THE HYUNDAI VENUE HITS THE RIGHT SPOTS IN THE ENTRY-LEVEL CROSSOVER SEGMENT

Having your first car is a pivotal decision in your life. Not only is it a big financial decision, it will also make or break your perception of cars in general. A good car will undoubtedly evoke freedom and spirit of adventure within you as you now have more control over your mobility. However, a clunker will push nothing but the hassle in your thoughts. Thankfully, there are now more options in the market.

- By VINCENT VILLA

The Hyundai Venue is one of the newest crossovers in the Philippines. It's not only good for those moving up in size, it's also amenable to first time drivers looking for their first car. Don't listen to naysayers that say you have to go through a small hatchback first. You can go straight to the Hyundai Venue and you will be delighted.

Hyundai was able to make the Venue light on the eyes by having a simple aesthetic. There's nothing that competes with the rectangular Daytime Running Lights on the front face. What it does is guide your eyes to the split headlight assembly, which is what the Venue design is all about - it makes you look closer to see its identity.

The same can be said about the rear section. It's bland at first glance with the huge space on the tailgate, lack of outlandish contours, and relatively small square taillights on the corners. But turn the headlights on or step on the brakes and you'll see the Z-pattern on the taillights giving it a very distinct road presence.

Following the vibe of the front face is the dashboard layout. It retained the look of the Venue by having white bezels on the air vents, simulating the DRLs outside. The layout is also very straightforward. It doesn't matter what car you came from, or what you used during your driving school, you won't have a learning curve once you're inside the Venue.