The burgeoning compact SUV segment is extremely popular among buyers in India, and nearly every carmaker in India has attempted to join the bandwagon. However, Hyundai had been missing out on all the action and made it’s entry into this particular segment with the Venue. This SUV will fill the gap between the i20 and the Creta and comes with four engine and transmission options, including a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Venue brings with it a host of segment-first connectivity features, a quality cabin, bold design language, good performance and impressive levels of comfort – all at a very competitive price tag.
Exterior
There's more than just a hint of the Creta in the Venue's design. Up-front, the trapezoidal front grille is huge and gets chrome lining. The Venue too follows the trend of having slender lamps above and a box-shaped main headlight with LED DRLs bordering it. That flat bonnet looks wide, and the body cladding around gives it a butch stance. Along the side, there is a chunky character line that runs the length of the car, while the flared wheel arches house 16-inch alloys. Even the roof-rails add to the overall appeal of the SUV. At the rear, the Venue looks rather 'cute'. The ice cube-shaped tail lamps look neat; so does the raised portion of the upper half of the tail gate. Then there is the scuff plate that looks quite nice as well.
Variants
The 2019 Hyundai Venue variants are as follows: 1.2 Kappa E, 1.2 Kappa S, 1.4 U2 CRDi E, 1.0 Kappa Turbo GDI S, 1.4 U2 CRDi S, 1.0 Kappa Turbo GDI S DCT and 1.0 Kappa Turbo GDI SX. Features on board the Venue include a Bluetooth audio system with 6-speakers, electric mirrors, steering-mounted audio controls, cooled glovebox, rear AC vents, auto projector headlights with cornering lights and LED DRLs, touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, cruise control, electric sunroof, adjustable headrests, electric folding mirrors, Hyundai BlueLink connectivity, keyless entry and go, HD touchscreen display, rear wiper and washer and hill-start assist. On the safety front, it gets ABS with EBD, parking sensors, reverse camera, multiple airbags, ESC and VSM.
Interior
The all-black theme in the cabin looks quite nice, with silver accents in certain areas. The fit-and-finish of materials is impressive; even the steering and gear lever feel well finished. The 8.0-inch touchscreen unit is mounted in between the AC vents. The system operates smoothly, and there's embedded SIM tech as well. You sit pretty high up in the Venue, and the seats are firm and supportive with good bolstering as well. Space for two occupants at the rear is sufficient, but a third passenger would rather be a child, not an adult. Look around, and you'll notice a plethora of storage areas as well. You can also store huge bottles in the door pockets. Boot space, at 350 litres, is pretty accommodating.
Engine Specifications & Performance
The Hyundai Venue is powered by two petrol engines and one diesel engine. The 1.4-litre diesel engine produces 88bhp and 220Nm of torque, paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 1.2-litre petrol engine that produces 82bhp and 115Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, turbo petrol engine that makes 118bhp and 172Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. First up is the diesel-engined model. The motor doesn't really vibrate when it idles. And as you build pace, the engine gets smoother. Performance is linear, and the Venue is best driven at a relaxed pace. The clutch is quite light, and working the gearbox is a breeze. However, if strong performance is what you're after, the 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo petrol is the way to go. The engine is quiet at idle and loves to be revved. The motor sounds good too, and adds to the fun-to-drive factor, and power builds progressively. The twin-clutch transmission is responsive and smooth, but the addition of paddle-shifters would've been nicer. It also deals with rough patches of road effortlessly. The steering feels well weighted, making the driver confident when taking corners. However, there is some body roll when doing so.
Mileage
The Hyundai Venue's ARAI-certified fuel efficiency figure is rated at 23.7kmpl for the diesel model and 18.15kmpl for the turbo petrol model and 17.52kmpl for the 1.2-litre petrol model.
