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The Hyundai Venue is easy to overlook, unless there’s one right in front of you on the road or you’re renting one.
That hasn’t stopped the compact SUV from selling in reasonably strong numbers, with 899 shifted in the first two months of this year. That places it fifth in Australia’s light SUV segment, albeit well down on the dominant Mazda CX-3 (2328).
But both pint-size SUVs are dwarfed in terms of popularity by the slightly larger Chery Tiggo 4, which has nearly doubled the CX-3’s sales so far this year. When it packs much newer gear at a significantly lower price, that isn’t too surprising.
What has Hyundai done to respond? Added the Venue’s prices. It’s $1000 more expensive than all four variants at the beginning of 2025, including this flagship 2026 Hyundai Venue Elite on test here which now reaches $30,000 for the first time.
How does it stack up against its rivals now, and is it worth considering in 2026?
How much does the Hyundai Venue cost?
The Elite sits at the top of the Venue hierarchy and costs $30,500 before on-roads.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Hyundai Venue manual | $23,750 |
| 2026 Hyundai Venue auto | $25,750 |
| 2026 Hyundai Venue Active auto | $28,000 |
| 2026 Hyundai Venue Elite auto | $30,500 |
The light SUV segment has a number of candidates, but few are worth noting. segment-leading Mazda CX-3, which starts at $30,670 before on-roads in base Pure form is one.
Then there’s the Toyota Yaris Cross, which is slightly pricier and starts at $31,790 before on-roads.
The Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV, perhaps most notably, comes out on the $26,990 drive-away for the non-hybrid Ultimate or $34,990 driver-assisted version of the hybridised model.
While it is a little bigger Chery, it’s likely to be cross-shopped with the Venue – and sells significantly more in much higher numbers.
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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What is the Hyundai Venue like on the inside?
Even in top-spec trim, the Venue is sorely lacking in creature comforts.
Then there is no seat heating, no power seat adjustment and no wireless Apple CarPlay. It’s still a cheap-ish car (about $35,000 drive-away on victorian postcode), yes, but that’d be hard to swallow given the Venue Elite’S flagship status.
It’s made worse by the fact that other cheap-ish cars add most of those luxuries once you get to the top of their respective ranges. The top-spec Toyota Corolla ZR, for example, has all of the above features, as does the Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate – the difference is that the Chery is the cheapest by far.
In contrast, when you think that cheaper Venue variants have wireless smartphone mirroring functionality, the CarPlay argument is weirder than it is for a carplay argument. The slang is also an issue in other Hyundai Group products (Kia Stonic and Hyundai i30, to name a couple), and its USB-A-only connection makes the Venue Active, which sits below the Elite, seem more attractive.
In addition, high-end Stonics and i30s at least have larger screens to compensate for the wired pain. Venue’s 8 – The Venue ‘s. 0 inches across the board for paraphrasingr,.
In addition to all that, the interior layout of the Venue’s interior isn’t too bad. This means everything’s where you’d think it will be, and keeps a comfortable number of physical dials and buttons – the layout of the climate system is more complicated than it should be; but much easier to learn than if one only uses e-learning.
And we think that this is the most luxurious thing in here’s world to be a steering wheel, and it’s our opinion of what makes such an item as ‘the luxe one can get. It is leather-wrapped and sized for the Venue’s size, its controls are all finished in durable plastic and work well with strong strength.
We don’t like the instrument cluster as we do with other Hyundai and Kia models. Although there are no old-school gauges, it’s not quite a digital display; the only configurable part is the small central panel – even then, just contains basic safety data and trips computer.
I think it’s a good but its style doesn’t really work for me. The cabin is a bit of ‘the whole thing’, that’s nothing inherently wrong with it; however, according to its competitors, the scratchy plastics and equipment omissions hold back the cabin as well as what they are offering.
They’re just a little flat but comfortable enough not to wear you down, so key features like the seats are okay. I don’t call the upholstery luxurious, but it’s a very unique design and leather-like accent that makes nice additions to the classic look.
And you also get a little bit of padding on the armrests, so that’s pretty good for the Venue Elite to live. That’s the same for your whole room, as the bubbly glasshouse makes the cabin feel more open than the car’s exterior proportions might suggest.
The segment is far from the worst storage inside, but it’s a good idea to store in. The gear selector’s wireless phone charging pad is located below the USB-A port, a USB–C port and primarily 12V outlet; easily accessible storage areas include “The device charger” (i.e.
There are two cups holders to the back of each, small bottle holders in the doors, a small central storage box and ‘a passenger-side glovebox with an attractive shelf above’. Workable, but unsurprisingly limited.
The second row is best for children or small adults, as long-legged people will struggle to get room behind the front seats of the . But it’s a second product of the Venue’s tight packaging, but there is at least enough headroom not to feel completely trapped inside.
It’s a bit of fun, too, though with only fewer facilities two USB-C ports and one storage net but no air vents. It’s not a typical segment of , and in fact this region has just been more equipped for passenger comfort than if it was the case with.
segment rivals are also roughly equal to Boot size. Compared to the non-hybrid Tiggo 4’s ‘380L’, its minimum capacity of 355 litre is less than that of the CX-3’ and much larger than it has been at an average of 264L.
A nice size load area, which sits comfortably at a comfortable height and under the floor is – space-saver spare wheel. For example, if you fold the rear seats almost flat (or split them 6040) for more space, though Hyundai doesn’t offer any quote capacity in this configuration.
| Dimensions | Hyundai Venue |
| — | — |
| Length | 4040mm |
| Width | 1770mm |
| Height | 1592mm |
| Wheelbase | 2520mm |
| Cargo capacity (VDA) | 355L (rear seats up) |
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What’s under the bonnet?
It is 1. It is a 6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with 90kW of power and 151Nm of torque. It sends drive to the front wheels just with a six-speed automatic transmission.
| Specifications | Hyundai Venue |
| — | — |
| Engine | 1.6L non-turbo 4cyl petrol |
| Power | 90kW |
| Torque | 151Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Kerb weight | 1142kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 7.2L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 7.0L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 165g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capacity | 800kg |
The car was a mix of highway commuting and low-speed city driving, as well with an stint on higher- speed country roads for our week. This means a recorded fuel economy slightly better than Hyundai’s claim, which is claimed by .
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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How does the Hyundai Venue drive?
It has never been the most polished model in its class on the move, but newer competitors are making it feel less palatable when first launched in 2019 and was not so popular with fans.
It holds the most important thing holding it back, the engine being the biggest object in history. Even today’s light SUV standards, it’t really ‘wake up’ when you need more power for a freeway on-ramp or if you overtake quickly.
When you plant the throttle, that makes it a racket and not sexy one. I don’t know that there is another new car with such an unintentionally loud engine – and I mean engine noise, not exhaust volume – which makes the Venue feel all the more hollow even if it quiets down at speed.
All moves are quite a bit of pre-planning every time you go to ‘green light, even setting off at. Although it does not respond to smaller inputs, its throttle is a response that causes the Venue to shoot off faster than expected by pressing harder and may have its ‘awake’ moments.
The transmission is also slow, though it’s easier to live with than the dual-clutch unit in the Kia Stonic. At speed, kick-downs feel like it’s going through each gear in a row before landing (it means you have to plan ahead for an overtake).
Tiggo 4 Hybrid blows the Venue out of water performance-wise, performance – wise. It’s not that the be-all and end – at this end of the market, outright performance isn’t so bad but we like an SUV which can get us out of trouble when need be.
A lot of deal-breakers are not thrown at the Venue otherwise,’ said . It’s a bit of an uproar on the road or just thumping down to the ride, some may think it’s not fair that knocking this SUV too harshly for things which are par for the course in this segment is unfair.
It’s a good ride quality for – and, as with any car this size, the Venue does. decent job ofsoaking up bumps on local roads that are in fact well-known to me. It’s a little bobbly, of course, but it could be far worse when the wafer-thin tyres Hyundai has fitted.
It also applies to the steering and handling of the Venue, which is a similar thing. The former strikes a balance between being light for freshmen and not too flashy, and the size of the steering wheel itself makes it easy to throw around.
A relatively short tyre doesn’t really help handling, but the Venue is better than you would expect on a twisty road. If we say it’s a bit of nervous body movement through turns (hearven forbid you hit – mid-corner bump), by no means would we call that confidence instirting, because there’re some good signs of nerve activity (but still can be enough).
It’s not too late that Venue is better for the city. It’s right at home on tight streets where manoeuvrability is king when you’re past the slow throttle, and that’s what makes it.
Out of the cabin, visibility is good and it rarely feels like you need the full bevvy of sensors and cameras to avoid bumping into things. If you need extra help, if you’re using a reversing camera when it comes time to park.
This is the only downside to low speed driving, where flaws such as speed bumps and tram tracks aren’t easily absorbed. We think the generous sidewalls of the tyres on smaller alloys fitted to cheaper Venues would help reduce this, we suspect.
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We had no concerns about the safety systems of the Venue’s safety system in our week with the car, and that was important. The lane-keep assist, which became known on occasion as the only function that was to be made known of itself, even when there was no risk crossing the Lane markings.
But there is no adaptive cruise control, just an old-school cruise system instead of any kind of cruising control that has been used to s. There is no annoying Hyundai-esque speed limit warning here, and it doesn’t even have traffic sign recognition.
Overall, the Venue is a good place to say “I’m sorry for you” about . This is just backed by its wheezy engine and sub-optimal throttle/transmission calibration, which undermines a package that otherwise behaves well for its segmentation.
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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What do you get?
The Elite sits at the top of the three-variant Venue range.
2026 Hyundai Venue standard equipment highlights:
- 15-inch alloy wheels
- Space-saver spare wheel
- Auto halogen projector headlights
- Halogen daytime running lights
- Cloth upholstery
- Manual air-conditioning
- 4.2-inch colour instrument cluster screen
- Wireless phone charger
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 1 x 12V outlet, 1 x USB-A outlet, 1 x USB-C outlet
- 4-speaker sound system
- Remote central locking
- 60:40 split/fold rear seat
Venue Active adds:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- LED daytime running lights
- LED positioning lights
- Static bending lights
- 6-speaker sound system
- ‘Premium’ seat bolsters
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
Venue Elite adds:
- LED rear combination lights
- Single-zone climate control
- Bluelink connected services (five-year subscription)
- 2 x USB-C outlets (rear)
- Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
- Unique 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (no wireless)
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Sunroof (not available with two-tone roof option)
- Keyless entry and start
- Rear privacy glass
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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Is the Hyundai Venue safe?
The Venue’s four-star ANCAP safety rating awarded in 2019 has now expired, leaving it unrated.
Standard safety equipment highlights:
- 6 airbags, incl:
- Front
- Front-side
- Curtain
- Autonomous emergency braking (camera-based)
- City/urban/interurban braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Automatic high-beam
- Driver attention warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Leading vehicle departure alert
- Rear occupant alert
- Reversing camera
- Tyre pressure monitoring
Venue Active adds:
- Rear parking sensors
Venue Elite adds:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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How much does the Hyundai Venue cost to run?
Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty (or seven years if all scheduled services are completed at an authorised Hyundai dealer) covers the Venue. If you have to service a once every 12 months or 15,000km, the first comes first.
| Servicing and Warranty | Hyundai Venue |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres (7 years if all scheduled services are completed at an authorised Hyundai dealer) |
| Roadside assistance | 12 months (then service-activated) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | Lifetime (service-activated) |
| Average annual service cost (5 years) | $395.2 |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years) | $1976 |
Hyundai Australia outlines service pricing for the Venue’s lifetime. For comparison’s sake, the first five services are detailed below:
| Service | Price |
| — | — |
| 12 months, 15,000km | $315 |
| 24 months, 30,000km | $410 |
| 36 months, 45,000km | $399 |
| 48 months, 60,000km | $537 |
| 60 months, 75,000km | $315 |
The earliest five services for the non-hybrid Chery Tiggo 4 are $289 each, or $1445 over five years of service (for example). Hybrid versions also increase prices by $10 per service, instead of $1495 for hybrids.
The Mazda CX-3, meanwhile, costs $2259 to service over five years, averaging $451.8 annually.
And it’s also worth mentioning the Yaris Cross, where Toyota caps the first five services at $275 each. That’s a way to service for $1375 over five years, so it is cheaper to maintain than all of the above competitors.
To see how the Hyundai Venue stacks up against the competition, use our
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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Hyundai Venue Elite
The Venue exists to serve a purpose, but that’s almost entirely undermined by the top-spec Elite.
The first-floor Venue maintains the same wheezy engine but is one of Australia’s cheapest SUVs, which makes it easier to forgive some critical features inside and out. It’s also a cheap set of wheels, and can even be used with the manual; so it makes sense as if it is rented car or just merely.
But when it comes to the Elite, there’s just too much gear missing and its powertrain doesn’t do the high price tag any justice. The bigger and newer Chery Tiggo 4 (both petrol and hybrid) are cheaper than this high-spec Venue, which is a further blow to it.
And don’t forget this car is $1000 more expensive than it was 12 months ago, with no real return.
In addition to this, the Tiggo 4 is a much more standard equipment and better performance than its predecessor in hybrid guise (not including much higher efficiency), as does the Yaris Cross Hybrid. But there isn’t much going on for the Venue Elite, whether it steers well or if its safety tech works as it should.
Should you buy a Venue, the mid-spec Active is better as it’s cheaper but has everything you need – wireless smartphone mirroring. But if you drop in to a Chery dealer instead, it’s probably worth dropping in for an otherwise .
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