The Hyundai Venue N Line, one of the most performance-oriented cars in the compact SUV space, comes with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. While the Skoda Kushaq is positioned a segment above, it is also offered with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol mill at a slightly higher price. If you are looking for a fun-to-drive SUV, should you go for the Venue N Line or upgrade to the Kushaq? We compare the Venue N Line DCT with the Kushaq AT to find out.
Hyundai Venue N Line DCT vs Skoda Kushaq AT: Price, specs
The Kushaq is larger and heavier, and is more expensive than the Venue N Line
Hyundai Venue N Line vs Skoda Kushaq: Specifications and price | ||
Venue N Line | Kushaq | |
Engine | 3-cyl, turbo-petrol | 3-cyl, turbo-petrol |
Displacement (cc) | 998 | 999 |
Power (hp) | 120 | 115 |
Torque (Nm) | 172 | 178 |
Gearbox | 7-speed DCT | 8-speed AT |
Kerb weight (kg) | 1,258 | 1,300 |
Power to weight (hp/tonne) | 96 | 88.46 |
Torque to weight (Nm/tonne) | 137.6 | 136.92 |
Price range (in Rs lakh) | 11.56-15.49 | 12.89-17.89 |
Both the Venue N Line and Skoda Kushaq get a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TGDi petrol engine with similar outputs. However, the SUVs use very different automatic gearboxes – the Venue N Line gets a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), whereas the Kushaq has an 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission (AT). The midsize Kushaq is larger than the compact Venue N Line and is 42kg heavier. The additional 5hp and weight advantage mean the Venue N Line has a slightly better power-to-weight ratio, but the torque-to-weight ratio is similar for both SUVs.
The Kushaq’s AT variants are pricier than the Venue N Line’s DCT variants – Rs 1.33 lakh more for the base variant and Rs 2.4 lakh more in top-spec guise.
Hyundai Venue N Line DCT vs Skoda Kushaq AT: 0-100kph test
The Kushaq posts a slightly quicker 0-100kph time
Hyundai Venue N Line DCT vs Skoda Kushaq AT: Acceleration from standstill | ||
Speed | Venue N Line 1.0TP DCT | Kushaq 1.0TP AT |
20kph | 1.69 seconds | 1.16 seconds |
40kph | 3.35 seconds | 2.65 seconds |
60kph | 5.50 seconds | 4.97 seconds |
80kph | 8.18 seconds | 8.06 seconds |
100kph | 11.93 seconds | 11.83 seconds |
120kph | 17.78 seconds | 17.57 seconds |
Right off the line, the Kushaq gets a better launch, mainly because of its torque-converter automatic gearbox. The Venue N Line’s DCT has been deliberately dulled to improve clutch longevity. This initial advantage continues, with the Kushaq AT recording a 0.10-second quicker 0-100kph time than the Venue N Line DCT.
The automatic variants of both the Venue N Line and Kushaq are offered with paddle shifters, but the Venue N Line gets three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – along with traction modes that can tweak the throttle response as desired. For the real-world performance tests, we used the Venue N Line in the ‘Sport’ mode. Such modes are absent on the Kushaq.
Hyundai Venue N Line DCT vs Skoda Kushaq AT: Rolling acceleration test
Venue N Line DCT posts quicker rolling acceleration times than Kushaq AT
Hyundai Venue N Line DCT vs Skoda Kushaq AT: Rolling acceleration | ||
Speed | Venue N Line 1.0TP DCT | Kushaq 1.0TP AT |
20-80kph | 6.21 seconds | 6.81 seconds |
40-100kph | 8.34 seconds | 8.88 seconds |
Once past the initial turbo lag, the Venue N Line offers strong performance as the computer does not slip the clutch to save it while downshifting aggressively. This is also visible in the rolling acceleration results, where the Venue N Line turbo-DCT powertrain posts quicker 20-80kph and 40-100kph acceleration times in kickdown mode by 0.60 seconds and 0.54 seconds, respectively.
The Skoda Kushaq is quicker off the line, but the Venue N Line excels in rolling acceleration. So, if you have the budget and need a bigger car, you can go with the Kushaq, and if not, the Venue N Line is a good enough option if you want a fun-to-drive SUV.
Autocar India’s testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment with two people on board, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
Prices are ex-showroom, India.