Hyundai Venue review: The SUV that is cheaper than a hatchback

South Korean brand knows how to do high quality vehicles at the right price and its new model is no different, but this SUV has something its rivals don’t.

You get what you pay for — it’s a maxim that once applied almost without exception to new cars. Today it’s no longer a universal truth.

There are now many $20,000-$30,000 small cars and SUVs — among them, Hyundai’s new Venue we’re driving here — that make you question how other models of similar size get away with $40,000-$60,000 pricetags.

The answer is usually a European badge. That used to be worth paying double the money for but today it’s often money for nothing. Euro-badged quality, reliability, safety, comfort, refinement and performance are in many cases comparable or inferior to South Korean and Japanese brands that cost half as much. Or less.

The fact that all of the German brands, for example, still have only three years’ warranty means that they a) aren’t confident in their product or b) are gouging customers. Or, most likely, both.

The Hyudnai Venue brings an SUV feel to a segment dominated by oversized hatchbacks.

Value

The Venue replaces the Accent hatch as Hyundai’s cheapest model. Start money is $19,990 (plus on-roads) for the six-speed manual Go (six-speed automatic adds $2000).

It’s a no-frills proposition. The 90kW 1.6-litre drives the front wheels and standard equipment includes 15-inch steel wheels, cloth upholstery, camera, eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, voice control (only via these apps), fast, reliable Bluetooth connectivity, USB and 12V sockets (one each) and cruise control.

Hyundai’s own app connects you to the car via your smartphone. Functions include trip data logging for private and business use, locating the vehicle, accident/breakdown assistance contacts and sharing your location and trips with friends and family via social media.

The Venue undercuts all rivals

Active specification, at $21,490 (manual) and $23,490 (automatic, tested here) adds alloys, rear parking sensors, power folding side mirrors and leather wrapped steering wheel and gear lever.

The auto-only Elite, with 17-inch alloys, tinted rear glass, navigation with live traffic updates, digital radio and climate control aircon, is $25,490.

Comfort

The boxy, nerdmobile shape isn’t exactly sex on wheels but it endows the venue with an exceptionally spacious, practical interior, especially compared with a small hatch.

You sit high, with great vision around the car thanks to the tall roof. Add wide opening doors, and no bending required for entry or exit, and it’s easy to see why a small SUV often sells itself as soon as a prospective customer climbs into the driver’s seat.

Fit and finish (including exterior paint) are excellent, the controls work with smoothness and precision and the cabin plastics don’t feel cheap and nasty. I’ve heard tinnier audio in much pricier cars, too.

The Venue is far more spacious than other rivals thanks to its boxy SUV shape.

Tall front occupants impinge on rear legroom, and you get no rear vents or connection sockets. Still, the high roof, elevated bench and large windows are preferable to the claustrophobic confines aft in a small car.

The boot’s clever design allows you to configure a deep, covered compartment under a flat floor, or a single, large carrying space. A handy storage slot on the seat back keeps the load cover out of the way when not required, and the extended floor is flat.

Safety

The Go includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, driver attention warning — including a chime if you’re daydreaming in traffic and the car in front starts to move — plus automatic high-beam and tyre pressure monitoring. Not bad for $20,000. The Elite adds blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

The Venue has heaps of safety kit for a $20,000 vehicle.

Driving

The Venue’s 1.6-litre is sedate but reasonably tractable on a light throttle and the automatic is able to pull the higher gears (just) in the lower half of the rev range. The maximum 90kW is delivered pretty willingly at the top end, too, though if you get busy with the accelerator fuel consumption (on regular unleaded) can nudge double figures.

The 1.6 cruises smoothly, emitting a dull, faint drone at 100km/h on the highway. Road noise is also effectively muted, with little of that back-of-the-cabin booming you often get in small hatchbacks and SUVs.

Switchable traction control modes — sand, mud and snow — are a figment of the marketing department’s imagination rather than literal indicators of off-road ability.

Vague on-centre steering at 100km/h and grabby brakes at low speed detract from an otherwise impressive drive.

The engine is willing but won’t deliver thrills, and road noise is kept to a minimum.

Locally tuned suspension strikes a Euro-style compromise between firm ride and controlled, confident handling. As with so much else about it, the Venue feels much more comfortable, solid and planted on the open road than its price suggests it should.

Heart says

Hatchbacks are so yesterday. I’d love an SUV. Really, I would.

Head says

Hyundai knows how to do high quality vehicles at the right price and the Venue provides much more metal for the money than a small hatchback.

Verdict 3.5/5

Until now, small SUVs have often been little more than overpriced, mutant hatchbacks. The Venue is a proper SUV from the wheels up, so it has the best attributes of the breed — space, comfort and practicality — at super-sharp money.

Alternatives

Mitsubishi ASX from $23,490

The class’s top seller is ageing and tired but sharp deals and generous specification keep it selling well. The base grade ES, with 110kW 2.0 litre/CVT, is $23,990 drive-away.

Mazda CX-3 from $22,710

Another class leader, the base Neo Sport runs a 110kW 2.0-litre/six-speed manual (six-speed auto adds $2000). Stylish and safe, with low speed AEB and great fuel economy. The Maxx Sport, from $24,650, is loaded and good value.

Hyundai Venue Active vitals

Price: $23,490

Warranty/servicing: 5 years; $1575 for 5 years/75,000km

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl, 90kW/151Nm

Safety: Not rated, 6 airbags, AEB, lane keep assist, tyre pressure monitoring, camera, auto high-beam

Thirst: 7.2L/100km

Spare: Space-saver

Boot: 355L