The Venue hasn’t changed much for the 2024 model year. The SEL and Limited models now have second-row USB ports, which weren’t available before. The SEL also has keyless entry and push-button start and the six-speaker stereo system that was only offered on the Limited model before.

Pros

• It’s easy to park.
• Very good gas mileage.
• Touchscreen screen that is easy to use. 

Cons

• A simple engine with too little power.
• It was a sudden and rough ride.
• It was squished and awful inside.

The four-cylinder, 121-hp engine in the Venue gives it plenty of power in cities but none on the highway. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is the only gear choice. All models only have front-wheel drive, so buyers who want all-wheel drive will be let down. As we drove a Venue around Miami, we learned that the subcompact SUV is easy to handle in traffic thanks to its small size and exact handling. Unfortunately, our SEL model’s steering was shaky on the highway, so we had to pay close attention to stay in our lane at high speeds. Based on this, the small Hyundai would be better for short trips than for long ones.

Of course, every Hyundai model comes with basic driving assistance tech. Starting with the mid-level SEL, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard. Visit the websites of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to learn more about the Venue’s crash test findings. Some important safety factors are:

• Self-adjusting emergency brakes and forward crash warnings.
• Regular lane guidance and warnings for lane departure.
• An average driving attention tracker.

The Venue’s bedroom is big, even though it’s small. Both the front and back seats have plenty of room for people, and the cushions in both rows are very comfy. The outside could look better, but the inside is well-made and has reliable switches, a stylish set of gauges, and an entertainment system. The SEL level has heated front seats, passive entry with push-button start, and a shift knob and steering wheel wrapped in leather. The Limited level is the only one with these features. There isn’t a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, or front seats that can be adjusted electrically. Base models now come with an armrest in the middle of the bench as standard. The Limited version of the Venue now has wireless charge, which it didn’t have before. Surprisingly, the Limited model doesn’t come with a sunroof that you can add on. Still, the Venue’s cabin is nice and cozy, and the back seats can be folded down to make 19 cubic feet of room for your stuff. There are 32 cubes of extra room when the back seat is folded flat.

The Venue should get 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. These numbers are lower than what Nissan said they would be (31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway). As part of our thorough testing, we looked at the Venue on a highway that goes 75 miles per hour. The Venue got 31 mpg, which is two mpg less than the highway estimate from the EPA.

Each Venue has a smart 8.0-inch tablet with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built-in. The infotainment system has options that look good and respond quickly to what we do. Under the screen are also volume and tuning buttons that are easy to use. The SEL and Limited models come with built-in navigation and real-time traffic reports for those who want them. A six-speaker sound system is now standard on all trim models.

The Limited trim level is the best choice. It has all the features of the other two versions, plus a special Denim exterior and interior treatment that makes the dark blue exterior stand out against the white roof. The seats inside the car are dark blue and have denim-like fabric inserts. The Limited level also comes with 17-inch wheels, in-dash navigation, and heated front seats.