Hyundai Venue

Since its launch in 2019, the Hyundai Venue has crossed three lakh unit sales and contributes 22% to Hyundai India’s overall volumes, highlighting its importance in the compact SUV segment. Notably, 36% of Venue buyers are first-time car owners, indicating a clear shift from hatchbacks to compact SUVs. To appeal further to young, first-time buyers, Hyundai has refreshed the Venue with updated styling and added features.

Hyundai Venue Exterior Design & Engineering
The facelift brings a bold new look with Hyundai’s ‘parametric’ grille finished in dark chrome with bronze undertones. The Venue now gets LED headlamps, while retaining the split setup for the indicators. However, fog lamps have been removed entirely. Redesigned front and rear bumpers with faux skid plates and a new full-width LED tail-lamp add a premium touch, aligning it with global Hyundai models. The 16-inch alloy wheels also get a new design.

Hyundai Venue Interior Space & Comfort
A new beige and grey interior theme makes the cabin feel airier than the outgoing version’s all-black layout. The driver’s seat now gets electric adjustment, and the part-leatherette upholstery feels comfortable, though it misses out on ventilation—a feature rivals offer. Rear seat comfort has improved with scooped-out front seats, a longer squab, and a two-step reclining backrest. While foot room is good, the narrow cabin makes it tight for three adults at the back.

Hyundai Venue Features & Safety
To meet the expectations of younger buyers, the Venue now comes with more equipment, including LED lighting, a digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting, new connected features, and embedded voice commands. It also includes drive modes on the DCT variant, an in-built air purifier, and a revamped 8-inch touchscreen interface. Other equipment includes six airbags, ESP, a wireless charger, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Ambient sound modes, like forest or beach themes, add flair but feel gimmicky. Ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera remain notable omissions.

Hyundai Venue Performance & Refinement
The Venue’s engine lineup includes an 83hp 1.2-litre petrol, a 100hp 1.5-litre diesel, and a 120hp 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. The diesel, shared with larger Hyundais but with a less advanced turbo, is smooth and refined at low speeds, making for relaxed city commuting. However, it feels strained at higher revs and has a narrow power band. The turbo-petrol, in contrast, offers strong mid-range performance and greater refinement, paired with either an iMT or a 7-speed DCT. The iMT is user-friendly for daily driving, though slower in spirited conditions, while the DCT is quick and responsive, enhanced by paddle shifters and selectable drive modes. Ride quality is firm, and while smaller bumps are absorbed well, sharper imperfections make their way into the cabin, giving the Venue a slightly busy feel on rough roads.

Hyundai Venue Ride Comfort & Handling
Ride quality is firm, and while smaller bumps are absorbed well, sharper imperfections make their way into the cabin, giving the Venue a slightly busy feel on rough roads.

Hyundai Venue Mileage
The Venue’s ARAI-certified fuel economy figures are competitive: 17.52kpl for the 1.2-litre petrol manual, 18.27kpl for the turbo-petrol manual, 18.15kpl for the turbo-petrol automatic, and a segment-best 24.2kpl for the diesel manual.

Hyundai Venue Price & Verdict
With prices ranging from Rs 7.94 lakh to Rs 13.62 lakh, the Venue is positioned as a well-rounded offering. It caters to a wide audience with multiple engine and transmission choices, user-friendly dynamics, and a strong feature list. Hyundai has addressed some key shortcomings, especially in rear seat comfort. While it still isn’t the most spacious, plush, or rugged compact SUV, the Venue performs well across the board, making it a compelling and competitive choice in its segment

READ THE FULL REVIEW