Review - 2023 Hyundai Venue

It competes against the biggest names in the compact SUV segment, offering buyers a very attractive value proposition for the money and a heap of variety within the range.

Hyundai’s latest update for the Venue compact SUV has seen even more equipment bundled in as standard, so let’s take a closer look at the Venue range to see how it stacks up as an affordable small SUV package.

Hyundai Venue Competition

Starting Price: $22,000

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Hyundai Venue range is priced from $22,000 for the entry-level Venue manual, with prices rising to $24,000 for the Venue automatic.

From here, the range moves to the Venue Active automatic which is priced at $26,250 and up to $28,750 for the range-topping Venue Elite automatic.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Hyundai Venue (ACTIVE) Specifications

What Features Does the Hyundai Venue Have?

Hyundai’s entry-level Venue variants come riding on 15-inch alloys and receive halogen projector headlights, cruise control, air conditioning, cloth upholstery, a rear-view camera, a wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Venue Active adds a set of 17-inch alloys, LED daytime running lamps, a leather steering wheel and gear lever, power-folding side mirrors, a six-speaker sound system and rear-mounted parking sensors.

Finally, the range-topping Venue Elite receives combination LED tail lights, climate control, a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear USB-C ports, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and a five-year subscription to Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services.

Range Features:

• 15-inch alloys

• Halogen projector headlights 

• Cruise control 

• Cloth upholstery

• Rear-view camera 

• Wireless smartphone charging pad

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 17-inch alloys (Active) 

• LED daytime running lamps (Active) 

• Leather steering wheel & gear lever (Active) 

• Six-speaker sound system (Active) 

• Combination LED tail lights (Elite) 

• Panoramic sunroof (Elite) 

• Blind-spot monitoring & rear cross-traffic alerts (Elite) 

• Five-year Hyundai Bluelink subscription (Elite)

Is the Hyundai Venue Comfortable to Drive?

Designed as Hyundai’s entry point into its vehicle range, the Venue takes a no-frills approach to motoring, though it does so with a fair whack of confidence, especially while zipping around the urban jungle.

Power for the Hyundai Venue comes supplied by a little 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that kicks out 90kW of power and 151Nm of torque to the front wheels via your choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

This means that on the road the Venue doesn’t have a heap of power at its disposal when accelerating off the line.

At times the Venue’s engine feels like it produces more noise than it does power, though if you keep your foot heavy there is just enough power for a steady climb up to speed while overtaking.

The Venue, like almost all of its light SUV rivals, aren’t built for speed, though, and where it begins to shine is when you start tackling errands and squeezing into tight parks in town.

Benefitting from a super lightweight steering wheel, relatively compact wheelbase and a lightweight platform, the Venue is super confident as an urban commuter and makes for a great companion for short hops around town.

The suspension has just enough support to eat up smaller bumps, though it tends to be overwhelmed when you leave smooth city streets and head out onto country B-roads.

As a fit-for-purpose city car, though, the Venue performs impressively well for the segment and won’t disappoint those looking for a no-frills and user-friendly city car.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Hyundai’s 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is rated at 7.0L/100km on a combined cycle in manual form, with fuel economy figures rising to 7.2L/100km in the Venue automatic range.

This makes the Venue relatively fuel-efficient, though a number of its rivals far outpace it on outright fuel economy figures with the help of some turbocharged engines.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While space and practicality are far from the strongest selling point of a light SUV, the Hyundai Venue is, in fact, one of the most generous in the segment for interior space and comfort.

It’s a far cry from a full-sized SUV, though the Venue’s second row offers a lot more leg and headroom than you’ll find in some key rivals.

In the front of the Venue’s cabin, you’ll find a very familiar, albeit pretty uninspiring interior layout, though the cabin ergonomics are on point, with all important controls within reach and user-friendly to dial in.

Tall drivers will be pleased to hear that the front of the Venue’s cabin is remarkably tall for the segment, with the large windows adding to the sense of space throughout the interior.

The Venue’s storage options aren’t the best in the segment, though its offerings of a storage tray behind the gear lever, cup holders, a compact storage unit under the armrest and decent-sized bottle holders tick the mandatory minimum boxes for practicality.

Move to the rear and there’s just enough space for an adult to squeeze in for a short hop around town which, might not sound too appetising, but it’s more capacious than the majority of its light SUV rivals.

The second row picks up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts to accommodate child seats, while the Venue’s boot measures in at 355L, expanding to 903L with the 60:40 split-fold seats laying flat.

Is it Safe?

The Hyundai Venue has been awarded a four-star ANCAP safety rating, meaning that it struggles to match the best in the light SUV segment when it comes to safety.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 91%

• Child Occupant Protection: 81%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 62%

• Safety Assist: 62%

As standard, the entry-level Venue receives autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, lead vehicle departure alerts, drive attention monitoring, a rear-view camera, curtain airbags and rear occupant alerts.

Stepping up to the Venue Active adds rear parking sensors while the range-topping Venue Elite picks up blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.

Our Verdict: Is the Hyundai Venue Worth it?

While it doesn’t excite or inspire, the Hyundai Venue sticks true to its design brief and makes for a great little urban runaround.

With prices creeping north for a number of its key rivals, the Venue remains one of the best value propositions in the world of compact SUVs and is well-deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

If you’re looking for a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Lifetime capped-price servicing

3. Four-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. 355L boot expands to 903L 

5. 7.0 - 7.2L/100km combined cycle fuel economy