Introduction

The compact SUV segment was once dominated by the Ford EcoSport and is now teeming with many more players like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300, Honda WR-V, etc. With a rise in demand for such SUVs and crossovers, every carmaker wants to have a product that fulfils this particular need of the Indian buyer. Hyundai too has come up with such a product. Yes, the car in question is the new Venue. This new offering from Hyundai sits below the Creta in the brand’s Indian line-up and comes in 11 variants. These include seven petrol and four diesel variants across four trim levels – E, S, SX, and SX(0). How good a product? Our road test will tell.

Design and style

The new Venue has been conceived using the same design language as its other Hyundai siblings. Naturally, it has the same basic design cues which are clean with simple lines and striking details just like the other models. That said, the Venue has a few distinctive bits. For example, the bold chrome grille and an unusual, but new headlamp position in the bumpers surrounded by bright DRLs. The latter will be seen on more models soon and we will get used to it with time. In fact, the overall proportions and dimensions make it a compact car. And yet, the muscular styling upholds its macho looks and stance. The striking alloy wheels, roof rails and tastefully designed rear help its case further in looking like a premium compact SUV.

Interior

Like the exterior, the interior has been thoroughly refreshed and brought in line with current Hyundai standards. The all-black theme doesn’t help in brightening up the cabin, but it won’t get dirty in the long run. The dashboard has ergonomically placed elements like the air-con vents and the new Arkamys tablet-like touchscreen music system. The overall fit and finish is typical Hyundai and not much to fault at. Many storage and stowage places make it a practical cabin. Seats are nice and broad with good side and under-thigh support. Then, all-round visibility is good too.

The only Achilles heel will be then that three occupants in the rear seat are not just going to rub their shoulders, but might have to overlap to adjust. Otherwise, headroom and legroom are sufficient for anyone to be comfortable enough. Also, they might have to make do with door pockets big enough for a bottle and nothing else. But then, that’s accounted for by the seatback pockets for both front seats. Even though they might eat into the limited knee-room but are generous enough. The rear seat gets the split type fold arrangement which aids in accommodating different types of baggage if the large 350 litre boot doesn’t suffice one’s needs.

Safety and equipment

Right from the entry-level base trim, the Venue comes standard with dual front airbags, ABS, seat-belt reminders and rear parking sensors. However, the top-spec trims of the car are handsomely packed with features like DRLs, automatic projector headlights and fog lamps, key-less entry, push-button start/stop, a sunroof and automatic climate control. Then, there’s a rear camera paired to an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible. What distinctively differentiates the Venue from its rivals is that it offers a wireless charging dock, fast USB charging and even an air purifier.

Still, the highlight of the Venue is Hyundai’s Blue Link connectivity technology, which comprises 33 features that span vehicle management, safety, security, location-based services, remote access, alert services and AI-based language inputs. It utilises an embedded Vodafone-Idea SIM card for connectivity. A much-appreciated effort by Hyundai in connected car technology!

Engine and Performance

As mentioned earlier, the Hyundai Venue gets three engine options. One is the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol with 82bhp and 115Nm of torque output. In contrast, there's a high-tech 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol that puts out 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. And then, there's the most preferred diesel for the Indian market. It gets the 1.4-litre four-cylinder motor that puts out 89bhp and 220Nm of torque. There's a choice of three different gearboxes - the more powerful 1.0 turbo-petrol will be offered with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Meanwhile, the 1.2 petrol gets a five-speed manual and the 1.4 diesel comes mated to a six-speed manual.

What we have first tested here is the new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol mill which is a powerful one for a car weighing a little over a ton (1,140kg). It's very smooth, quiet and yet has a nice sporty note to it when revved. And boy, it feels outright quick off the mark with the 0-100kmph sprint achieved in just 11.49 seconds. And despite nicely pulling from low revs like 1,500rpm, it gets a second wind post 2,000rpm to get going even faster. And even if it revs clean to 6,500rpm, the power build up tapers off after 5,500rpm hinting the top-end isn't that strong. Nonetheless, it's good to help push the car past slow traffic and great enough to keep momentum without constant changing of gears. The roll-on tests portray this as the 20-80kmph run in third gear takes 11.85 seconds and the 40-100kmph sprint in fourth is handled within 13.75 seconds. The six-speed transmission here manages to complement the torque available. This gearbox is precise with short throws, gear shifts light to use and slot in well. Interestingly, the clutch complements it further by being well-weighted and light enough to ease things while driving amidst city traffic.

The diesel, on the other hand, isn't as quiet as the petrol, but silent and refined by the segment standards. And despite weighing 1,250kg, this set-up never feels underpowered. Sure, it doesn't feel as peppy as the turbo petrol but provides adequate performance for the city and the highway especially with all that torque. Keep the revs between 2,000-3,000rpm and the engine performs with gusto. Sure, you have to use the gearbox with tall gearing here quite often, but whenever it’s in the meat of the power band, there's no doubting the car's cruising capabilities. Attaining and maintaining triple-digit speeds feels like a breeze. It achieved the 0-100kmph sprint in 12.87seconds and took 14.05 seconds to accelerate from 40-100kmph. However, it shined in the in-gear acceleration from 20-80kmph as it completed this run in 10.29 seconds hinting at its excellent drivability.

Ride and Handling

The suspension is slightly on the stiffer side so the potholes can be felt at slow speeds. We wish it was better damped, but thanks to the high profile tyres there’s not much noise inside the cabin. At high speeds, it feels pliant and the rebound is well-controlled to offer a comfortable ride. That said, big undulations will induce some vertical movement. Otherwise, the body control is quite good especially on tighter corners thanks to the firmer suspension. It contains the side-to-side movement of passengers well and takes bad roads with ease.

The Venue is indeed an easy to drive SUV. Its turning circle is tight and steering is very light making it a boon to use in the city. It’s not the best in terms of steering feel but still manages to self-centre at low speeds and weigh up at higher speeds. Sure the brakes might never leave you wanting for a tad better bite and feel, but never did it feel nervous to stop no matter the load. Overall, this SUV is easy to control like a hatchback.

Price and Fuel Economy

Ex-showroom prices for the new Hyundai Venue start at Rs 6.50 lakhs for the base petrol version, going up to Rs 11.10 lakhs for the range-topping automatic variant. This puts it in the Rs 7.5-13 lakhs on-road price bracket, which is competitive compared to most of its rivals. The turbo petrol manual is explosive not just with its power, but price too, as it retails to Rs 12.53 lakhs. We, however, wish this one was more fuel efficient as it only managed to return 10.41kmpl in the city run and 12.3kmpl on the highway test cycle. Otherwise, the other fuss-free diesel mill with an adequate performance is a frugal one as it returned 15.26kmpl in the city run and 19.46kmpl on the highway. It costs about Rs 13 lakhs on-road in Mumbai.

Verdict

It mustn’t be hard to figure by now that Hyundai has nailed it with the Venue as an overall package. It has got the looks, features and a practical cabin. Then, there are the refined engines while offering a nice ride quality, great drivability, and yet with a compact footprint, unlike its bigger SUV siblings. It still loses out on some points for its dark interior and the top-spec variants being a little expensive. But more features come at a price! And yet, there’s nothing major that stops us from recommending it. The Venue is impressive nonetheless!

Pictures by Kaustubh Gandhi

Specifications

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Test Data

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