Despite the prevalence of midsize SUVs and MPVs in the market, there’s a growing demand for vehicles that possess their virtues at a budget-friendly price point.
Hyundai Automotive Resources Inc. (HARI) heeds the call, as it brings the latest member of its subcompact crossover lineup, the 2021 Hyundai Venue.
The Venue's compact proportions conceal big potential
Having made its debut at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, the Venue has been dubbed Hyundai’s entry-level contender in the segment. Numbers include 4,040mm in length, 1,770mm in width, and 1,565mm in height. Coupled with a wheelbase of 2,520mm, these make the Venue the smallest new crossover in Hyundai’s lineup.
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Exterior
The aesthetics give off a bold and dynamic vibe, emphasizing young owners as the Venue’s intended demographic. Hyundai’s bold cascading grille dominates the front, featuring intertwined chrome and black strands forming a three-dimensional grid-like pattern.
Bi-function halogen headlamps with static blending flank the nose, combined with LED daytime running lights and position lights. An air curtain inlet built into the front bumper diverts incoming drafts while the vehicle is in motion, enhancing efficiency.
The uncluttered, smart-looking rear is certainly eye-catching
Boldly-sculpted character lines on the profile complement the black cladding over the wheel arches. LED tail lamps with lenticular optical lens sporting a prominent ‘Z’ motif surround the tailgate, while the back-up lamps are located separately at the bottom corners of the rear bumper.
A set of 17-inch alloy wheels featuring a symmetrical spoke design punctuates the crossover’s four corners.
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Interior
Seemingly compensating for its tiny external footprint, the Venue features an interior that emphasizes openness with a horizontal layout.
There’s room for five occupants and 355 liters of cargo space, the latter expandable by folding the rear bench. Other storage spaces abound throughout the cabin for stowing away smaller, but no less valuable, items.
The Venue offers ample room inside its space-efficient design
Tech & Safety
An elevated console on the center binnacle houses the gearshift and automatic climate control dials, while beyond the leather-wrapped steering wheel lies an instrument cluster featuring a pair of large analog gauges. An 8-inch floating-type touchscreen comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, also functioning as a monitor for the rear-view camera.
The monocoque body structure works with the MacPherson strut-type front suspension and rear torsion beam axle to provide a planted yet comfortable ride.
Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) construction results in increased rigidity and structural integrity for the body, offering greater protection for occupants in the event of a collision. A total of six airbags deploy in case of impacts. Electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and ISOFix child anchors complete the Venue’s loadout of safety equipment.
Engine & Drivetrain
Forward motion on the Venue is delivered by a 1.6L Gamma gasoline engine with multi-point injection, good for 121 hp and 151 Nm of torque.
A 6-speed automatic transmission diverts the output to the front wheels, enhanced with selectable Drive modes (Normal, Eco, Sport) and multi-traction control settings (Snow, Mud, Sand) actuated by a jog dial.
The Venue offers all these for under a million pesos
Pricing
The 2021 Hyundai Venue comes in at Php 915,000 for the base GL and Php 985,000 for the top-spec GLS, both sourced directly from Hyundai’s facilities in Ulsan, South Korea.
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