with a Venue to suit your price point and drive train choice.
Hyundai Venue 1.0T Motion MT - R 274 900
Hyundai Venue 1.0T Motion AT - R 304 900
Hyundai Venue 1.0T Fluid MT - R 309 900
Hyundai Venue 1.0T Fluid AT. - R 339 900
Hyundai Venue 1.0T Glide AT - R 369 900
All Venue models are sold with Hyundai's comprehensive 7 year / 200 000 km drive train warranty and 5 year / 150 000km vehicle warranty, as well as a 3 year / 45 000 km service plan.
Verdict
We really do like the Venue a lot. The starting price is considerably lower than that of its closest rival, the T Cross, and in a few instances it has a better specification to start with. There is no denying that this segment is going to be the hot property for 2020 as we are expecting more offerings from other manufacturers to arrive within the year, and we can't wait to see what come next!
Recommended next:
The new VW T-Cross will knock off your socks
