Here's a new Venue that won't break the bank

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- I was happy to take delivery of an all-new-for-2020 Hyundai Venue SEL sport-utility vehicle recently, but I was instantly asking myself: What is Hyundai doing?

The five-door subcompact Venue certainly looks nice, with styling cuts that round off the typical boxy look of a crossover sport-ute.  But doesn't Hyundai already produce a five-door subcompact crossover SUV called the Kona?

It certainly does, and I've posted some fairly positive reviews of the Kona.

So, where does the Venue fit in?  According to Hyundai -- which has risen over the past generation from a maker of cheap wheels to a producer of some of the world's most-liked and top-quality motor vehicles -- it's all in targeting the market.

For starters, the Venue has a base price about $3,000 cheaper than the Kona.  Now I have your attention, right?  My generously loaded up test vehicle was still a bargain at $23,425 on the sticker's bottom line.

And the Venue's fuel mileage is a touch better.  My SEL tester weighed in at 30 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

Hyundai's marketing materials flat out note that the Venue targets young buyers, and in particular, female buyers.  It expects half the Venue purchasers to be from Generations X, Y and Z.  The Venue was designed with female buyers in mind, with a convenient step-in height, a boatload of digital perks, state-of-the-art safety features and easy-to-fold 60/40 seat backs for cargo conversion.

And, yes, it looks good, with a fair amount of flash on the grille.

Here's the thing:  I don't fall into any of the Venue's target demographics, but I genuinely liked the vehicle and enjoyed driving it.  A random sampling of auto-reviewing colleagues produced similar verdicts.

To be sure, the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder, 121-horsepower engine is not going to blow the doors off other models, but it operates quite efficiently.  And I liked the extras that added only a little to the price of my tester.  Optional perks on my Venue included a power sunroof, LED lighting front and back, and heated front seats/exterior mirrors.

For folks who crave variety, it's comforting to know that the Kona is out there to be had. Some might prefer it over the Venue.  But the Venue's tried-and true-formula -- good looks, pleasing interior features and a bargain price -- all but demands that it deserves a test drive.