The Hyundai Venue is a small and agile SUV filled with safety features and upgraded conveniences that is making consumers take notice. A new addition to the extensive Hyundai product line, the subcompact crossover offers a larger than expected cargo space and an impressive array of driver assistance features.

While the Venue is undeniably small, it is more than adequately safe. Recently awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 2020 Top Safety Pick award, the compact vehicle meets the needs of those looking for an affordable option that is ideal for everyday driving.

The Hyundai Venue also offers standard features not found in other cars in its class. These additions make it an appealing choice for teens, college students, and daily commuters.

Hyundai Venue selected as top safety pick

A vehicle needs to receive a good rating in six different areas of crashworthiness examinations to qualify for this prestigious IIHS award. Roof strength, head restraint tests, and overlap locations are evaluated. The automobile must also receive a superior rating in front crash prevention that involves head-on collisions and vehicle-to-pedestrian crashes. Finally, it must obtain an acceptable headlight rating.

The Hyundai Venue met the safety test criteria in the standard and optional front crash prevention systems included in its models. The small SUV was able to avoid a vehicle-to-vehicle collision at a speed of 12 to 25 mph. When evaluating crashes involving pedestrians, both the standard and optional systems were able to avoid collisions in all circumstances. The optional system received a superior rating for its ability to avert more impacts while averaging a greater driving speed.

Specs of the Hyundai Venue

The Hyundai Venue, built on the same platform as the Hyundai Kona, weighs considerably less than other SUVs in its class. With a starting price of $19,000, Car and Driver calls the Venue “affordable and agile urban transportation” that offers “surprising interior space and desirable features.”

Powered by a four-cylinder 16-valve inline engine that puts out 121 hp with 113 lb-ft of torque, the Venue doesn’t offer much get up and go. Not built for long hauls, the tiny car is better suited for zipping around city streets. The EPA estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg city and 33 mpg highway is an attractive feature of this urban delight.

Standard and optional features 

The Hyundai Venue has two available headlight options that include high-beam assist. The standard base model headlights only received a marginal IIHS safety rating because the halogen projectors did not provide proper illumination on curves in the road. The LED projector headlights earned an acceptable rating, but are only available on the higher-priced trim levels.

The Top Safety Pick+ award is given to models that meet all the criteria of the Top Safety Pick award plus have acceptable headlight ratings across all trim levels. The Hyundai Venue fell short of getting the highest-ranked plus level award because of its marginal rating on the base model halogen headlights.

All Venue models have standard driver assistance technology that includes automated emergency braking and lane-departure warning systems. The standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is a highlight of the attractive and roomy interior. The small subcompact crossover feels more luxurious than its competitors, offering a comfortable, yet sometimes sluggish, driving experience.

The Convenience package is now standard on the SEL trim and includes a leather steering wheel and shifter, sliding armrest, blind-spot monitoring, and a rear cross-traffic alert. Changes for the new model year include alloy rims to replace the standard steel wheels and the elimination of a manual transmission option. All models of the 2021 Venue now have a standard continuously variable automatic transmission.