New Hyundai Venue unveiled – And it’s coming to South Africa

Hyundai has taken the covers off the next-generation Venue, and the good news is that it is coming to South Africa.

The new model was recently unveiled in India, where it will be manufactured for various markets, including our own.

Over on the sub-continent, sales will begin on 4 November, though other countries will only receive the new car at some point in the first half of 2026.

What to expect

The original Venue made its international debut back in 2019 and previously held the distinction as Hyundai’s most affordable SUV in South Africa.

Since then, the Korean automaker introduced the cheaper Grand i10-based Exter crossover, but even so, the Venue is still one of the more affordable B-segment SUVs on the market.

This next-gen version of the Venue has a bold new visual design, though the profile is still unmistakably that of the crossover we’re all familiar with.

At the front, it has a lower rectangular black grille, while a horizontal LED daytime running light strip runs below the H logo to connect the slim LED headlights.

This LED strip then shifts vertically into an L-shape that frames the lower fog lamps.

The Venue also has a prominent silver front bumper, roof rails, and an updated set of 16-inch alloy wheels with a five-spoke design.

The overall shape of the body is similar to the Hyundai Alcazar, which is hardly a surprise given that both cars are manufactured in India.

That being said, the interior actually looks more similar to the Santa Fe than the Alcazar with its sleek, minimalist aesthetic and two-tone dashboard.

Most notably, the multifunction steering wheel doesn’t have the carmaker’s logo, and there’s a new dual display comprised of two 12.3-inch screens for the driver and infotainment systems.

It also has a new panel for the automatic climate control, and a “coffee table-inspired” centre console with a gearstick taken from the outgoing N Line models.

Depending on the trim level, the Hyundai will also have equipment and features like ambient lighting, electric front seats with ventilation, a Bose stereo, and driving aids like cruise control, parking sensors, a rearview camera, tyre pressure monitoring, lane-keep assist, and blind spot detection.

As for the engines, Hyundai has elected not to change the powertrain selection despite being a new generation.

As a refresher, the South African models are available with two petrol engines, starting with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated block.

These units generate 61kW and 115Nm and are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The alternative is a 1.0-litre turbocharged mill, which develops 88kW and 172Nm and uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Pricing will only be announced closer to the car’s launch, but as a reference, the current-gen Venue ranges from R309,900 for the base model, up to R499,900 for the sporty N Line flagship.