2022 Hyundai Venue Trim Levels, Configurations & Comparisons.

The 2022 Hyundai Venue is a compact SUV produced by the South Korean automaker. It's a budget-friendly car that offers a high number of standard features for a low cost. It's cost efficient when it comes to fuel, too. The Venue has an EPA-estimated, combined fuel-economy rating of 31 miles-per-gallon (mpg). This little SUV may be compact, but it still has room for five people and a maximum cargo volume of 31.9 cubic-feet.

The Venue is truly larger on the inside than one might expect. It has a comfortable interior and provides good steering and handling dynamics. There's enough power and torque here for adequate acceleration and for passing power on the highway. The ride quality and convenience features make it pleasant to ride in. It's also an attractive little car. The Venue is both practical to own and fun to drive.

The 2022 Hyundai Venue will be available in three different trim levels for this year. For the most part, each trim level keeps the features of the previous trims and then adds upon it. There are some exceptions, however, when a feature gets completely replaced with an upgrade. One of the great things about the Venue price points is that there's never a steep increase in cost when moving up a trim level.

Here is a concise overview of each of the three trim levels for the Hyundai Venue. All three will be compared to see how they stack up and to show what the differences are. This information will hopefully help prospective buyers to find the model that's perfect for their specific needs and tastes.

Compare the SE vs SEL Trims. What Is the Difference?

The 2022 Hyundai Venue is a true compact SUV that's 159.1-inches long, 69.7-inches wide and 61.6-inches high. It has a wheelbase measurement of 99.2 inches. The dimensions and body style are the same for all three trim levels. Every model also comes equipped with the same 1.6-litter Smartstream 4-cylinder engine.

The Venue 4-cylinder engine can produce 121 horsepower (hp) at 62 revolutions-per-minute (rpm). It makes 113 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque at 4500 rpm. If that doesn't sound like much, just consider that this is a small, lightweight car. It's plenty enough power to get up to speed from a dead stop. It can also pass other vehicles comfortably while driving at highway speeds.

Every version of the Venue gets front-wheel drive (FWD) and Hyundai's Intelligent Variable Transmission. The IVT is an automatic transmission that eschews traditional gears for a more efficient system. In place of gears, it uses a type of pulley system that "shifts," continuously according to driver input and road conditions. The pressure of the pulley system is modulated to provide just the right amount of power to the wheels at all times.

When it comes to the transmission system, the trim levels get their first real mechanical difference. Though the transmissions are the same, the SEL trim gets a mode selector that alters the shifting dynamics and other mechanical features. This provides a better driving experience for different scenarios. There are three different modes called Normal, Sport and Snow. Normal is for the best fuel efficiency while Sport gives the best acceleration from a complete stop. Snow Mode provides better traction on snow-covered roads.

All trim levels get the same suspension system in addition to the same engine, transmission and drivetrain. Mechanically speaking, there's very little difference between the three trims. There are MacPherson struts and coil springs up front. The back end gets a coupled torsion-beam axle. There are gas-pressurized shock absorbers in front and a twin-tube shock absorber in the rear.

The SE gets disc brakes up front while the SEL trim gets disc brakes for all four wheels. All trim levels get ABS brakes to prevent lock ups. They also get an Electronic Brake-force Distribution feature. Power steering is standard and comes from a motor that's mounted on the steering column.

On the outside of the 2022 Hyundai Venue, the SE trim gets 15-inch alloy wheels while the SEL comes equipped with a set of 17-inch alloy wheels. Both trims come with projector headlights with Automatic Headlight Control. Both exterior mirrors are power-controllable for these two trim levels. They both come painted to match the body color of the Hyundai Venue.

The SE models get a black front grille. The SEL models get a chrome-covered grille. The SEL also gets some nice side roof-rails that give it a sportier look. They also come in handy for attaching extra cargo to the roof. This gives the SEL a bit more of an edge over the SE when it comes to capabilities and practicality. One of the biggest exterior upgrades for the SEL is the addition of a power tilt-and-slide sunroof.

Moving on to the interior, both trim levels have a 6-way power-adjustable driver's seat. This is covered in basic cloth upholstery. There's a total of 91.9 cubic-feet of volume for the passengers with a total interior space of 110.6 cubic-feet. The cargo area has a volume of 18.7 cubic-feet with the rear seats up and 31.9 cubic-feet when they're folded down. The rear seats have a 60/40-split fold-down configuration.

The SEL trim gets a driver's armrest with a sliding cover that opens up to a storage compartment. This is missing from the SE trim level. Both models have the same infotainment system with an AM/FM/HD radio. There are USB and auxiliary-jack inputs. Smartphones and other devices can be charged via the USB ports. The SE models get four speakers while the SEL models come equipped with six speakers for improved sound quality.

The infotainment system has Bluetooth Technology for streaming music as well as for hands-free calls. These two trim levels get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity too. Voice-Recognition Technology allows the driver to operate some functions and make calls without taking their hands off of the steering wheel. All other functions can be accessed through the 8-inch touchscreen display.

The SE trim has basic, manual heating and air conditioning while the SEL gets Automatic Temperature Control. The SE and SEL trims both get power windows, but only the SEL models have an auto-up feature for the driver's-side window. The SEL trim also gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

When it comes to safety, all three trim levels offer advanced dual front airbags. There are also side-impact airbags mounted to the seats to provide even more protection for the driver and front passenger. Roof-mounted side-curtain airbags are in place to cover the passengers up front and in the rear. Hyundai also uses body reinforcements in strategic locations to add a level of protection for all passengers.

In addition to the frame reinforcements, all models of the Venue have front and rear crumple zones. This redirects crash energy away from the vehicle's occupants. Every model of the Hyundai Venue gets the LATCH system for anchoring child seats down in the rear-seat area. Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control makes the vehicle less likely to roll over and more manageable on slick pavement.

The SE and SEL models come with Keyless Entry for quick access to the vehicle. There's a panic-alert button on the key fob and an engine immobilizer to shut the vehicle down if it does get stolen. Brake Assist gives a little help when the driver needs to stop the vehicle right away in an emergency. A Tire-Pressure Monitor gives the driver a heads up if any of the four tires are overinflated or underinflated to a dangerous level.

Hyundai also equips every trim level of the Venue with a good amount of driver-assist technology. These features make the vehicle safer in addition to just aiding the driver in various situations. All three trim levels come with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist. This isn't just for avoiding collisions with other vehicles. This system also has sensors that can detect pedestrians.

A Driver-Attention Warning system detects if the driver is starting to nod off. Lane-Keep Assist gives a warning if the vehicle moves dangerously out of its own lane. The SEL models also come with a Blind-Spot Collision Warning to further improve the driver's awareness of their surroundings. This system even monitors rear cross-traffic and gives a warning if there's danger of a rear collision.

Compare the SEL vs Limited Trims. What is the difference?

The top-tier trim level for the 2022 Hyundai Venue is called the Limited model. This version of the Venue once again has the same engine and transmission system. The horsepower, torque and fuel-economy numbers are all the same here. Mechanically, this trim level is identical to the SEL and even comes equipped with the same 17-inch wheels.

This trim level adds on cyclist detection to go along with the pedestrian detection for the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system. Advanced sensors can detect and recognize both people and cyclists. The remaining safety features and driver-assist technology stay the same for the Limited models.

On the exterior of the Limited trim level, the headlights and taillights get upgraded to LED models. There are now LED Daytime-Running Lamps as well. The exterior mirrors now have an extra heating feature. This is very handy in the winter when the driver needs to quickly defrost those mirrors for better vision. The outside mirrors now match the roof color of this model instead of the body color of the car.

On the inside, the Limited models get leatherette upholstery. The seats are now heated up front too, making this trim level a great choice for anyone living in an area with cold weather. SiriusXM radio is added to the stereo system and the infotainment system now comes with built-in navigation. The Limited trim gets a proximity key that automatically unlocks the doors when the driver gets close enough to the vehicle.

The Limited trim gets push-button start. It's worth noting here that every model of the 2022 Hyundai Venue has the same warranty coverage. The Limited New Vehicle Warranty covers the car for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. The Powertrain Limited Warranty lasts for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and the Anti-Perforation Warranty is good for seven years and unlimited miles. Hyundai also offers roadside assistance for new-car purchases for five years and unlimited miles.

Final Thoughts

The 2022 Hyundai Venue is a great compact SUV. It does everything that a buyer would want or need from a small SUV. Most buyers would be happy with any of the three trim levels. All three models have the same powertrain and mechanical features. This means that the horsepower, torque, fuel economy and performance stats are all the same across the board.

The real difference between the three models is in the features that they offer. For this reason, the Limited trim level will be the best option for almost every buyer. The price differences between each trim level are so small that they're practically negligible. There's very little reason for someone to settle for anything less than the Limited model of the Hyundai Venue.

Sure, one might save a few hundred dollars by going with the base model, but it's really worth it to just pay a little more for all of the extras that the Limited provides. The Limited gets the buyer nicer seats and a much improved sound system. The infotainment system gets upgraded and smartphone integration gets even better for this top trim level. The Limited also comes with more great safety features and driver-assist technology.