For folks shopping for affordable cars, it can feel tough to find something that fits the bill. When COVID came around, prices for new cars shot up, and some of the cheaper models, like the Chevrolet Spark and Hyundai Accent, disappeared from the market. Instead, car companies started offering pricier hatchbacks that look like SUVs. The Hyundai Venue was one of the first of these back in 2020. Now, four years later, more people are seeing the value in these kinds of cars. We wanted to see how the 2024 Hyundai Venue Limited stacks up against its competition, so we took one for a test drive.

Back in 2020, the Hyundai Venue competed with cars like the Nissan Kicks, Honda HR-V, and Kia Soul. Since then, lots of new models have joined the pack, including the Chevrolet Trax, Toyota Corolla Cross, Buick Envista, and the 2025 Nissan Kicks.

The 2024 Venue hasn’t changed much from previous years. This time around, the main updates are about what comes with the car: All Venues now come with a six-speaker sound system, midrange ones have a push-button start, and the SELs and Venue Limited models have USB ports in the back seats. The starting price has gone up a bit too, starting at $21,275. Our top-of-the-line Venue Limited that we tested started at $24,525, but with extra features like carpeted floor mats, it cost $24,735.

All Venues come with a 1.6-liter engine that gives you 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. That’s not the most powerful in its class, but because the Venue is so light, it still feels pretty peppy. Plus, it’s super fuel-efficient, getting up to 29 miles per gallon in the city and 33 on the highway.

When you hop inside, you’ll find comfy seats and a nice, solid feel to everything. The touchpoints like the steering wheel and shifter feel good too. The Venue Limited we tested came with cool features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus heated front seats.

The Venue is pretty practical too. The back seats fold down if you need extra cargo space, and the trunk has two levels to help you organize your stuff.

But when it comes to driving, the Venue isn’t as exciting as some other cars in its class. The engine can be loud, especially when you need to speed up quickly. The steering is good for city driving, but on rough roads, the car can feel a bit bouncy.

Overall, the Venue is a solid choice if you’re looking for a practical, no-frills car. But if you want something a bit fancier, you might want to check out competitors like the Chevy Trax or Kia Soul.