A Real Head Turner!
As it was getting near trading in our Hyundai Elantra GT, I began researching different gas sipping cars for my daily commute. We have owned Hyundai vehicles since 1995 and there are a number of reasons why we keep loyal to the brand. Hyundai offers more bang for the buck because they don't nickel and dime you to death with far too many optional features that Hyundai includes as standard equipment. We also like the warranty, which we've had to use on occasion in the past and it was always honored. During my research, I wanted to see what other manufacturers had by way of small SUV's. Nearly all of them offer an SUV with similar dimensions to the Venue, but after adding on all of the "extras" to bring it up to the same level as the Venue, they all were at least $2,000 more, and Chevy small SUV's have an inline 3 cylinder engine with a dismal 3year, 36,000 mile warranty (as do most other manufacturers), so I once again found myself back to Hyundai. Our dealer (Empire Hyundai of Fall River, MA) had one Limited Edition Denim version, which had all the bells and whistles for one low price. In other words, we bought a loaded Venue with no additional options for under $24,000. After driving both on the highway and in the city, I can honestly say that this vehicle is an incredible value. The Denim Edition has a deep metallic Indigo color that is proprietary to Hyundai. The body is offset by the white roof and nice exterior touches of white, gray and black, making it a real head turner. The interior is where this car really shines. It is completely color matched in indigo on all surfaces and materials and the seats are finished in blue denim synthetic leather, with faded denim cloth inserts, giving it a cool retro vibe. The interior is further enhanced with contrasting cream colored two-tone dashboard and cream piping on the seats. The interior won a top design award when it was introduced in 2020 for exceptional color match and materials use. It is a very pleasant place to spend my commute and I get so many compliments from friends on how cool the interior is! This car is small on the outside but really roomy on the inside, something Hyundai has mastered over the years. It never feels cramped, as matter of fact, it's nearly identical in cabin space compared to my larger Elantra GT. Cabin materials are top notch for this price point. I thought that the 121 HP engine would be disappointing, coming off of a 175 HP engine in my Elantra, but I was very surprised at how good the acceleration is. Handling is quick and precise, with the drive mode on SPORT being the most responsive. The braking is AMAZING! The stance is "bulldog" like, with nice athletic lines, so it has a nice stable feel when driving and the 17 inch alloy wheels and excellent NEXEN tires add to the driving experience. It has all of the major tech, including lane assist. The front traffic/pedestrian warning system now also detects cyclists. Blind spot warning, rear traffic warning, etc. are all standard. Automatic climate control, and the excellent infotainment system are very easy to use. Three level heated seats, leather wrapped steering wheel with white contrast stitching and a leather shift knob all feel premium. The operating system is very intuitive and the features and customizations are too numerous to mention. The digital dashboard is probably the coolest thing I've seen at this price point! Going into detail would take too much time, but this display is just an enjoyable experience. Hyundai also provides 3 years free Blue Link, which means outstanding navigation (no more using WAZE!), as well as one button emergency call and SOS on the overhead console. Many people don't understand why this premium level doesn't come with a sunroof. It's because the overhead console does not provide enough space to add one. Not a game changer for me. Hands free calling is excellent and I LOVE the Blue Link app on my phone, which allows me to lock, unlock the car and also set the climate controls for Summer/Winter and remote start the car from my phone. It also alerts me when I walk away and forgot to lock the car. It works beautifully without any glitches. Very upscale. Also, if you forget your fob in the car, a pleasant tone alerts you from the outside of the vehicle reminding you to check your fob. All-in-all, this small SUV is the best value on the market, along with the best warranty. I am looking forward to where Hyundai will be taking smaller vehicles when it comes time to trade my Venue in.
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