The segment is growing rapidly and car buyers currently have a choice. However, most car buyers shop on a budget, so many will be looking at . Unfortunately, the cheapest SUV for the 2023 model year may not be the best option. Here are two reasons why you might want to avoid it.
The rise of the SUV
Outside of the luxury car segment, most car buyers are just looking for the best deal they can find. Thus, car buyers tend to want their car to perform well in many areas, in part because SUVs have been. Automakers have expanded the number and types of SUVs they offer, so drivers have more options than ever before.
, the cheapest SUV for the 2023 model year is currently the Hyundai Venue, starting at around $21,000. The Venue is cheaper than popular midsize sedans like the Toyota Camry and is barely more expensive than compact sedans like the Toyota Corolla. However, the Hyundai’s affordable price tag has two drawbacks.
Although SUV stands for , Venue isn’t quite as sporty. There’s only one engine option, a 1.6-litre four-cylinder that gets 121bhp and 113Nm of torque. This engine doesn’t make much power, meaning the Venue “lacks the fun-to-drive nature of its rivals.” Also, another problem is its usefulness.
Hyundai only offers the subcompact SUV with front-wheel drive. This allows it to be more efficient, but many drivers need or want all-wheel drive on their SUV, and that’s not offered at all for the Venue. Overall, drivers who want a sport utility vehicle or an all-wheel drive SUV will need to look to other budget options.
The 2023 Hyundai Venue is a decent car overall
Drivers who live in the city or aren’t interested in an all-wheel drive sport utility vehicle can exit the Venue. The 1.6-liter engine is very efficient, allowing the Hyundai to get 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, for 31 mpg combined. Due to the small size of the SUV, it is also good at parking in tight spaces that are common on city streets. While the Venue is a subcompact crossover, it has quite a bit of interior space as well.
It seats five and has 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space without having to fold down the seats. With the rear seats folded, it has a maximum cargo capacity of 31.9 cubic feet. In addition, Hyundai has provided the small SUV with a lot of features. It starts with an 8-inch touchscreen and an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible infotainment system. It also offers standard intelligent safety features, such as lane keeping assist.
