New Models
New Models

2020 Hyundai Venue city SUV unveiled: Australian launch due this year

Hyundai has plugged a gap in its small-car line-up with the Venue city SUV.


Hyundai will fill another niche in the booming SUV market with a high-riding hatchback designed to challenge the likes of the Mazda CX-3, one of the top sellers in the class.

The Hyundai Venue, unveiled at the New York auto show overnight, is tipped to start from less than $20,000 when it arrives in local showrooms in the second half of 2019.

Although it looks big in the photos it is shorter bumper-to-bumper than the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3 SUVs – and the Hyundai i30 and Hyundai Accent hatchbacks.

In fact in size the Venue slots between the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent but has the advantage of a tall driving position and a roomier cabin and cargo hold.

As with most city SUVs the Hyundai Venue is designed for the urban jungle rather than serious off-roading and will be available with front-drive only.

In Australia it will be powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine matched to either a six-speed manual or a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.

Advanced safety available on the Venue includes autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and a rear camera.

The infotainment has an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Embedded navigation is yet to be confirmed for Australia.

Hyundai is expected to offer two or three model grades that will likely stretch from less than $20,000 to close to $30,000 or just beyond – the same price range as the Mazda CX-3.

Details such as fuel economy, engine performance and standard features for Australian models are yet to be released.

The Hyundai Venue will effectively replace the company’s $15,990 Accent hatch, which is nearing the end of its model life.

It means the starting price of a new Hyundai will increase to close to $20,000 once the Accent is eventually retired from the line-up.

The media statement from Hyundai’s vice president of product planning, Mike O’Brien, said: “The all-new Venue might be small in size, but it’s big on practicality and personality. Its bold and unique character sets it apart from other SUVs on the market, offering a unique, entry-level vehicle for those consumers seeking savvy design with an abundance of standard safety, technology and connectivity features.”

For the tech geeks, here are some numbers to help size up the new Hyundai Venue:

Hyundai Venue

  • Length: 4036mm
  • Width: 1770mm
  • Height: 1565mm
  • Wheelbase: 2520mm

Hyundai Kona

  • Length: 4166mm
  • Width: 1801mm
  • Height: 1549mm
  • Wheelbase: 2600mm

Hyundai i30

  • Length: 4340mm
  • Width: 1795mm
  • Height: 1455mm
  • Wheelbase: 2650mm

Mazda CX-3

  • Length: 4275mm
  • Width: 1765mm
  • Height: 1535mm
  • Wheelbase: 2570mm

Hyundai Accent

  • Length: 4115mm
  • Width: 1700mm
  • Height: 1450mm
  • Wheelbase: 2570mm

Toyota Yaris

  • Length: 3945mm
  • Width: 1695mm
  • Height: 1510mm
  • Wheelbase: 2510mm

 

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

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Joshua Dowling

Joshua Dowling has been a motoring journalist for more than 20 years, spending most of that time working for The Sydney Morning Herald (as motoring editor and one of the early members of the Drive team) and News Corp Australia. He joined CarAdvice / Drive in 2018, and has been a World Car of the Year judge for more than 10 years.

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