Hyundai pulled out all the stops with its first-ever compact SUV. Not only did Hyundai price it competitively, the carmaker also packed it with equipment and a choice of engine and gearbox options to choose from.
We got our hands on the diesel and turbo-petrol variants to get a feel of the newest compact SUV on the block and see if it has what it takes to be the best in the segment.
On approaching the Venue, you notice that despite it being a sub-four-metre SUV, it looks well-proportioned and rather handsome. Its unique split-headlamp arrangement, and the massive cascading grille and silver skid plates give it a muscular first impression. From the side profile, it looks like a barely shrunken Creta, thanks to its flat bonnet, upright cabin and 195mm ground clearance.
Round the back, styling is neat, comprising of attractive, square-ish tail-lamps, and square reverse lamps integrated in the bumper. Still, due to its short height, it could be mistaken for a jacked-up hatchback from afar.
There are two petrols and one diesel engine on offer. Of these, the 83hp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol, mated to a 5-speed manual; and the 90hp, 1.4-litre four-cylinder diesel, mated to a 6-speed manual, are both shared with the i20. The third engine is a new 120hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit that’s paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Coming to the diesel engine, it is refined and progressive in the way it builds speeds. There is a bit of turbo lag initially, but beyond 1,800rpm it does the job just fine. The engine feels the strongest between 2,000rpm and 3,500rpm, after which power tapers off. What users will like, however, is its 23.70kpl fuel economy (claimed), and its light clutch. Even its 6-speed gearbox is smooth to operate, has well-defined gates and an easy-to-slot shift action.
The other engine that we sampled was the 998cc, three-cylinder turbo-petrol, and it made a positive first impression with its refinement at idle. Tap the accelerator and it feels responsive, but with an ever-so-slight delay till about 1,600rpm. What’s nice is that, whether in the city or on the highway, this motor feels quite effortless, with a wide spread of performance across the revs. The build-up of speed is linear, but cross 5,000rpm and there’s a strong tug in performance, and due to its free-revving nature, it will go well past 6,000rpm, without much stress. And even at those revs, though a typical three-cylinder ‘thrum’ is audible, it still doesn’t sound crude or harsh.
Even the new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is smooth in its operation and shifts gears seamlessly. Put your foot down for a quick overtake and downshifts are quick enough, and there’s no real need for a manual intervention; although, it is good to know that there is a tiptronic (manual) mode available.
The Venue’s suspension is on the stiffer side and it thuds through potholes and ruts, but not in a jarring manner. The tall 215/60 R16 tyres do well to absorb some of the road shocks. Pick up speed and the ride gets flatter, and the Venue remains unfazed over bad surfaces, with its suspension working silently. Show the Venue some corners and it feels willing to change directions, with a fair amount of grip too.
There is a bit of body roll and its steering is light, but the feel is very consistent. Still, it isn’t as sharp, or as engaging as the EcoSport. The brakes have a strong initial bite and the pedal feel is progressive thereafter. Under hard braking, the car can get unsettled.
Typical to other Hyundais, the Venue’s interior boasts of well-finished, high-quality materials, with not a single bit that feels cheap or out of place. The dashboard design is neat and the silvered-over highlights add a nice contrast to the all-black cabin. The floating touchscreen appears like an afterthought; however, there’s a lot to like here, like the cool, round climate control knobs and the ample storage areas spread all across, including charging ports, as well as a tray for wirelessly charging your smartphone.
The view from the driver’s seat is quite commanding, with ample glass area around, Getting in and out of the car is also trouble-free, thanks to the upright cabin. The rear seat isn’t the roomiest one around, as legroom is tight, and the dark-coloured interiors rob some of the sense of space.
That said, the rear seat is nicely angled, the cushioning is comfortable, and there’s a lot of space under the front chairs for your feet. Seating three abreast at the rear can be a bit tight, and the protruding rear air con console eats into the middle passenger’s knee room. At 350 litres, boot space is at par with rivals like the Nexon’s (350 litres) and EcoSport’s (352 litres).
Hyundai has stuffed the Venue with several premium features like a sunroof, wireless phone charging, an air purifier, cruise control, 16-inch diamond-cut alloys, automatic projector headlamps with LED DRLs and cornering lights. It gets a slick 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment that not only supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, but also gets Hyundai Blue Link technology with India-first connected vehicle features for safety and security, location-based services, voice commands, driver alerts, etc. It also includes several safety features like hill-start assist, six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP and child seat mounts, to name a few.
Although a bit late, Hyundai has arrived to the party with a likeable car in the shape of the Venue. This SUV has everything that buyers in this segment are looking for, with its baby-Creta-like looks, well-appointed interiors,a list of premium features and a wide variety of engine and transmission options. Its diesel engine feels a bit lethargic and legroom at the rear isn’t as good as the competition, but none of these are real deal-breakers. What makes the Venue an even more attractive proposition is its price tag, which starts at ₹6.50 lakh for the base 1.2-litre petrol and goes up to ₹11.10 lakh for the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol automatic. The Venue then is a well-rounded, value-for-money SUV that’s got all the traits to be the best-in-class.
