Hyundai Venue for work ... road warrior

[fdcg27]

Yeah a new hybrid Camry would probably be far more enjoyable. Or a model 3

You can get some remarkable deals on low mileage Model 3s, but I don't know that an EV would work for the OP's use case.
Would be reasonably comfortable and very cheap to run, though.

 

[JTK]

Seems like they're a decent little car for what they are.

I haven't driven one, but I very much agree. They'd be on my radar if I were in the market today.

 

[SatinSilver]

This guy really likes his manual Versa and has bought several of them. Plus he has other nice cars. Kind of an interesting review.

 

[dishdude]

Agree the manual Versa is tough to beat for value if you can find one. I'd take a close look at Trax and Trailblazer too, they do drive really nice in the city and on the highway.

 

[meep]

Some of the “more recent” GM 3400 3800 FWD cars could make a good commuter, a 10 year old Buick Lucerne, an early 2000 Oldsmobile alero - good drivetrains, would likely need some TLC to rubber parts and bushings?

Any decent ford probes of fusions remaining?

 

[drtyler]

Some of the “more recent” GM 3400 3800 FWD cars could make a good commuter, a 10 year old Buick Lucerne, an early 2000 Oldsmobile alero - good drivetrains, would likely need some TLC to rubber parts and bushings?

Any decent ford probes of fusions remaining?

Those are good, comfortable commuters that get decent gas mileage.

Unless he travels well outside of NY state to buy, I suspect any of those cars will be rust buckets by now.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

It looks like twenty grand or so will buy you a new 2025 Nissan Versa. Yes, they're still available.
Take a look at these two Car&Driver reviews of these two vehicles. The Venue doesn't seem too pleasant for high miles use. OTOH, I know people who used to super-commute in Geo Metros.
The Versa appears to be more comfortable on the highway as well as being more economical to run.
The Venue:
https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/venue
The Versa:
https://www.caranddriver.com/nissan/versa

I do like the versa! But haven't seen any for sale.

I think if I had to spend $20k, I would get the best used Civic, Corolla or Prius that $20k will buy. It can't be that hard to find one that isn't rusted to bits for $20k. I don't think I'd spend $20k to get a 32mpg cute-ute for a road warrior in the days of $5/gallon gas, even if I had to spend that much (still a lot of money).

Not to mention that it seems like an incredibly cheap car. I found an old Prius with fabric seats to be a very comfortable car for lots of hours. Whereas a bottom-dollar Hyundai just doesn't occur to me to be the right pick for that kind of thing.

Not feeling used cars.

Base Corolla or Civic.

Corolla, probably.

I would do a bit of extended test driving. I do see a lot of Venue's around though. If you don't need a "wagon" $20k must get a pretty decent Civic with the 2.0 FI engine?
Anything can tow 1000lb of trailer and atv/cargo safely, so just get a hitch on whatever you get.
Something like this little Northtrails trailer tucks in out of the wind behind anything, maybe not a smartcar, but it's done many many ton/miles over the years with firewood, sand, and to the dump.
View attachment 338186

I have a homemade ~4.5 x ~9 trailer built on a popup camper frame. It's pretty light and narrow. My 4 wheeler on the trailer is under 1000 pounds.

Elantra has cvt, port injected engine and 10yr/100k warranty over 40mpg highway.
(no towing though)
the 2020 has a handbrake too on the value edition, I think the 1.6GDI models have the button e-brake.

Awkward looking. I don't like the shape of the newer sedans. I get that it's for aerodynamics

The Venue is a penalty box. Maybe rent one or take a used one for elongated test drive . I returned my rental after half day for something slightly larger Tucson and wow what a difference.

Another cheap choice is Ford Escape and also slightly used Mazda CX-5 where resale is not the best.

I'm definitely going to make sure I like the car.
Always liked CX5s , almost bought one back in 2012 when they came out!
Escapes ... no. I do not want any more Fords. Also the 6F35 and 8F35 transmissions scare me.

Those are good, comfortable commuters that get decent gas mileage.

Unless he travels well outside of NY state to buy, I suspect any of those cars will be rust buckets by now.

That's the problem. With how much they salt the roads ... not worth it for something used. I want something I can fluid film from new.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I don't know a lot about them but I know you can buy a stripped down Venue in India for the equivalent of $10K US dollars. Now its defeatured for sure but its the same basic car. You have to question the attention to detail on a car they can sell for $10K.

And then life can change and your stuck with a car you don't really want.

Why not take a slight step up and get something a couple years old. I agree with avoiding the Toyota tax, but maybe something like a Outlander Sport or Mazda 3 Hatch?

 

[ARCOgraphite]

The next step up from a Venue (for me) would be a made in Japan Impreza sport wagon.

Looks like SoA ditched the base trim and the sport will cost you a couple grand more. We had been able to get: AWD, automatic transmission, a good head unit, comfortable seats and ride and an advanced safety suite for around $23,500 out the door last Fall. Now it appears to be about 26K out the door - if you can make it out of finance office without getting forcefully ravaged!
I just didn't like how "toyobaru" has tuned this chassis to handle soft like a larger family car - instead of embracing its compactness and rally roots.
I am big on lightness and tossability and there is where the Venue in Limited Trim shines.
____________________________________________________________

p.s.: You've absolutely must drive the example you will be buying; they are all different - some really got screwed up at assembly, IME

 

[ChrisMU]

My mother-in-law has one of the higher trim Venues and she likes it a lot. It replaced her Scion Xa that probably has over 250K by now. It felt a bit tinny, but not any worse than its competition. If I were in a position to need a car less than $20K that would see a lot of miles in the rust belt, I’d probably go used Camry, Avalon, or a 3800 GM… and I’d be looking in a southern or western state. Maybe it’s because I’m in my 40’s now, but comfort counts for a lot. A co-worker has a Chevy Trax and it’s a nice looking vehicle, but a 3-cylinder turbo wet belt engine is a hard pass.

 

[TheOtherAndy]

My mother-in-law has one of the higher trim Venues and she likes it a lot. It replaced her Scion Xa that probably has over 250K by now. It felt a bit tinny, but not any worse than its competition. If I were in a position to need a car less than $20K that would see a lot of miles in the rust belt, I’d probably go used Camry, Avalon, or a 3800 GM… and I’d be looking in a southern or western state. Maybe it’s because I’m in my 40’s now, but comfort counts for a lot. A co-worker has a Chevy Trax and it’s a nice looking vehicle, but a 3-cylinder turbo wet belt engine is a hard pass.

Just to add for the record, the 1.3 available in the Trailblazer/Encore GX use a timing chain; the wet belt is specific to the 1.2 (only option on Trax/Envista, standard on FWD Trailblazer/Encore GX).

IIRC, the last 3800 rolled off the line with the 2011 Buick Lucerne. A 16 year old used car is not something I'd consider buying for a long commute. But for the price of a new Venue, you could find 2-3 year old Malibus, Altimas, and probably Sonatas all day long.

Manual Ford Focuses, and the 3-cylinder Focuses, are going to be dirt cheap too, without the disastrous dual clutch auto (3-cylinder used a normal boring automatic). Those are getting a bit old though.

As a complete aside, I think GM's 2.5 Liter "Iron Duke" needs a bit more love. It was slow as hell, so it'll never get 3800-level adoration, but those things have been moving 75% of USPS' LLV fleet for some 40 years now. The consumer vehicles with them lasted forever, too.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I own a grand marquis with the 4.6 and 4r70 ... a good powertrain but the newest one is 15 years old. They can get good fuel economy and are good vehicles, but that age really isn't ideal for longer road trips for work. It's a bit different if I'm traveling for pleasure and can lose a few hours to do minor repairs.

I try to look at it as a completely depreciating asset, but if I did spend a bit more to get a Toyota, I'd probably lose a bit less after 100K.

Corolla Cross (front wheel drive) actually looks a bit appealing as does the Corolla sedan. I like the hatch version but too expensive. I don't know how I feel about electric water pumps.

 

[odie]

There's a new review placed 5/21 on the '26 HYUNDAI Venue at MOTORTREND under REVIEWS . The base SE is less expensive , but hard to find on lots . The SE has 185/65-15" tires , 1.6 Ltr. ( Dual Port Injection ) , cargo cover , 6.69" ground clearance and capability of 35+ M.P.G. overall . O.C.s' are easy with open area and plastic oil filter housing . There's a pin at the bottom of the the housing that pulls out that allows to turn a plug to drain the oil out before removing the housing to change the filter w/ gasket .

 

[IndyIan]

The next step up from a Venue (for me) would be a made in Japan Impreza sport wagon.

Looks like SoA ditched the base trim and the sport will cost you a couple grand more. We had been able to get: AWD, automatic transmission, a good head unit, comfortable seats and ride and an advanced safety suite for around $23,500 out the door last Fall. Now it appears to be about 26K out the door - if you can make it out of finance office without getting forcefully ravaged!
I just didn't like how "toyobaru" has tuned this chassis to handle soft like a larger family car - instead of embracing its compactness and rally roots.
I am big on lightness and tossability and there is where the Venue in Limited Trim shines.
____________________________________________________________

p.s.: You've absolutely must drive the example you will be buying; they are all different - some really got screwed up at assembly, IME

View attachment 338505

I do find my 2016 Impreza is easy to do a multi hour drive in, even in winter, where the too soft suspension helps make it stick to the road, or the snow/slush/ice on the road. It does have kind of a "dead" handling feeling on dry pavement and the power is certainly not "snappy", but it gives the most confidence to pass people on snowy highways of any vehicle I have driven. Mine was my FIL's and I had assumed for years that it was a Legacy, as it is surprisingly close to our 2018 Outback, in front seat passenger space, and it rides smoother, and only has a bit more wind noise at hwy speeds. The Impreza has far lower NVH than my parents 2016 Forester, as the Forester seems to have pointlessly firm suspension bushings and shocks and springs, and transmits lots of tire noise.
Mileage isn't great above 65mph though, or for the first few miles until all the drivetrain fluids warmup. But maybe it would get about to the same hwy mileage at 70mph as small 2wd SUV? Lots of those are surprisingly bad for fwd and tiny engines with turbos and DI.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I do find my 2016 Impreza is easy to do a multi hour drive in, even in winter, where the too soft suspension helps make it stick to the road, or the snow/slush/ice on the road. It does have kind of a "dead" handling feeling on dry pavement and the power is certainly not "snappy", but it gives the most confidence to pass people on snowy highways of any vehicle I have driven. Mine was my FIL's and I had assumed for years that it was a Legacy, as it is surprisingly close to our 2018 Outback, in front seat passenger space, and it rides smoother, and only has a bit more wind noise at hwy speeds. The Impreza has far lower NVH than my parents 2016 Forester, as the Forester seems to have pointlessly firm suspension bushings and shocks and springs, and transmits lots of tire noise.
Mileage isn't great above 65mph though, or for the first few miles until all the drivetrain fluids warmup. But maybe it would get about to the same hwy mileage at 70mph as small 2wd SUV? Lots of those are surprisingly bad for fwd and tiny engines with turbos and DI.

I had a 2018 Forester that was a pretty good car. Apart from the AC that no one could figure out

 

[Zee09]

I second Arco as it's a neat little ride
I hate the oil filter though...other than that its a great little car and better quality than many others

 

[Mainia]

How about something cool?

https://www.edmunds.com/jaguar/x-type/2005/vin/SAJWA54A35WE49155/?radius=6000

A Ford with Jaguar emblems.

 

[supton]

I don't know if you are still thinking Corolla but mine is ok for commuting. Pure highway and I can get upwards of 40mpg with some careful driving, even on snow tires at the moment. But the CVT keeps me from bothering with any idea of towing--Toyota doesn't want me to install a hitch period, and after looking at what passes for the unibody in the rear, I've elected not to. Now I have the 1.8L which gets the K313 which does not have the launch gear: the 2.0's have launch gear and more mpg. But maybe the 1.8's are more depreciated now? Oh: the 1.8's take a different wheel bolt pattern than the 2.0's which are the standard 114.3mm which a Camry will take (did not know at the time! annoying!).

Lots of road noise, numb steering, etc. Much prefer our hybrid Camry on any trip; only reason I have the Corolla is that I dislike all black interiors. But oil changes are easy enough, the CVT isn't too bad to do a D&F. For parking brakes, the electronic brake just eats pads. Have to stay on top of lubing the pad ears. I never figured out the service procedure and just hit the caliper with 12V to wind in/out. BUT the parking brake actually works, which is kinda amazing, no other Toyota I have owned had a parking brake worth using. Way better than drum in disc.

But if it has to do towing... not your vehicle. I think the Cross does have a tow rating.

 

[macarose]

My work situation is going to be changing and I will be putting some pretty decent mileage for work starting shortly. Truck shopping is no longer on the table.

Nothing I own is reliable or fuel efficient enough to travel for work. Until I buy something, I'm going to be borrowing my fiancé's Sentra. Which is what I would buy if I could but that exact car brand new again.

2-3 year old used cars just don't seem to be a value at all. Plus you run into them starting to rust here in ny. People keep saying 2 or 3 year old Toyota ... but for the price of a 2 or 3 year old Toyota, I can buy a brand new Toyota. Even with that ... new toyotas all have electronic parking brakes (really do not trust them) and are DI which I would like to avoid. Cash deal unless I can get lucky and score 0% financing.

Years ago when I was a road warrior, I bought a base model Focus ... which was the cheapest car I could get new. It had a warranty and mileage reimbursements paid for the car, fuel and insurance.

Venues seem to be the cheapest car available now. I'm only considering base model. They seem to have a lot going for them.
- Port fuel injection ... seems this is a good engine and doesn't self destruct
- Beam rear axle - small car and independent rear suspension is a recipe for new tires every 10,000 miles (see: Ford focus)
- cable actuated parking brake

CVTs don't scare me. I would like to be able to drag the ATV or a load of trash to the dump but ... may not work out with one of these.

Seems like they're a decent little car for what they are.

They have tons of them at the wholesale dealer auctions.

One year old models are about 30% off on average. If you're seriously in the market feel free to PM me.

 

[nickaluch]

Mazda 3 base model I personally like the hatchback