With the Venue, Hyundai has answered the question: "I like the Creta, but can I have it in a size Small?" This compact crossover is considerably smaller than a Tucson, placing it neatly in the most hotly contested segment of them all. Measuring under 4 m in length at 3 995 mm, 1 770 mm wide and 1 617 mm tall, it's city-car in stature, but with the sort of gravelly aspirations required by the outdoorsy South African.
It's not afraid of climbing the odd pavement either, and comes loaded with options across an extensive line-up of derivatives. That it wears the trusted Hyundai badge only adds to the Venue's appeal, fortified by the fact that it won the Compact Category in the 2021 South African Car of the Year awards.
It's a short history for two reasons. Firstly, this segment has only recently begun to boom. Just since 2020 we've seen the likes of the Suzuki Brezza, VW T-Cross, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger spontaneously burst onto the market.
Secondly, the Hyundai Venue is the first of its line. Launched globally at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, and in South Africa later in the same year, it has gone on to be a formidable entry in this segment. Locally, naamsa lists it at number three on their list of top-selling cars in South Africa, so it's a great sales success as well.
Beyond SACOTY 2021, it has gone on to garner a variety of accolades globally, such as India's 2019 Car of the Year, the IIHS's Top Safety Pick of 2020 and 2021, as well as the winner of Kelley Blue Book's Cost to Own Awards in 2020 and 2021. The list of wins is extensive, speaking to a common thread: the Hyundai Venue is a high-quality product with high levels of safety.
Hyundai South Africa offer class-leading after sales and support. This includes a seven-year/200 000 km warranty, plus seven-year/150 000 km roadside assistance with a three-year/45 000 km service plan. Service intervals are at 15 000 km unless otherwise specified, depending on model.
The Venue, and Hyundai vehicles in general, enjoy an extensive array of parts and a great service network. Despite their popularity, they're not high on the list of vehicles commonly hijacked and stolen, so will potentially be cheaper to insure than a similar offering from the likes of Toyota and VW. We recommend shopping around and comparing Hyundai Venue insurance quotes to find the best price.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or medical advice.
