2020 Hyundai Venue Trim Levels with Comparisons & Configurations.

The all-new 2020 Venue is the latest effort by Hyundai to appeal to buyers looking for compact and versatile vehicles. As a small SUV, it's fun to drive, and it feels sporty and quick on its feet. Like most other Hyundais, it comes with many advanced safety and technology features that make it quite attractive, especially when its budget-friendly price tag is taken into account.

Compare the 2020 Hyundai Venue SE vs SEL Trim Levels. What is the difference?

The Venue comes with the same interior dimensions, no matter what trim is selected. Leg room in the front is a spacious 41.3 inches, and in the back it's 34.3 inches. Total passenger volume is 91.9 cubic feet. Cargo volume behind the second row is a respectable 18.7 cubic feet, and when the rear seats are folded down, the cargo capacity increases to 31.9 cubic feet.

To give people a little bit more versatility, the cargo floor in the back can be set at two different levels. The higher level is flush with the rear seats when they're folded down, and this could be useful if a large, bulky item needs to be slid back and forth. Otherwise, the lower level would be fine for most situations and can give people a little bit more volume in the back.

The SE is the basic trim of the Hyundai Venue. Like the SEL, it runs on a Smartstream four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.6 liters. The engine is able to output 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. These aren't the most impressive stats that compact SUVs can come with, but they do the job and will be sufficient for many buyers. Front-wheel drive is standard on both the SE and SEL, and notably, there's no option to upgrade to all-wheel drive.

If anyone prefers to drive a manual, the SE would be the trim to pick. It's the only trim to come with a six-speed manual transmission. The other trims come with an intelligent variable transmission, which is offered as an option on the SE.

Gas mileage is a strength in the Hyundai Venue, as one might expect given its compact size and relatively small engine. The manual version of the SE gets an estimated 27/35 (city/highway) miles per gallon, resulting in a combined 30 miles per gallon. The automatic version does slightly better, earning an estimated 30/34/32 (city/highway/combined) miles per gallon. These numbers hold true regardless of trim.

The SE and SEL are built with an independent MacPherson strut in the front and a coupled torsion beam axle rear suspension. They both have front disc brakes, but only the SEL has rear disc brakes. The SEL is the only one of the two trims that has Drive Mode Select, a program in which the driver can select from Normal, Sport, or Snow modes to help the vehicle optimize its performance in different conditions.

The trims ride on 15-inch wheels, with the difference being that the SE uses steel wheels and the SEL uses alloy wheels. They both have body-color outside mirrors that are power adjustable and projector headlights. The SE has a black front grille, which contrasts with the chrome front grille in the SEL. If drivers prefer to have roof side rails to expand storage options, they'll have to go with the SEL.

Moving to the inside of the Venue, there are many similarities between the SE and SEL trims. They both have cloth seating surfaces and a passenger-side seatback pocket to give people a place to store smaller items. A six-way manually adjustable driver's seat is easy to use, and in the back, the 60/40 split-bench configuration of the second row provides people with different options for carrying cargo and passengers. While both trims have power windows, only the SEL has an automatic-up driver's window.

Many of the interior differences are related to technology and the infotainment system. The SEL is the trim to select if one is interested in dual USB charging, Bluetooth with voice recognition, automatic temperature control, and six speakers. In contrast, the SE comes with four speakers - two of which are on the front doors and two of which are in the lower panel - and a more standard Bluetooth system that still allows for hands-free calling.

Both trims come with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls to make it easier to make adjustments while driving. For being so affordably priced, it's great that both trims come standard with an eight-inch touchscreen display, HD Radio, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

If anyone wants to add on any features to the Venue, there's only one choice in terms of trim level. The Convenience and Premium packages are exclusively available as add-ons to the SEL. A power-operated sunroof, a steering wheel and shift knob wrapped in leather, blind-spot collision warning, and rear cross-traffic collision warning are the main features that make up the Convenience package.

To purchase the Premium package, one must first buy the Convenience package. The Premium package comes with heating elements in the front seats and side mirrors; LED lights in the headlights, Daytime Running Lights, and taillights; larger wheels that measure 17 inches; and a proximity key that comes with push-button start. Also, the Premium package comes with the upgrade to an eight-inch touchscreen that includes navigation, which is key for many customers. The Blue Link Connected Car System comes with the infotainment system as well.

Safety is a category in which Hyundai has worked hard to stand out. All trims of the 2020 Hyundai Venue come with body side reinforcements as well as front and rear crumple zones that are designed to absorb energy during impact, preventing passengers from receiving the brunt of the force in case of an accident. All trims also come with a tire pressure monitoring system so people know when their tires are under-inflated, which could potentially be a dangerous situation.

Keeping the Venue stable and in control on the roads are several systems. Electronic Stability Control System includes Traction Control System. The vehicle is continually monitoring whether it needs to make adjustments to engine power or braking in order to keep itself in a good position. In case of a need to brake suddenly, the anti-lock brakes can make sure nothing locks up, and Brake Assist can help keep force on the brakes, even if the driver isn't able to do so continuously or with a strong enough force.

The vehicle has a full array of airbags, to include front seat-mounted airbus and side-curtain ones. With LATCH, adults can quickly and safely secure car seats into the back seats.

In addition to all of these features, the Hyundai Venue comes with three key driver-assist systems. The first is Lane Keeping Assist, and it makes sure that drivers are centered in their lanes. If not, warning can be given, and steering can be gently corrected. The next system is Driver Attention Warning. It can sense whether drivers are starting to lose focus, and if so, it will issue a warning to make sure people are aware of what's going on.

The last system is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. It's extremely helpful in situations where a driver is about to hit a car or pedestrian in front of it. The system will send out an alert, and if the driver doesn't respond in time, the Venue can hit the brakes on its own to prevent an accident, or at least reduce the severity of the impact.

Compare the 2020 Hyundai Venue SEL vs Denim Trims. What is the difference?

The SEL and Denim are identical under the hood. They're powered by the same 1.6L engine, they use the same intelligent variable transmission, and they both come with Drive Mode Select. Drive Mode Select, in a small way, makes up for the fact that even the Denim doesn't come with all-wheel drive. While the SEL rides on 15-inch alloy wheels, the Denim gets to sit on 17-inch alloy wheels that are noticeably larger.

On the exterior of the vehicle, many of the options that the SEL can come with are included as standard features on the Denim. For example, it has LED taillights, LED Daytime Running Lights, and LED headlights, in addition to heated outside mirrors that can be quite useful when the weather takes a turn. An exception is that the SEL is the only trim to come with the option for the power sunroof.

The Denim has a distinct look. Its exterior is painted with Denim paint, and it has a contrasting white roof and white accents. Its power-operated side mirrors are also white, adding to the flair. Inside, the front seats are made with a combination of cloth and leatherette, which are colored denim. A sliding armrest that contains storage is standard, as are heated front seats.

Having a Proximity Key can make it really easy to get going in the Denim. The key fob can stay secure in a pocket or bag, and the driver just has to touch the door handle in order to unlock it. Since the Proximity Key comes with push-button start, the key can be kept tucked away for the whole drive.

The Denim has the same six speakers that the SEL has, and it also has the same storable luggage shelf in the back that can improve organization. The Denim comes with built-in navigation, which is a major upgrade, and it comes with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a feature that many people quickly get used to having. This type of satellite radio expands entertainment options and makes it easier to get a clear signal no matter where one is traveling.

In terms of safety, the Denim has everything that the Denim has, plus one more feature. It comes standard with blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning. This means that drivers will be warned if they're about to change lanes when other vehicles are in their blind spots. They'll also be alerted to cars driving behind them when they're trying to back up out of a parking space. These are both useful systems that can cut down on accidents and near-accidents, as they give drivers an extra pair of eyes while they're doing difficult maneuvers.

2020 Hyundai Venue: Which Trim to Choose?

All three trims of the 2020 Hyundai Venue are great options for people interested in compact SUVs that are practical and competitively priced. When all the factors are taken into consideration, the SEL comes out as the winner. It comes with many amenities inside the cabin that make things a little more comfortable and convenient. Unlike the Denim trim, it gives customers a wide range of choices for their exterior and interior color schemes. Coming it at under $20,000 improves its attractiveness as well.