Hyundai presented its all-new 2020 Venue on media day of the 2019 New York Auto Show, and the company hopes fervently that it will follow in the successful footsteps of the Kona crossover, introduced in 2017 and now also available in an all-electric variant.
Shorter in length by 130 mm or some five inches than the Kona (and 81 mm shorter in its wheelbase), the new Venue becomes the smallest offering in Hyundai’s North American lineup, smaller even than the Accent sedan. On the other hand, Hyundai promises an interior space only marginally smaller than the Kona’s.
On the outside, the Venue clearly follows the lead of the Kona in sporting a design explicitly meant to please younger city-dwelling consumers. Thin horizontal running lamps up front match up well with the slightly over-sized headlamps for a fun, youthful look.
“The all-new Venue might be small in size, but it’s big on practicality and personality…, offering a unique, entry-level vehicle for those consumers seeking savvy design with an abundance of standard safety, technology and connectivity features.”
- Steve Flamand, Director of Product & Corporate Strategy, Hyundai Canada
As befitting its entry-level status in the lineup, the Hyundai Venue will also be priced more affordably than the Kona, though we won’t know exact info on that front until it gets closer to launch date.
The powertrain
The Venus crossover is powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine with dual port injection (instead of the Accent’s direct injection system, which would have driven the price point up). Transmission choices are a 6-speed manual or Hyundai’s Smartstream IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission). The drivetrain is a front-wheel-drive configuration. Hyundai is estimating optimal combined fuel comsumption at 7.1L/100 km.
Tech
The standard screen inside is an 8-inch touchscreen affair, wherein you’ll find both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. You also get free Real-Time Traffic with map updates for five years includes, as well as BlueLink, ideal on cold winter days when yo want to remotely start the car and get the rear defroster and heated side mirrors going.
Hyundai is including an impressive list of active safety features as standard equipment. Forward collision alert functions via a forward-looking camera behind the windshield to alert the driver of an impending collision. There’s also lane keeping assist, driver attention warning and, as an option, blind-spot monitoring with cross traffic alert.
The 2020 Hyundai Venue will go on sale later this year.
