Hyundai Venue SUV to sneak under the $20,000 mark

Hyundai’s box-fresh Venue compact SUV will have a sub-$20k starting price when it goes on sale in Australia later this month.

Smaller than Hyundai's Kona crossover, the Venue range will feature three specification grades: Go, Active and Elite. All will be powered by a 90kW/151Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine with a choice of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions powering the front wheels, though the range-topping Elite will be auto-only.

The Venue range starts with the manual Go, priced at $19,990, making it one of the cheapest crossovers on the market alongside the equally priced entry-level Haval H2 City, with both bettered only by the pint-sized Suzuki Ignis that's priced between $15,990 and $18,990.

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The Go comes standard with an active safety suite that includes autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping assist, cruise control, auto high-beam, daytime running lights, 15-inch steel wheels, reversing camera, 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and four-speaker audio. The six-speed auto gearbox attracts a $2000 premium.

The Active is priced at $21,490 and $23,490 for the manual and auto respectively, with the additional spend bringing alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, power-folding door mirrors, a leather appointed steering wheel and a better six-speaker sound system.

Priced at $25,490 the Elite tops the range and gains blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert, 17-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paint, sat-nav, premium cloth seats, and climate control air-conditioning.

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Metallic and mica paint ($495) is the only extra-cost option on any Venue.

Hyundai’s smallest SUV will come with a handy 355-litre boot, which only a few litres smaller than the Kona’s.

Auto versions will feature a choice of drive modes for different road surfaces and conditions including snow, mud or sand, though with no all-wheel drive system available it's not pitched as a dusty trail-conquering SUV.

Like the rest of the Hyundai range, the Venue will benefit from an extensive local chassis and suspension tuning program to make it better suited to Aussie conditions.

The Hyundai Venue will officially launch in Australia on September 17. Look out for reviews and first-drive impressions here at WhichCar.com.au