The economy is tough on the Canadian middle class right now. Its members face high interest rates, strong inflation, and employers crunching their budgets, leading to layoffs. It’s fair to say, many people are going through a tough time these days.
For many consumers the idea of a shining new electric car is appealing as it eliminates fuel bills, comes with strong financial incentives, and, well, helps save the planet, for some, their monthly payment is a pill that’s just too big to swallow. Heck, any new car is expensive now. A Honda Civic, a car built right here in Canada, now starts at close to $29 grand. Weren’t they $20,000 not that long ago?
Not all hope is lost for new cars, because there are still some dirt-cheap models, cars that still offer consumers a tremendous amount of value.
The Hyundai Venue, a car I lived with for a week, is a perfect example.
Remember the Hyundai Accent? There was a time when that little thing was all over Canadian roads, especially in Quebec. People liked the Accent because it was no-frills transportation. It was affordable, reliable, great on gas and inexpensive to own. But Hyundai killed it off after the 2020 model year as sales of it dwindled. Because, you know, people are addicted to SUVs.
The thing is, the Venue is basically an Accent dressed up as an SUV, arguably the best idea a carmaker has come up with in years. Underneath this trucklet’s adorable, upright body lies the old Accent platform and drivetrain, that is to say the engine plus the parts that deliver its power to the wheels.
A naturally aspirated, 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine may not be strong on paper — there's just 121 horsepower and 113 pounds-feet of torque (motive force) driving the front wheels — but it’s as reliable as a rock, sips fuel at the rate of about 7.5 litres/100 km (a Natural Resources Canada figure) and it’s easy to repair.
With a starting price of $20,889, and not exceeding $26,000 when loaded to the gills like the one I was driving, the 2024 Hyundai Venue is the kind of good deal motorists need in this inflationary world.
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The vehicle comes well equipped out of the box, with standard wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, heated seats, and a collision-avoidance system. It’s just too bad that the power sunroof isn’t a stand-alone option. You can only get it when choosing the top-tier Ultimate model.
Sure, the Venue is slow. Stomp the accelerator pedal and all you’ll be getting is more noise from the engine compartment as that continuously variable transmission (CVT) struggles to extract power.
But it does feel well put together, rock solid on beaten roads and buttoned down during strong crosswinds. Hyundai also baked into it some fun handling dynamics, which makes zipping around town with a Venue a ton of fun. Perhaps, more important, is how the Venue feels as though it's a good quality product. It doesn’t feel low rent.
It's proof that an inexpensive car doesn’t need to suck.
And, goodness, does it look charming! With the Venue, the South-Koreans are showing us once more that they are masters of the art of building small cars. This thing is all sorts of cute and utilitarian. I love the large rectangular LED daylight running lights, integrated right smack inside the front bumper. Funky wheel designs and rad motifs in the tail lights help spice up the young and hip vibes.
This isn’t a big car. Its trunk has just 900 litres, or 31.7 cubic feet, of space for your gear once those rear seats are folded flat. That’s less than a Volkswagen Golf. But the Venue’s cabin is surprisingly spacious, thanks to the high roofline and boxy shape. Four adults can fit comfortably in this thing and not feel like they’re sitting inside the penalty box.
So, yes, it’s still possible to get your hands on an affordable car. Scratch that! It’s still possible to get your hands on a good, affordable car. If we base our assessment on the old Accents still on the road, we can be fairly sure the Hyundai Venue will stack up a ton of mileage with very few mechanical issues.
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