The newest crossover to join the Hyundai lineup is the Venue, slotting below the subcompact Kona. Hyundai built the Venue from the ground up as a stylish urban crossover for the U.S. for the price of a ho-hum economy car — a play that could even convert some used-car shoppers into new-vehicle buyers, and land the brand new customers. The Venue's power comes from a 1.6-liter engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional continuously variable automatic. Here's a roundup of snippets of Venue reviews from the automotive media.
"While there was certainly some engine whine, I didn't get the feeling that hamsters were powering the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. It got up to speed and merged with traffic without too much effort. Then the Venue settled into the drive, feeling planted and solid amongst the much larger vehicles surrounding us. That's exactly when it hit me: This is an awesome little SUV."
— Jill Ciminillo, Auto Exotica