2021 Hyundai Venue
2021 Hyundai Venue Review
- Impressive number of features for your money
- For its size, easy to get in and out of
- Simple control layout
- Engine sounds and feels a little coarse at higher speeds
- All-wheel drive isn't offered
- One of the smaller extra-small SUVs in the class
- Manual transmission discontinued
- Other minor changes to standard and optional feature availability
- Part of the first Venue generation introduced for 2020
Nothing screams value quite like the 2021 Hyundai Venue. An extra-small crossover SUV that serves as the entry point for the automaker's SUV lineup, it is the second least expensive Hyundai after the Accent sedan. Even so, it's ready to carry up to five people and as much as 31.9 cubic feet of cargo. That's less than half of what you get from the next size up SUV — a Honda CR-V, for example — but it's still sufficient for most daily tasks.
This year's updates add standard equipment, especially for the midgrade Venue SEL. A spiffy set of 17-inch alloy wheels improves the SEL's look, and it now includes a blind-spot collision avoidance system, further cementing the Venue as a true value leader among extra-small SUVs. The only deletion for 2021 is that the six-speed manual transmission previously offered with the SE trim has been dropped. As such, every Venue now comes standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Though it doesn't offer much in the way of power and performance, the 2021 Venue nevertheless brings significant style and tremendous bang-for-the-buck to the extra-small SUV segment. Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth take on the pros and cons of this pint-size Hyundai.
Our verdict | |
Hyundai's smallest SUV, the Venue, packs a lot into a very compact package. It excels at everyday tasks and is comfortable enough to take on a road trip. It's a great value and comes with most of the latest safety and technology features. If you want something more practical and stylish than a subcompact sedan, it'll be worth your time to check out the Venue. | |
How does the Venue drive? | |
From behind the wheel, the Venue is perfectly adequate across the board. You'll have no issue commuting, running errands, or taking a cruise to the beach or lake. Acceleration is about average for this class, which is not fast by most accounts. At our test track, the Venue needed 9.4 seconds to get up to 60 mph. But it's good where it counts for a small city runabout, responding quickly right off the line, with its CVT automatic and easy brakes providing a pretty smooth driving experience overall. It's definitely not an athletic SUV, but its small size keeps it nimble and kind of fun to zip around corners. | |
How comfortable is the Venue? | |
You might assume based on its small size and low cost of entry that the Venue lacks comfort. Thankfully that's not the case. It's far from a luxurious experience, but the Venue fares well even compared with some larger rivals in its class. The front seats have a nice balance of cushion and support. The rear bench cushion is a bit flat, but there's a good recline to the backrest. Ride comfort can be tricky to maintain in smaller vehicles, but the Venue's won't beat you up even on longer trips. The climate control is single-zone only, which makes sense given the Venue's size, and we found it sufficient for keeping the cabin cool. There is some wind and road noise at highway speeds, but it's nothing out of the ordinary for this class. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Venue's interior is practical, and passenger space is better than expected given its short length. It achieves this relative spaciousness through its upright seating. As long as you're not much taller than 6 feet, you should find the Venue relatively accommodating in front and cozy but livable in back. The squared-off doors make it pretty easy to get in and out of. The simplicity of the Venue keeps it easy to use. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen is bright, responsive and easy to use. All other controls, buttons and knobs are clearly labeled and arranged logically. Forward and side visibility is pretty good, but your over-the-shoulder view is hampered somewhat by the thick rear roof pillars. The available blind-spot monitoring system certainly helps alleviate this issue when switching lanes. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The Venue has just the right amount of technology, and it's easy and straightforward to use. The available six-speaker sound system produces surprisingly good sound that's clear and has a nice amount of punch. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment/navigation system comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. The navigation system is very reminiscent of today's smartphones in look and feel, and real-time traffic information is nice to have. The advanced safety and driver aids work but seem a bit oversensitive. It's worth noting that adaptive cruise is not offered on the Venue in case that's an important feature on your list. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The Venue is small, so there's only so much you can physically fit inside. We think it makes excellent use of the space it does have, however. There's 18.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats (31.9 cubic feet with rear seats folded), which we found sufficient for everyday use. The cargo area offers a couple of cool things: an adjustable load floor and a stowable cargo cover. The loading area has a wide opening and low loading height to make it easy to get things in. Up front, there's a sufficient amount of storage space for your personal items. As for child duty, the Venue's car seat anchor points are clearly marked on the seatback and easy to access. But the lack of rear legroom will make it hard to fit a larger rear-facing child safety seat. | |
How economical is the Venue? | |
The EPA estimates the Venue's fuel economy at 31 mpg combined (30 city/33 highway), a pretty efficient estimate for this class. But we found it tough to match that in our real-world driving. On our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route, we averaged a mere 29 mpg. Perhaps it's due to our need to keep up with the flow of California traffic, but we suspect the EPA figures are a bit optimistic for a Venue roaming in the wild. | |
Is the Venue a good value? | |
Good value? No. We'd call this an excellent value. The Venue is well built and relatively practical. For what you pay, Hyundai packs in a lot of features. Some vehicles start where the Venue tops out on price and don't have the same amount of tech. Hyundai's warranty is best in class. It includes five-year/60,000 bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. Roadside assistance is provided for five years with no mileage limit, and all Hyundais now come with free scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles. | |
Wildcard | |
Is it fun to drive? Not really. The Venue is very utilitarian and that seems to be the core focus. The styling of the Venue is also rather nondescript, blending into the sea of subcompact SUVs. If you want something more distinctive, look elsewhere, at perhaps Mazda's CX-30 or even Kia's Soul or Seltos. | |
Which Venue does Edmunds recommend?
Hyundai Venue models
The 2021 Venue is the most affordable SUV in Hyundai's already value-oriented lineup. It comes in three trim levels: SE, SEL and the stylish Denim trim. Highlight features include:
2021 Hyundai Venue pricing
in Ashburn, VA
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Hyundai Venue.
Trending topics in reviews
- appearance
- interior
- technology
- spaciousness
- value
- safety
- ride quality
- fuel efficiency
- transmission
- sound system
- infotainment system
- engine
- lights
- road noise
- maintenance & parts
- brakes
Most helpful consumer reviews
2021 Hyundai Venue video
2020 Hyundai Venue First Look | New York Auto Show
NOTE: This video is about the 2020 Hyundai Venue, but since the 2021 Hyundai Venue is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Venue safety features:
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Warns you of vehicles in the Venue's blind spot and illuminates a light in the mirror as an alert.
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning
- Alerts you of vehicles or objects crossing the Venue's path when reversing.
- Driver Attention Warning
- Monitors your driving patterns to display an alert if the Venue senses you aren't paying attention to the road.
Hyundai Venue vs. the competition
2021 Hyundai Venue
2021 Chevrolet Trax
Hyundai Venue vs. Chevrolet Trax
Among the oldest designs in the extra-small SUV class, the 2021 Chevrolet Trax is a little larger than the Venue in terms of passenger and cargo space. The heavier Chevy's turbocharged engine also supplies more torque low in the rev range, and the Trax is available with all-wheel drive. But the Trax is more expensive, less efficient and not as compelling a value as the Hyundai Venue.
Hyundai Venue vs. Mazda CX-3
Tiny, zippy and fun to drive, the Mazda CX-3 is a great-looking little crossover for people who enjoy the journey as much as the destination. It's a safe extra-small SUV and is available with all-wheel drive. The downsides to the Mazda include a cramped rear seat. It's also available in just one basic trim level, and it cannot match the Venue when it comes to outright value.
Hyundai Venue vs. Nissan Kicks
Perhaps the Hyundai Venue's most direct competitor, the Nissan Kicks offers similar power and performance in just as stylish a wrapper. Like the Venue, the Kicks comes only with front-wheel drive. Nissan delivers better fuel economy and more cargo space behind the back seat, while Hyundai supplies free maintenance and a longer warranty. Choosing one over the other boils down to personal preference.
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FAQ
Is the Hyundai Venue a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Hyundai Venue?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Hyundai Venue:
- Manual transmission discontinued
- Other minor changes to standard and optional feature availability
- Part of the first Venue generation introduced for 2020
Is the Hyundai Venue reliable?
Is the 2021 Hyundai Venue a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Hyundai Venue?
The least-expensive 2021 Hyundai Venue is the 2021 Hyundai Venue SE 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $18,750.
Other versions include:
- SEL 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $19,800
- SE 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $18,750
- Denim 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $22,050