2026 Hyundai Venue Expert Review
Reviewed by Bob Hernandez
Pairing SUV styling with hatchback practicality, the Hyundai Venue is a small, city-friendly crossover perfect for budget-conscious drivers who seek modern features in a compact package.
In a market where affordable new cars are increasingly rare, the Venue stands out as one of the most budget-friendly options still available. Subcompact SUV rivals to the 2026 Venue include the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, and Toyota Corolla Cross.
What’s New
This year Hyundai drops the top-tier Limited trim, but the Venue SEL inherits key features like a wireless phone charger, heated seats, and heated mirrors. SEL models also gain new two-tone color options with a contrasting roof, echoing the style of the discontinued Limited.
What We Think
The Hyundai Venue remains one of the most affordable new vehicles on the market, but although its low cost and city-friendly size make it easy to live with, the Venue falls short in comfort, refinement, and overall quality—areas where slightly pricier rivals offer noticeable improvement.
Although we appreciate Hyundai’s commitment to offering a truly low-cost new car, the Venue unfortunately feels every bit as cheap as its price suggests. Its small engine is noisy and struggles to keep pace, and a firm suspension and short wheelbase combine for a choppy, uncomfortable ride.
Inside, there's little to get excited about beyond the responsive and user-friendly infotainment system. Space is tight for both passengers and cargo, and the cabin is awash in hard plastics, with unpadded armrests that highlight cost-cutting measures.
To its credit, the Venue's compact footprint makes it easy to park and maneuver in crowded urban settings. Fuel efficiency is decent—though still not as good as a hybrid—and the design is attractive enough to turn a few heads.
Still, the Venue’s bargain-basement pricing is its primary draw. Competitors in the subcompact SUV segment may cost a bit more, but they also deliver more, whether in driving dynamics, interior quality, or everyday usability.
Top-Ranked Competitors:
MotorTrend Tested
All Venues are equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces just 121 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque—not much output, really. In MotorTrend testing, a 2024 model cruised to 60 mph in a slow 8.6 seconds.
That said, the gas Corolla Cross isn’t much quicker. This Toyota competitor features a larger, 2.0-liter inline-four engine that generates 169 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. With FWD, the Corolla Cross accelerated to 60 mph in a marginally quicker 8.4 seconds.
MPGs and Range
Fuel economy is 29/32 mpg city/highway, which is about average for the segment. Total range is rated at 369 miles.
Our Corolla Cross bogey returns slightly better fuel economy despite the larger engine, a credit to Toyota engineers. With FWD, the Corolla Cross gets 31/33 mpg and as much as 397 miles of range (it’s worth noting the Toyota’s 12.4-gallon fuel tank is 0.5 gallon bigger than the Hyundai’s).
Safety Ratings and Features
The Venue was last evaluated by IIHS for 2025, when it received incomplete ratings but a good score in the small overlap front impact test. In NHTSA testing, the Venue receives only a four-star overall rating out of five stars.
Standard driver-assist features include:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Lane keeping
- A driver focus monitor
- Automatic headlights with automatic high beams
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The Venue’s interior is tight, even by subcompact SUV standards. Compared to rivals that aren’t exactly spacious themselves, the tiny Hyundai still comes up short—though it does offer rear legroom that exceeds what’s in the Corolla Cross.
Technology
Infotainment
Every 2026 Venue includes an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 4.2-inch gauge cluster display. Dual USB ports are standard on the base model.
Sound System
A six-speaker sound system comes with every 2026 Venue.
Available Upgrades
The top model adds a sunroof, dual second-row USB outlets, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob. Exterior upgrades include roof rails, a chrome-colored grille, and 17-inch wheels (upsized from 15s on the base model).
Value
Standard Features
Proportioned for easy maneuverability, the Venue is also one of the segment’s most affordable models. Every Venue comes with acceptable fuel economy and a small but easy-to-use infotainment interface.
Recommended Trim
The Venue SEL’s windfalls this year—namely the wireless phone charger, heated front seat, and two-tone exterior—make it our recommendation.
