A lot of vehicles sold on the market today appear to be for families. Those vehicles often have at least a handful of safety features to ensure those traveling in them remain as safe as possible. One of the most useful is automatic emergency braking (AEB). However, to get that component added to your vehicle often costs more. U.S. News recently created a list of inexpensive vehicles you can buy that will get you that feature. And the Hyundai Venue offers AEB on even the base model.

Let’s look at what this feature is and what else you can get with the Venue.

What is automatic emergency braking, and is it useful?

Automatic emergency braking is a safety feature that newer vehicles include as a standard or optional component. Sometimes it’s offered only on high-end trim levels, or it’s included in a special package you’d have to add to your car purchase. 

This feature works by detecting possible crashes and informing you of what’s coming that you should be aware of. Sensors installed on the vehicle scan the area in front of it. When an object — such as a pedestrian or other vehicle — comes close, you’ll get an alert to an impending crash. You can then act to avoid a collision. 

If the AEB senses your actions aren’t sufficient, it could automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. 

According to Safercar.gov, the NHTSA believes AEB is part of a potential wave of advanced safety equipment designed to keep drivers and passengers safe on the road. 

The Hyundai Venue boasts that AEB system. But the most interesting part is that the high-tech feature is standard on the base model, not just upgraded trim levels. 

What other features can you get with the Hyundai Venue?

Besides offering AEB, the Venue comes with other standard driver-assist and safety features. They include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rear-view camera, and even driver-drowsiness monitoring. 

There are a few more items you can add to your car’s purchase. Those available components include two other useful safety features. Rear cross-traffic and blind-spot monitoring help you know what’s going on in your surroundings. 

Overview of the 2021 Venue

The 2021 Hyundai Venue received no significant changes from the 2020 edition. The only difference is the removal of the manual transmission option, which the previous model came with. Otherwise, the Venue remains the same. 

It comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 121 hp, which is enough to get an 8.6-second acceleration time for a 0-to-60 run. Fuel economy isn’t bad either. This subcompact SUV gets around 30 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. 

Cargo space is pretty good, with 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat. With that seat folded down, the Venue offers approximately 39.7 cubic feet of space. So you won’t need to worry whether the Venue is large enough to haul whatever items you need. 

Also in the interior, the infotainment system has an eight-inch screen. The display is intuitive and offers navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and other handy functions. 

U.S. News lists four Hyundais in its roundup, each under $25,000. The Venue costs just $18,750, and you only have to purchase the base model to get AEB on your SUV.