AT A GLANCE

HYUNDAI VENUE ELITE PRICE $29,300 drive away

WARRANTY/SERVICE 5 years/unlimited km, $1575 for 5 years/75,000km

ENGINE 1.6-litre 4-cyl, 90kW/151Nm

SAFETY 4 stars (est), 6 airbags, AEB, rear camera and sensors, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert

THIRST 7.2L/100km

SPARE Space-saver

BOOT 355L

THE FAMILY

JULES: It’s not designed for family life, this one.

IAIN: It’s workable rather than ideal. The rear headroom’s excellent but legroom’s tight and it feels Spartan and claustrophobic in the rear with those big window surrounds.

JULES: The kids complained about being hemmed in and having no rear air vents. I like the safety inclusions such as autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert but as a protective mum I’d want my two kids in a larger car.

IAIN: Services are cheap at $1575 over five years and Hyundai’s doing a seven-year warranty promotion at the moment — strangely, on all Venues except our Elite. Probably because Hyundai’s trying to shift its Launch Edition versions. They’re also less than $30,000 on the road and add a power sunroof but you’re stuck with either green or orange single colour paint.

THE VERDICT

JULES: SUVs just keep shrinking but I see the appeal. The Venue’s a better-looking, more modern variation on the small city hatchback. I love the styling and inclusions but it needs a zippier engine.

IAIN: I’m sold on these Venues but I’d pick the cheaper Active grade with manual gearbox at $25,000 drive-away. That gets the most out of the engine and makes it a fun and nippy funkster about town. There are too many hard cabin plastics but the Venue’s price, equipment and spaciousness make it easy to forgive.