Introduction

Now, we’ve already driven the Venue before and you can check out our first drive review over here. As a product, the Venue is already proving to be hugely popular and raking in big sales numbers. In this review, we’re going to tell you five things that we loved about the Venue diesel and two things that we didn’t.

Positives

1. It is a looker

Hyundai already had a recipe for a good-looking urban SUV which was the Creta and with the Venue, all they had to do was scale it down. Being a boxy design means it isn’t too flashy, but when it comes to the Venue, the flash is in the details. Elements like the dark chrome finish for the grille, the low-set bumper-mounted headlamps and the rectangular DRLs stand out.

The top-spec SX trim also gets 16-inch alloys, proper roof rails and projector fog lamps. Our favourite design aspect, however, are the LED tail lamps with something called the lenticular lenses which look truly distinctive when they are lit.

2. Effortless Performance

Powering the Venue is the same engine that also powers the i20 albeit in a different state of tune. But, how will it perform in a bigger SUV body? Now, while the Venue might be a bigger car, it still weighs almost the same as the i20 and as a result the 90bhp and 220Nm of torque available on tap are more than adequate for the Venue. While the performance isn’t explosive like the 1.0-litre GDi petrol unit, it’s a refined, no-fuss unit which will consistently deliver good fuel-efficiency and adequate performance.

3. Equipment, plenty of it

At the time of its unveiling, the Venue was touted as the ultimate connected car, offering plenty of tech and features and it does stay true to that tag as it loaded to the gills with features. For starters, you get the excellent eight-inch infotainment system, sunroof, air purifier, wireless phone charger, cruise control, rear AC vents and a driver rearview monitor.

You also have Blue Link which enables a bunch of features like roadside assistance and SOS at the touch of a button. Blue Link also enables remote operation of the air-con controls and engine start-stop.

4. Refinement

Refinement is an important factor when it comes to making long journeys a less tiring affair and the Venue scores pretty good here. Hyundai has done an excellent job at the NVH. The engine itself is surprisingly silent at idle and it’s the same when cruising at triple-digit speeds. Even at 120kmph, the rev-counter hovers around the 3000rpm mark, chugging along with ease. This makes the Venue an ideal long-distance hauler.

5. Infotainment system

One of the highlights of the Venue’s interiors is the infotainment system. The eight-inch screen with HD-display boasts of crisp colours and a very good touch sensitivity. It gets all the connectivity features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth. You also get a video playing mode along with a host of other features.

Negatives

1. Stiff ride quality

All these years, we’ve seen Hyundai offering more of a comfort-oriented ride than a stiff and sporty one. But it’s not the same with the Venue. The Venue’s suspension has an underlying stiffness to it. It handles small potholes and road undulations quietly at low speeds. The ride is flat enough for the most part but the moment you go faster, you do notice some vertical movement and the rear tends to bounce over big undulations instead of absorbing them.

2. Not the most spacious five-seater

It might be compact but it’s still an SUV, so seating five passengers should be a comfortable affair, right? Wrong. It’s here that the Venue suffers a little. Compared to its competitors, the Venue is tight on space when you have three passengers seated at the back. It’s cosier than one would expect in a compact SUV. Also, taller passengers might find their knees brushing against the front seats.

Conclusion

Hyundai has hit the spot with the Venue and that can be seen with the huge number of bookings and waiting period for the Venue. Talking particularly about the diesel variant, it offers everything one can ask for. It’s comfortable in the city and the highways, offers plenty of kit, and is good to drive as well. Barring the small chinks in its armour, the Venue diesel makes a very strong case for itself.

Pictures By - Kapil Angane and Kaustubh Gandhi