The name is a bit of a twist from normal Hyundai naming conventions.
If you think the Hyundai Kona is tiny, then you’re in for a bit of a shock. Meet the 2020 Hyundai Venue, the brand’s latest and smallest crossover. It sits below every other crossover in the lineup, from the Kona all the way to the Palisade. It’s more of a boxy, upright crossover than its quirkier-looking cousin, and doesn’t lose as much space as you might think, despite being smaller.
Overall, the 2020 Hyundai Venue is 5.1 inches shorter than the Kona, as well as 1.2 inches narrower with a 3.2 inch narrower wheelbase. However, it’s also 0.6 inches taller, which helps for interior space. The Venue loses just 2.7 cubic feet of interior volume from the Kona, which isn’t too bad. Cargo volume goes down by just 0.5 cubic feet with the seats up, although you lose 13.9 cubic feet of cargo volume (down to 31.9 cu. ft.) with the seats down.
Engine and trims
There are two trims: SE and SEL, but they both share the same engine. Under the hood, the 2020 Hyundai Venue has a 1.6-liter Gamma II engine, similar to what is in the Kona. However, this naturally aspirated unit produces 121 horsepower and 113 lb-ft of torque, according to Hyundai estimates. The engine in SE models comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission. On SEL models, you get Hyundai’s “Intelligent Variable Transmission”, the brand’s CVT gearbox.
Hyundai’s internal estimates claim the front-wheel drive only Venue manages up to 33 mpg. However, there are no official figures from the EPA just yet.
Technology
Even for such a small car, you’d expect the 2020 Hyundai Venue to come packed with technology. The car is fairly well-equipped, with a 8.0-inch infotainment display featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Navigation is an optional feature, although you don’t necessarily need it with your smartphone on hand.
What’s more, you get a wide range of safety technologies. Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Driver Attention Warning and Rear Collision Cross-Traffic Warning all come on the entry-level Hyundai Venue. The drive modes even include a snow mode for better traction, even with a front-wheel drive platform.
Pricing and availability
The closest competitors to the 2020 Hyundai Venue are other tiny crossovers like the Ford EcoSport or Chevy Trax. Although, you could feasibly cross-shop this car with other cars like the front-wheel drive Nissan Kicks or Toyota C-HR.
Hyundai has not announced pricing for the 2020 Hyundai Venue at this time. The car will launch late in 2019, so we should have more information by then. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!
