For decades, drivers who wanted a compact vehicle that’s fuel efficient and versatile had only one choice: the humble hatchback. Then, a little over a decade ago, Kia combined the agility of a sub-compact with an SUV’s flexibility and added a lot of personality. A whole new class of SUVs was born.
Over the last few years, Hyundai and Nissan have stepped up with their own sassy, savvy sub-compact SUVs, the Venue and Kicks. All three deliver incredible gas mileage, capability, and head-turning looks. Let’s take a look at what all three have to offer and see which has the best value (and the most sass).
Hyundai Venue: Street Smart in Every Way
The Venue’s compact design makes it a no-brainer when you need an SUV that you can park, even in the most snug spaces. Its athletic stance and stare-worthy looks make it look right at home, whether you’re uptown, downtown, or out in the woods. With available alloy wheels and a dynamic color palette that includes the jeans-and-t-shirt Denim trim, the Venue oozes street style.
And with all eyes on you, it’s a good thing the Hyundai Venue comes with more standard safety and driver assistance features to help you avoid road hazards. The available AWD includes Drive Mode Select with Snow Mode to help you handle messy roads with confidence. And with an EPA estimated rating of 33 highway MPG, the Venue isn’t just functional; it’s economical for everyday driving.
Nissan Kicks Style Up a Notch
If you’re looking for a sporty SUV that lets you create your signature look, you’ll love playing with the Kicks Color Studio. You can choose your body, accent, rear spoiler, wheel, interior accent colors, and mix-and-match to your heart’s content.
There’s plenty of space inside for your passengers and your stuff, and Zero Gravity front seats are great for long road trips. And speaking of road trips, the Kicks can go up to 36 miles on a gallon of gas. At over $19k, it’s the priciest of these sub-compact SUVs, but if you’re a style maven, you won’t mind paying a premium to customize your ride.
Kia Soul: The OG of Small, Sassy, SUVs
One look is all it takes to see why the Kia Soul became an immediate sensation (and, love ’em or hate ’em, those Hamsters are unforgettable). Using the boxy shape of larger SUVs as a template, Kia made the Soul less of a land yacht and more of a drivable boom box.
Compared to the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue, you get more engine options, including a peppy turbo, but coming in at 31 highway MPG, it’s the least fuel-efficient of the three. Although it starts in the middle of the pack on price, if you want some basic driver assistance and safety features, you’ll have to move up to the $20k trim. But interior mood lighting—arguably the Soul’s coolest feature—is standard on every trim.
Which One Stands Out?
When you’re looking for a cool commuter SUV, the Venue, Kicks, and Soul should be on your test drive list. For the money, we find the Hyundai Venue offers the best combination of features, style, and affordability, especially when you factor in Hyundai’s three-year complimentary maintenance.
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