30f that knows nothing about cars I’m going car shopping today and I’ve looking at Hyundai venue and chevy trax/trailblazer . Any opinions greatly appreciated ??

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Tony-cums@reddit

Amazing you managed to pick two of the crappiest cars.

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ShowerEqual9622@reddit (OP)

Thank you so much for that comment like my post said I know nothing about cars and was on here looking for advice

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Are you financing? That changes things

If I were you, don't get brand new, find a used suv that's a few years older and is better quality for longterm ownership

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Senrabekim@reddit

Okay, so half this advice is telling you to buy cars 10k more than your budget. Let's get the reality of your situation nailed down. You are looking at econoboxes and then even there you are looking at the cheapest options. I get that, and I'm not judging, I've been there too. Frankly, "This sounds like a job for a Chevy Trax." comes out of my mouth more often than I'd care to admit when talking to people that have economy needs. Even on the bad end of reliability, from major manufacturers it's not really terrible. You won't be seeing anything crazy like 15% of this model spend four months or more in the shop in the first year. The general consensus (in the world of people who actually do this for a living) on the Trax is that the first few years of the generation had major issues, but that Chevy has sorted those out, avoid 2015-2019 and you should be fine.

The Hyundai Venue is fine, it rates out at average reliability, and extremely low in the maintenance costs. I don't really recomend them, mainly because I generally forget they exist. Which is kinda a good thing considering my brother is a Foreman technician at a Hyundai dealership, and he bitches about models all the time, he rarely mentions the Venue.

most of the automatics specially those dual clutches, hesitates a lot on stop and go traffic. much more jerky than cvt.

I really don't understand the hate behind CVT. people act like they go to track every Weekend.

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AerieWorth4747@reddit

It’s because you’re in a car guy subreddit. It’s fine for normal people.

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Bryanmsi89@reddit

Those magazines are totally biased and untrustworthy? Their ratings are completely paid for advertisements??

When purchasing a vehicle you need to be diligent during the whole process, you’re going to put yourself in debt for thousands of dollars. It’s needs to make more sense to you than the vultures.

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grant1057@reddit

I think you should block off a weekend and go test drive the ford bronco sport, Mazda cx-30, cx-5, Honda CRV, HRV, and the Toyota Corolla Cross. Go drive them without the intention of buying just to get a feel for what you like, take notes, run your own numbers, and make your choice. Some of these cars may have to be used or ideally certified to meet your budget but, it’s pretty hard to go wrong. Even used these will be more reliable than your original suggestions; just a matter of preference at a certain point.

As some others have said, don’t be this open with the dealers or they’ll try to screw you. Contact a local credit Union to get a pre-approved offer so you know what rate they’ll give you, dealer financing is generally higher unless it’s some 0% apr deal through the manufacturer. Keep to your budget, know your numbers, and don’t be afraid to walk out if you get a bad feeling.

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poundforce@reddit

OP - this. Bring a friend. Sit in the car, open all the doors, turn on the radio, adjust the seats, put your hands on the steering wheel, open the trunk, sit in the back. Take your time and take some notes (especially on pricing) and then you’ll be in a much better position to decide what you like, what you want to pay, and the overlap.

Good luck!!

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JuanTheMower@reddit

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Ancient-Resident-514@reddit

I work at Hyundai washing cars currently, I promise you they are horrible currently. Rod bearing failures are common, ABS module fires, the Ioniq 5 & Kona are struggling with software issues that are causing instrument panels going blank, EV's are having ICCU issues while charging, leading to the car unable to "wake up" & one of the most embarrassing, white paint.

Hyundai somehow screwed up white paint & this leads to the paint flying off the car within months - couple years, hoods, roofs, lower doors etc. most customers are actually on top of maintenance, at least in my area. A majority of the cars are just not built well, the Elantra N's are strengthened internally to a degree & have less issues overall, same with '26 Palisades.

Sporty and SUV. Joke of the century.

SUVs have high center of gravity, and weight which are opposite of sporty. Most of the SUVs are a wobbly mess with 4 cylinders.

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Real-Energy-6634@reddit

Neither. Get a rav4 or a Subaru crosstrek or wome shit.

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Appropriate-Bell-807@reddit

Never a Hyundai or Kia
American brands (like Chevy) are a little better. Around the same price point, but not quite as reliable, as say Honda or Toyota.
Honda CRV is a tried and true platform and some of the more expensive models can be and look "sporty". Not the HRV, had that as a rental and they suck. Just a worse CRV imo
Otherwise a Subaru Cross-Trek. My wife has had her Outback for 7 years and loves it still.

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hoodedrobin1@reddit

I would buy a Kia Seltos or a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport before I buy either of those. Unless you need something small, feature incomplete and fwd.

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That-redhead-artist@reddit

Will start with that I am a girl too.

I owned a 25 Trax 1RS for a few months. It does not have a CVT transmission, it has a 9 speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer FWD model is a CVT but the AWD version is a 9-speed Automatic like the Trax. I traded my Trax for a larger vehicle because I needed 3 rows. The driving experience was fine. It felt a bit sluggish during acceleration if the turbo wasn't 'boosted' yet but it was still nice to drive. I think it looks nice too and is a fantasitc deal with a lot of features available in lower trims. My only concern with the Trax is that it has a wet timing belt, meaning maintenance needs to be prompt and the type of oil used is very specific to avoid degradation of the timing belt. People spouting reliability need to remember that reliability is heavily dependent on maintenance and goes way up when cars are taken care of, especially with the newer engines all brands are introducing.

The Trailblazer AWD will cost a bit more than a Trax. If you can not afford the AWD Trailblazer, then I would suggest the Trax. The Trax has a bit more cargo space, but the Trailblazer is taller, if you need more head space.

If that is the budget you have to work with, I think the Trax offers the best deal, especially if you at least pick from the 1RS and up for trim level. There are other CUVs, but the price climbs for some of the other brands such as Toyota, Mazda etc and the features you want might be in higher trims, so you may still end up pricing out of those brands. People are very anti-GM in these subreddits but I have owned multiple Chevys over the past 25 years with zero issues.

If you can book test drives, that might help you decide.

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More_Pineapple3585@reddit

I'd buy a used Toyota before a Hyundai.

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GeneralMotorsLS3@reddit

Ah yes here's the Toyota comment

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Dorsai56@reddit

My daily is a 98 Rav4. Tell me more about how unreliable they are.

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GeneralMotorsLS3@reddit

Cute, my daily driver is a 1997 C5 Corvette.

Not saying Toyota is unreliable. Just that they're lame as fuck and have no soul. People overpay/pay a premium because of the badge and think just because your car isn't a Toyota that the entire car will collapse as soon as you leave the lot.

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Bryanmsi89@reddit

That's a fair point, thanks for clarifying.

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motoMACKzwei@reddit

Buddy’s full of it lmfao

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Forever_Man@reddit

What's the issue with a CVT? My Mazda 3 has one, and it hasn't caused many issues.

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Bryanmsi89@reddit

CVTs have had 2 issues, both of which have improved but not dissapeared.

CVTs have been less reliable than traditional automatics. They have failed earlier and required more repairs. Mazda, Nissan, Honda, and others have all had issues with CVT reliability.
They drive 'funny' due to their design, and people don't enjoy the feeling. This can be somewhat overcome by better transmission control programming which reduces the 'rubber band' feeling.

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Nice-Bake2469@reddit

Everyone be advised that hybrid e-cvt transmissions are NOT cvts. They are far better in design than any currently available cvt. Should be called by another name to avoid confusion.

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Bryanmsi89@reddit

This is true. Systems like that of the Prius or other hybrids are very different and shouldn't be called CVT.

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Annual_Departure_666@reddit

I’d say go for a Mazda cx-30 if you’re looking for a compact suv. Ive had a mazda3 and while not as fun as the BMW i traded it for it was very reliable and has a nice interior that feels similar to a luxury car. The suspension is a bit stiff compared to american cars but not terrible. They have 2 paint colors (the red or dark blue) that i think are some of the prettiest on the market. The red almost looks like it glows. Maintenance is fairly cheap on these cars too. I would advise against the hyundai and chevy trax, both have poor reliability and are cheaply made. I bought the mazda through a hyundai dealership and they were probably my worst dealership experience out of any brand. If you plan to ever take the car to the dealership for service you’ll find it’s important that they provide good customer service. Even the buying experience will matter too and Hyundai tries to sneak in lots of add ons, just very slimy overall. You might also like a Honda crv, more expensive but the reliability is great and the car will last you a long time.

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UncleSlayton77@reddit

I ended up with a Trax as a rental once. And I swear I never thought there would ever be another car I hated more than my first car, an '83 Chrysler. The Trax is the worst POS on the road right now, I believe.

Go to a Toyota dealer, and a Honda dealer, and a Mazda dealer. Look at brand new things they are selling there.

Drive anything that looks good to you. Buy the one you like the best.

Remarkable_Dot1444@reddit

Dont buy a Hyundai or Trax.

Hondas, toyotas are good. Subarus, Mazdas are good as well. Do some research before blindly walking into a dealership. Decide whar vehicle you want and the trim.

Expect to add about 10% for tax, etx... Don't buy any add ons from the dealership. Yes including extended warranty and floor mats.

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Subaru crosstrek.

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otterland@reddit

With tax that Trax ends up being $30k. I would feel more comfortable driving out to Murfreesboro TN from Nashville and buying a 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage for $7,000 with 35k on it. Tiny econobox but known for legendary durability if you do the basic maintenance. It gets good economy as it's lightweight. It doesn't kill CVTs as it's lightweight. I'm not saying get a Mirage I'm just saying I'd trust one for ¼ the price of a heavier car with a tiny stressed turbo.

Don't limit yourself to just the Trax and the Venue. There are lots of good options out there... and honestly, I don't think I'd ever buy either a Chevrolet or a Hyundai because of my past experiences (Hyundai and Kia are two brands under the same umbrella). The Chevrolets I had both lasted over 200,000 miles, but those were S-10s (one was a 1988 and the other was a 1999) and they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Whatever you end up getting, don't skip routine maintenance. I'm talking oil changes, transmission fluid changes, coolant changes, tire rotations, brakes, etc. You'll get a lot more out of whichever car you choose if you pay attention to the maintenance schedule.

Do yourself a favor and buy a Toyota Corolla Cross or Honda HR-V.

The Venue is one of Hyundai's more reliable cars. My wife has a 2020 model and it's been great, no issues with besides the horn which is a common problem and replaced under warranty.

I’d look at a CRV hybrid, RAV4 or Corolla Cross Hybrid, most Mazda SUVs, the newer Subaru hybrids use Toyota systems so they’re pretty solid, and some Hyundai/Kia EVs are pretty solid too. Any of the ones that are built from the ground up as an EV (don’t have a gas or hybrid version) like the Ioniq 5 and 6, Kia EV6, Genesis GV60, any of their stuff on the E-GMP platform.

I just drove the Buick Encore as a rental which I believe is essentially a rebadged Trax. It was ok as a rental car but I would never own this thing. Turbo 1.3l engine and a CVT. I also hated the ride height and center of mass.

I would say Hyundai reliability is probably a bit higher than the Chevy at this point. However, do a bit of research on reliability issues or common problems. Ask ChatGPT, probably give you some decent info.

But the best reliability would be the Toyota RAV4 or a decent used Highlander

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NewEdgePony@reddit

go to toyota.com, find a vehicle you like and in your price point.

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tbright1965@reddit

As others have noted, other choices.

I have a Mazda CX30

My wife has a 2017 Toyota RAV4 with 188k miles on it.

It’s been a great choice. The only repairs (in addition to maintenance and wear items like brakes) was an AC hose and TPMS sensors in the tires last year.

Even a used RAV4 or Mazda will likely be better than the choices you have mentioned.

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BrokeAsshole@reddit

Trax is your best value for a new vehicle in that price range

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refuz04@reddit

I highly recommend going to Carmax. They aren’t perfect but you can sit in a bunch of different cars that are pretty ok. And have a chance to test drive and make a comfortable decision. They also try really hard not to make the process harder just because you are a woman.

I would highly discourage the two choices you mentioned they are cheap for a reason. A Honda HRV might be a good option for you.

Totally go to lunch/get a coffee and snack in the middle of the sales process so you can take a break and think about out the decision and math.

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HappyGuardian5@reddit

Waitnfor 2027 subaru crosstek

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OddBranch132@reddit

Or not if you don't want your car deciding whether you're fit to drive or not

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insanecorgiposse@reddit

I would specifically excude two those from a new car search. Buying a car is just the beginning and unless you are rich, a masochist or both, you need to focus on reliability which in turn equates with affordability and ownership satisfaction. I'd look at Mazda as an affordable alternative to Toyota, but steer clear of Korean or American junk which is painful to say but the truth.

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Crafty_Hamster_9421@reddit

All three are solid picks for an affordable small SUV. Quick breakdown:

The Trax is the most budget-friendly of the three and just got a full redesign — way better interior than the old one. Great value if you want something simple and reliable without a lot of extras.

The Trailblazer is a step up in size and features. It's a little more fun to drive and has better tech. If you want something that feels a bit more substantial than the Trax, this is the move.

The Venue is the smallest of the bunch but Hyundai's warranty is hard to beat — 5 year/60K bumper to bumper and 10 year/100K powertrain. If peace of mind matters to you, that's a big deal.

If you want something sportier than all three, take a look at the Mazda CX-30. It drives more like a car than an SUV, the interior feels nicer than anything else in this price range, and it's very reliable.

AI ass post

As you can see, a bunch of opinionated car guys are not going to give you useful advice.

Look for group test articles on these cars to see wha else in the segment.

Look at JD Power to understand any major reliability or ownership issues.

Same for depreciation / resale. Remember if you’re not buying then the depreciation is wrapped in the monthly price.

Figure out what your minimum spec is and don’t be swayed by the rest of the crap and gimmicks.

Fix your budget. Only exceed it as last resort. Otherwise you’ll never narrow the choice down.

Test drive 3 or 4 models. Make sure you try out the screen. If the car has terrible touchscreen interface (most do now) it’ll drive you insane. Likewise safety features. Some cars never stop bonging.

Generally, Chevys feel cheap and plasticky. Americans like them for some reason. No one else does.

Mazdas have been mentioned. The opposite of Chevys. Well finished, ergonomic interiors. Drive well. Always seem classier than competitors.

Hyundai and Kia have some great styling and good value. Current reports say they’re reliable. I think the Venue is known to feel cheap though.

Add the Crosstrek. No Subaru owner has ever been unhappy with their decision. They probably weren’t ecstatic, but never unhappy. Dated entertainment / screens, boring interiors, satisfyingly utilitarian.

Crossover city style Toyotas are impressively well put together and specced but send me to sleep.

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jrileyy229@reddit

Are you looking at new or used? You should never buy a Hyundai unless it's brand new or CPO...to where you are getting 10yr/100k warranty. That is the only reason you buy a Kia or Hyundai.

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ShowerEqual9622@reddit (OP)

It was a 2026 Hyundai venue

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jrileyy229@reddit

As long as it's brand new.

They key here is to understand the Hyundai warranty gets cut down to 5 years for the second owner. So if you're looking at a lightly used 2026 Hyundai from carvana, it will only have 5 year warranty. In that case, absolutely not.

Those cars have some of the highest rates of engine and transmission failures. You want the ten year warranty... And plan to dump it after ten years.

Information that coincides with the above points, is that resale is terrible on those cars. If you think you'll only keep it a few years, you should not buy a Hyundai.

Just look for a used EV like a ford mach e. You can get that for 30k or less.

Get a loan. If you do the math, you can get the monthly payments to 500 or less probably.

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Large-Cycle9904@reddit

Hyundai over Chevy in my experience as a salesman. I would always go Honda or Toyota if I could afford the difference.

I would say Honda and Toyota are S tier brands Hyundai and Kia are c tier and Chevy is now a d tier brand.

Subaru or Mazda would be a good option. They are solid.

Run away from Nissan or Mitsubishi as if someone is chasing you with a chainsaw.

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iFoldMySocks@reddit

please be sure to do the math to see what you are paying for the car. monthly payment x month in term. no one seems to do this

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Far_Bid9833@reddit

If you don't want your mechanic to become your away from home husband. Just buy a Honda, Toyota, or Mazda.

If you end up buying a Honda CVT, make sure you change the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles. Same goes for Toyota. Make sure they get OEM fluid or they will go kaboom 💥.

Toyota Hybrids have a different transmission called a eCVT. Those transmissions are pretty much bulletproof but should still be cared for if you keep cars for a long time.

As far as I know, Mazda CX5/30/50 are great without major headaches. I believe the 70/90 had some issues in the past and their PHEV versions are kinda wonky. So take that as you will.