With crossovers showing no signs of slowing in popularity, the subcompact segment is just going to get more and more competitive. When the Hyundai Venue lands later this year, it'll be going up against the Honda HR-V, Kia Soul, Nissan Kicks, and Subaru Crosstrek as an entry-level crossover, which means fuel economy will be a big factor in its success. Hyundai will be offering the Venue with either a manual transmission model or CVT, and it's a case of choosing the tool for the job when it comes to the EPA fuel economy ratings that have just been released.

The manual-equipped model is estimated to deliver 27 mpg in town, 35 on the highway, and 30 mpg when combined, which will make this option the king of the highway. The CVT is set to return 30 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway and 32 mpg when combined, which makes it the choice for city and all-round fuel economy.

Sizing the Venue up against the Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, and Kia Soul it beats their combined ratings of 30 mpg in CVT form and matches them with the manual transmission option.

However, it doesn't quit match up Nissan's stylish little Kicks model when it comes to sipping fuel. The Kicks logs in with 31 mpg around the city, 36 on the highway, and 33 mpg when combined. What we don't know yet though is the price of the Venue, although we're expecting it to fall in a couple of grand under the $20,000 mark, in line with the Kicks and Soul but cheaper than Honda's HR-V.

If Hyundai can price the Venue as low as $17,000, it would be the value choice in the subcompact crossover segment.

It feature's an updated version of Hyundai's 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine making 121 horsepower and will be covered by the automaker's 5-year/60,000-mile limited and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties.