In case you hadn鈥檛 noticed, there鈥檚 a dearth of inexpensive new cars available to buyers. Many smaller models from a variety of automakers have been retired lately with more slated to depart.

Fortunately, the subcompact Hyundai Venue is still with us, and at a price that shouldn鈥檛 put a huge dent in your savings account.

The Venue arrived for the 2020 model year and has received only a few minor updates since. Its understated yet practical styling is dominated by a fulsome grille, a tall roofline and generously sized front, rear and side glass.

The body lines are crisp, with minimal front and rear overhangs, which suggests that the Venue is ready to play beyond where the pavement ends. That territory remains beyond the little Hyundai鈥檚 comfort zone, however, since all-wheel drive is absent from the options list. 

That shouldn鈥檛 be of major concern for buyers seeking basic transportation, but it could be a factor for people living where winter can pack the occasional wallop. The Chevrolet Trax, a prime competitor, is also strictly front-wheel-drive, while the redesigned subcompact 2025 Nissan Kicks now offers AWD.  

Compared with the Chevy Trax, the Venue is about 50 centimetres shorter and there鈥檚 18 fewer centimetres between the front and rear wheels. In fact, of all the subcompact cars on the market, only the Mini Cooper and Mitsubishi Mirage (due to depart after the 2024 model year) cast a smaller shadow.

Diminutive as the Venue is, the amount of passenger and stowage space with the back seat upright or folded flat is surprisingly generous. The seats are also nicely finished and feel supportive, and thanks to a tall roofline, they鈥檙e easily accessible. 

Hyundai has thoughtfully included a sliding centre armrest between the front seats as standard equipment. There鈥檚 also a rear occupant alert to remind drivers to check behind them before leaving the vehicle. 

The dashboard is a paragon of simplicity, with easy-to-use knobs and switches for the audio and climate controls. The driver鈥檚 info screen is easy to read and clearly marked, as is the standard touchscreen positioned between the twin air vents. The old-school-style manual parking brake handle is equally straightforward.

The Venue鈥檚 1.6-litre four-cylinder is rated at 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. It works well in stop-and-go situations and gets up to speed relatively quickly.

On the highway, however, the Venue comes up flat during passing manoeuvres or when heading up inclines. The fact that it weighs only about 1,200 kilograms does help offset the power shortfall, but only to a limited degree.

Otherwise, the Venue鈥檚 direct steering rack serves it well when cornering and the suspension delivers a comfortable ride over smooth and uneven pavement. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard across the line. 

When the Venue is properly equipped, it鈥檚 rated to tow 1,090 kilograms. 

Fuel economy is pegged at 7.9 l/100 km in the city, 6.9 on the highway and 7.5 combined. 

In addition to saving money at the pumps, the Venue鈥檚 $23,800 starting price, including destination charges, makes it a relatively affordable runabout. 

The base Essential trim comes with most power-operated functions plus 15-inch alloy wheels and a four-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity. Forward-collision intervention with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist and driver-attention warning are also standard.

The midgrade Preferred is equipped with climate control, roof rails, six-speaker audio system and 17-inch alloy wheels. Blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert is also included.

The top-level Ultimate adds a power sunroof, navigation system, heated front seats, wireless phone charging and LED headlights and taillights. Premium cloth seat coverings are also standard.

For price-sensitive buyers wanting the security (and the warranty) of a new vehicle, the Venue is worth considering. It won鈥檛 haul a travel trailer, and it lacks third-row seating, but as a short-haul commuter/grocery getter/errand runner it should do nicely.