2020 Hyundai Venue Downsizes From Kona, Stretches Definition of SUV

You may have noticed that some automakers are replacing subcompact hatchbacks with … taller subcompact hatchbacks that aren’t actually marketed as that — they’re marketed as entry-level SUVs. Nissan did that with the new Kicks, and here’s Hyundai doing that with the 2020 Venue, which made its debut at the 2019 New York International Auto Show.

The Venue slots below the Kona, which is Hyundai’s subcompact SUV — logically so, since the Kona has all-wheel drive. You might say, “Well, the Venue doesn’t even offer all-wheel drive — it’s not really an SUV.” And guess what: You’d be absolutely correct. But if you look at the Venue and Kona side-by-side, the Venue seems a bit taller and actually seems to ride a little higher.

The Venue is about 5 inches shorter than the Kona. Cargo space behind the rear seats is comparable between the two, according to Hyundai. If you fold down the seats, though, the Venue does have a little less overall space.

Speaking of space, the Venue is kind of tight behind the front seats. Legroom is minimal if you’re an adult sitting in the backseat and, if you compare it to the Nissan Kicks, there seems to be a lot less cargo room behind the backseat. But there’s also a lot of space up front to throw some stuff in terms of open storage space in the center console and even a dashboard-level cubby

More From Cars.com:

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  • 2020 Venue Takes Hyundai SUVs to New Places (Tiny Ones)
  • 2019 Hyundai Kona Ups Safety Features, Price
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In addition to all the spaces to store things, the Venue will have a lot of interesting tech. There will be an 8-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but that’s not where it ends. Hyundai says there will be standard automatic emergency braking, lane departure steering assist and a driver attention monitor.

The Venue should be a pretty value-oriented car. Hyundai expects a front-wheel-drive Venue will cost a little less than a front-wheel-drive Kona when it goes on sale in the fall of 2019. You can read plenty more about the Venue here on Cars.com, as well as the rest of our comprehensive, on-the-scene coverage of the 2019 New York auto show, now open to the public.

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