BABY BOOMERS
Small, city-focused SUVs have replaced hatches as the kings of the urban jungle
Cheap cars are hard to find. That’s partially due to increased demand from people avoiding public transport in the wake of COVID, but also because makers are moving away from bargain machines. Increasingly strict safety and emissions standards, combined with Australia’s insatiable appetite for SUVs, means $30,000 has replaced $20,000 as the new-car ownership entry point for many motorists.
We examined the cheapest SUVs from three value-driven brands in the Kia Stonic, Hyundai Venue and Skoda Kamiq.
KIA STONIC GT-LINE
Few brands match Kia’s bang for the buck. Every car in the range has a seven-year warranty with seven years of capped price servicing and most are loaded with plenty of equipment. Based on the budget Rio hatchback, the Stonic is Kia’s entry level SUV. We tested it in premium GTLine trim for $29,990 drive-away, bringing standard kit such as an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus toys such as climate control, smart keys and premium cloth trim with faux leather elements.
The GT-Line targets boy (and girl) racers with a turbocharged engine, sports suspension and the sort of flat-bottomed steering wheel normally found in a VW Golf GTI.
The 1.0-litre three-cylinder motor uses 5.4L/100km to make 74kW and 172Nm, sending drive to the front wheels through a dual-clutch automatic transmission.
That sporty approach delivers a firm ride that feels satisfactory in isolation but busier than ideal when compared with rivals. The engine occupies the middle ground here, feeling stronger than the non-turbo Hyundai but not as impressive as the punchy Skoda.
Turbo Stonic models don’t have an ANCAP safety rating — lesser versions controversially derive a five-star rating from the 2017 test of a Kia Rio. Auto emergency braking and lane keeping assistance are standard but blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts are missing.
HYUNDAI VENUE ELITE
As with the Stonic GT-Line, Hyundai’s Venue Elite is a well-equipped variant of an entry-level car. You get an 8-inch stereo with satnav and smartphone mirroring, along with funky cabin treatments that vary depending on your choice of exterior colour. Our example’s denim seats divided opinion among the test team.
Unlike the Kia, it comes with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts as standard, along with modern basics such as auto emergency braking and lane keeping that deliver a four-star rating.
The Hyundai makes do with a 1.6-litre nonturbo engine delivering 90kW, 151Nm and 7.2L/100km economy. It’s a buzzy, stressedsounding engine that misses out on the effortless low-rev torque of turbo motors. Hyundai’s conventional six-speed auto is smooth at low speed but can feel lost on hilly routes, hunting between ratios to find the right gear.
The Venue feels cheaper than its rivals, with more tyre and road noise than buyers should expect for about $30,250 drive-away. Softer suspension means the Venue rolls from side to side more than is ideal through corners and the rear feels bouncy over bumps.
SKODA KAMIQ
The cheapest SUV in the Skoda family comes here as News Corp’s reigning Car of the Year. While the other models sit toward the top of their ranges, this is the entry level Kamiq sold for $29,900 drive-away with auto transmission. But it doesn’t feel like an entry-level car. You get dual-zone climate control, a digital dashboard, 18-inch alloys, wireless smartphone charging and a powered tailgate missing in the Kia and Hyundai, plus clever touches such as an umbrella in the driver’s door and a rechargeable
torch in the boot. It has a similar 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the only five-star safety rating here thanks to front and rear auto braking, lane-keep assist and active cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear crosstraffic alert are part of a $4100 driver support pack with luxuries such as front and rear heated leather seats.
Passengers have more room in the Kamiq than other models — it’s the only one with a back seat suitable for large adults on long trips. It’s also the best to drive, with a strong engine that uses less fuel (5.0L/100km) to outgun rival machines with 85kW and 200Nm. The 1.0-litre turbo triple’s dual-clutch auto feels great on the open road but can be a little jerky in town.
Skoda’s suspension also strikes the best balance between comfort and engagement, bringing composure rivals struggle to match.
VERDICT
The Skoda remains at the top of its class, thanks to a spacious cabin, strong standard features and impressive road-going behaviour. Kia’s warranty, punchy engine and modern cabin land it the silver medal, though Hyundai’s wellequipped Venue is also worth a look.