The Venue and the Kona are two of Hyundai’s best city SUVs. They’re among the most stylish and capable vehicles on the market. We’ve gathered information on both below so that you’ll be able to decide which Hyundai is best for you.
Exterior Styling
The Hyundai Venue and the Hyundai Kona may be siblings, but they’re far from twins. Each one offers a wide array of features that set it apart on the open road. The Venue has a smooth look, but it retains part of the classic and much-loved boxy SUV look. It has extremely thin but bright headlights, and the fog lights are set higher up on its body than on most SUVs for maximum visibility. The Venue has a black grille covered by chrome accent barring in an eye-catching grid pattern, a departure from the traditional grated varieties.
The Hyundai Kona roars into position with a look that is far from traditional. Its slitted headlights and low-set, dark, understated grille give this SUV a look more like that of a sports car, especially when two-tone red and black paint is chosen. The fog lights are set similarly to those of the Venue. The Kona lacks any hint of SUV boxiness, but it retains its class’s trusty hatchback. The body lines on the Kona aren’t as deep as those on the Venue, giving it a more city-centered look compared to the Venue’s more suburban style.
The Venue is available in one of seven colors, including eye-grabbing green apple, intense blue, and scarlet red pearl, among others. For the Kona, you can choose from up to 11 exterior paint colors, including two shades of blue, two of red, and seven of black to grey.
Trim Levels, Engines, and Transmissions
Three trim levels are available on the Hyundai Venue, including the SE, SEL, and Denim. Six are available on the Kona, including the SE, SEL, SEL Plus, NIGHT, Limited, and Ultimate. All three trims on the Venue run on the same engine-transmission combination. That is a 1.6-liter I-4 regular gas engine providing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque tied to a 2-speed continuously variable transmission with overdrive and auto-manual capabilities.
The Kona has two engines available, split by trim level. The Kona SE, SEL, and SEL Plus sport a 2.0-liter I-4 regular gas engine providing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The NIGHT, Limited, and Ultimate versions of the Kona run on a 1.6-liter I-4 regular gas engine granting 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The first engine is tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission with auto-manual and overdrive capabilities, while the second is bound to a 7-speed version.
Seating and Cargo Options
While both SUVs seat five comfortably, they are very different on the inside. The Venue is available with cloth or leatherette upholstery, while the Kona has cloth and leather options. The Kona interior can be gray or black, while the Venue has access to a special Denim option, which is not restricted to the trim level of the same name. The door-set armrests are wider in the Venue, but more console variety is available in the Kona in the form of a two-tone console.
The maximum cargo area in the Venue is 31.1 cubic feet with the back seats folded down and 18.7 cubic feet when they are up. The Kona provides 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up and 45.8 with them down. The Venue is capable of towing up to 1,780 pounds, while the Kona knocks it out of the park with a max towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Finally, the Venue has a maximum payload capacity of 1,158 pounds to the Kona’s 1,104.
Entertainment and Convenience Features
Hyundai has loaded out the Venue and Kona for maximum convenience and entertainment value. You won’t have a dull trip in either of these fully-equipped SUVs. The Venue’s entertainment options include a six-speaker sound system, a first-row touch-screen LCD monitor, smart device integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a GPS with a three-year subscription to Blue Link Guidance, and voice-activated radio. The Kona’s entertainment features include an internet hotspot with an automatic three-year subscription, SiriusXM satellite radio, an eight-speaker sound system, and a 315-watt amplifier.
The convenience features on the Venue include an absolute ton of extra storage space, a pair of USB ports, one DC power outlet, cruise control with steering wheel controls, remote engine start, an automatic air conditioning system, a day/night rear-view mirror, and a retained accessory power system. The Kona features convenience options like advanced Smart Cruise Control with distance pacing, the same USB and outlet count as the Venue, a power tilting and sliding glass sunroof, a voice-activated GPS system, and a remote fuel release.
Safety Comparison
At the center of the safety setup for both the Kona and the Venue is Hyundai’s tried-and-true forward collision avoidance assist system. It is capable of sensing an upcoming collision and aiding you in braking to avoid it. Both sport utility vehicles have six air bags, including a first and second-row overhead set, driver and passenger front bags, and seat-mounted driver and passenger side bags. In both SUVs, the air bags are occupant-sensing. Rear child safety locks, electronic stability and traction controls, and a first aid kit are also available on both SUVs.
Both vehicles are likewise very similar in terms of security features. They include a security system, a panic alarm, an engine immobilizer, and a GPS tracking system. This system allows you to regain access to your Hyundai with ease in the unlikely event that it is stolen. The engineers at Hyundai show through their designs that they think everyone deserves equal safety and security regardless of which vehicle they choose, an honorable position in a world full of groups that restrict safety features by trim level.
The Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Kona have a great deal to offer potential owners. Read on about all they have to offer at Huffines Hyundai in McKinney, Texas. Our expert staff will guide you with ease through our expansive inventory towards the perfect Venue or Kona for you.
Image via Flickr by DennisM2