Hyundai SUVs offer an impressive gas-powered lineup for 2023. From the flagship three-row Palisade and the high-performance Kona N to the budget-friendly five-seat Venue, Hyundai stands behind all its SUVs with industry-leading warranty coverage (five-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain). However, the Hyundai Venue’s low price and advanced safety features put it ahead of all other models in TrueCar’s “Best SUVs for the Money.” 

Overview of the 2023 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Hyundai Venue is a small crossover SUV that seats five. However, like other subcompact SUVs, at least one of the five passengers must be small for all rear-seat riders to fit comfortably. Its front-wheel drivetrain gets power from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque, backed by what Hyundai calls an intelligent variable transmission (IVT). The EPA estimates fuel economy for the 2023 Venue at 29 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined. 

Other standard features include: 

• High-beam assist 
• Heated outside mirrors
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
• Rearview monitor with parking guidance
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Bluetooth
• Power windows and locks
• Forward collision avoidance assistance with pedestrian detection (the Limited adds cyclist detection)
• Lane-keeping assist 
• Driver attention warning
• Rear occupant alert
• Five years of 24/7 roadside assistance

The 2023 Hyundai Venue offers three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. The SE has a long list of standard equipment and 15-inch alloy wheels but doesn’t offer selectable drive modes (Normal, Sport, and Snow), 17-inch alloy wheels, and roof rails like the SEL and Limited. In addition, all trims come with front disc brakes, but SE and SEL trims have rear drum brakes, and only the Limited model has rear disc brakes.

The Limited’s LED headlights replace the projector halogen units on SE and SEL models. All trims have an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but the Limited adds navigation and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. The Hyundai Venue SE and SEL feature wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. In contrast, the Limited requires a wired connection for those services but offers wireless charging for electronic devices that support it. 

Standard safety features improve above the SE level with SEL and Limited, including blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. 

What makes the 2023 Hyundai Venue a better value than other SUVs?

TrueCar ranks the 2023 Hyundai Venue at the top of its “Best SUVs for the Money” list based on price, fuel efficiency, and standard advanced safety features. However, the site notes that the Venue’s powertrain suffers while accelerating to highway speeds, and the absence of an all-wheel-drive option will deter some buyers. 

Still, the Venue provides plenty of value for the price. Hyundai lists the SE’s starting MSRP at $19,500, the SEL at $21,250, and the Limited at $22,750. 

2 best-value runners-up to consider

Sporting a gorgeous redesign, the 2023 Kia Sportage places second in TrueCar’s roundup. This compact crossover offers all-wheel drive, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. However, its starting MSRP is about $8,000 higher than the Hyundai Venue’s base price. 

And the competitively priced third-place 2023 Nissan Kicks boasts additional standard equipment, including:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Parking sensors
• Adaptive steering
• Rear side curtain and knee airbags

Both are attractive alternatives to the 2023 Hyundai Venue, especially the Sportage, thanks to its optional AWD.