2021 Jeep Compass vs 2020 Hyundai Venue

The 2020 Hyundai Venue you see here is classified as a subcompact crossover. But without the roof rails and extra plastic fender cladding, you might just as well call it a hatchback. If you were to describe a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car with a bit more space than a small sedan and with an emphasis on economy and efficiency, I would figure you are talking about a compact hatchback. But here we are, calling the Venue a crossover.

Small crossovers and SUVs have been among the most popular and fastest-growing group of vehicles sold in the past decade. This is partly because of their utilitarian image, but it’s also because automakers are choosing to offer would-be hatchbacks as crossovers, thanks to the popularity of the segment. All we know is automakers have an easier time marketing a vehicle as a small sport utility vehicle, even if it doesn’t offer much sport or utility.

But forget the labels. Let’s look at the 2020 Venue for what it is: an affordable, economical hatchback with a decent amount of cabin space (for a vehicle its size) and the latest infotainment and safety technology.