Hyundai Venue 2021 given wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

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Hyundai this afternoon announced a raft of alterations for the least expensive vehicle in their Australian range, bringing enhanced mobile phone connectivity and increased specification – though the cost of entry to the 2021 Hyundai Venue increases by $500.

Now commencing at $20,690 for a six-speed manual or $22,710 for a six-speed automatic, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder Hyundai Venue continues in Australia with a three-strong range – though the base model is now known simply as ‘Venue’. Previously, the cheapest grade was called the Go.

The 2021 Venue picks up the wireless version of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the base and Go grades, though the top-spec Elite with inbuilt navigation is currently forced to use the wired version. Wireless capability will be rolled out across the entire lineup in the near future.

Outside, you’ll notice that the base model ditches its 15-inch steel wheels in favour of 15-inch alloys. The cloth seats have been redesigned, while in a smaller change, the door mirrors are now heated. 

It costs $495 to fit wired Apple CarPlay to a Mazda CX-3, so the $500 upcharge here for wireless CarPlay – along with the other kit – feels reasonable, though it’s worth noting that the Venue replaced the Accent as Hyundai’s entry-level vehicle in 2019. That hatchback cost just $15,490 in manual form and $17,490 as an automatic.

All Venue grades also gain a sliding centre armrest for better support on the move – something the more expensive Toyota Yaris Cross misses out on.

Every Venue model is fitted with Hyundai’s 1.6 litre naturally aspirated four cylinder multi-point injected petrol engine producing 90kW and 151Nm.

The mid-spec Venue Active upgraded seat bolstering and larger 17-inch alloy wheels (which were, in fact, fitted to 2020 models from July of this year). The Active sees its price increase to $22,620 for the manual and $24,640 for the automatic before on-roads.  

Finally, the top-rung Venue Elite picks up an electric opening sunroof and a smart key with push button start to justify its own $500 price increase.

The Elite is the only Venue grade to be offered only with an automatic gearbox, which now costs $26,490 (before on-roads)All variants can be optioned with metallic paint for an additional $495.

The Venue has enjoyed reasonably strong sales across both private and public buyers since its launch last year and now acts as the entry-point to the entire Hyundai range. The Venue is running in second place in terms of ‘light SUV’ sales in Australia, with 3,099 registrations in 2020 – but that’s way behind the first-place CX-3 which has found 11,058 homes this year.

Hyundai Australia chief operating officer John Kett said last month the Venue SUV would play a “critical role” for the brand in future as he foreshadowed the equipment upgrades that have been confirmed today.

“It’s important to us because we are about to make some significant progress in the content and the material of that car as we launch the version three – it’s only 12 months old and we get a version three,” he said.

“So now the Venue will get new alloy wheels totally across the range – so no more plastic hubcaps,” he said.

It comes as Toyota’s highly praised Yaris Cross small SUV hits the market at a higher entry point of $26,990 plus on-road costs while including a wider range of adaptive safety features as standard, along with a hybrid option that kicks off at $28,990 before on-roads.

The Venue sits beneath the Hyundai Kona in the brand’s SUV lineup. The slightly larger Kona commences at $24,300 before on-road costs.

Hyundai Venue 2021: prices in Australia

All prices exclude on-road costs.

• Venue manual: $20,690
• Venue automatic: $22,710
• Venue Active manual: $22,620
• Venue Active automatic: $24,640
• Venue Elite automatic: $26,490