The Hyundai Venue – the smallest SUV in the Korean automaker’s lineup – will be coming to South Africa in the fourth quarter, just months after its debut at the recent New York Motor Show.
“We plan to introduce the Venue in our local model line-up, pending the completion of a business case study,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa. “The initial impression of the Venue is that of a seamless combination of style and versatility. It is small in size, but big on practicality and personality, and it has lovely bold character.
“The Venue, which will be built in Hyundai’s factories in South Korea and India, offers an entry-level vehicle for customers who are looking for smart design combined with practical and technologically advanced features,”
The vehicle side profile shows a solid and full volume wheel arch and strong character line, while the front cascading grille includes the new Hyundai signature face that is found on both the Kona and Santa Fe, including composite LED lights and cube shape headlamps. This unique character line continues through the tail lamps.
Sang Yup Lee, executive vice president for design at the Hyundai Motor Group, says the Hyundai Venue may be a smaller piece in the SUV line-up, “but its unique and bold design sets it apart from the rest of the pack”.
“We can see the Hyundai look in the Venue, but there is a unique quality that will appeal to individual customer’s tastes and preferences in a way that sets it apart from the other SUVs in our line-up.”
The Venue comes standard with a 60/40 split flat folding back seat and introduces advanced technologies that enhance driver confidence and convenience ahead of the competition. Venue’s advanced infotainment system features an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen system and rear view monitor.
The 8-inch display includes both Apple and Android Auto for intuitive operation of the most commonly used smartphone functions, including app-based navigation, streaming audio and voice-controlled search capabilities.
The Venue also offers several comfort and convenience features. The cargo space features a rear covering shelf for added privacy and can be conveniently stowed along the rear seatback when not being used. The dual level cargo floor feature provides flexibility to have the floor of the cargo area in either the top position – level with the seats when folded down, or at a lower position to accommodate more luggage.
There are Dual USB charging ports, 3,5inch TFT instrument cluster display to illustrate useful information, a rear-view camera and Bluetooth hands-free phone.
Hyundai’s naming theme for SUVs has typically been a city or place. The new entry SUV name references a ‘place’ people want to be seen in. The vehicle embodies the characteristics of ‘the place to be’, while reaching the final desired destination, wherever that may be.
