Hyundai Venue: A compact SUV, the Venue is a very important product for Hyundai on its India journey, as it makes its play in the highly popular sub-4-meter SUV space.
The Venue has made quite an impression since it first hit the scene in 2019, but the European-influenced styling, feature-packed interior, and multiple powertrain options all wrapped in a compact package have made the Venue a real player in the segment.
Hyundai Venue: Design Idiom: Urban Sophistication
The Venue is reflective of Hyundai’s new design language with a signature bold front that ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language with the signature cascading grille and split-type headlamps – a consistent identity of Hyundai’s SUV family.
Its headlight units have been arranged lower down on the bumper assembly, with narrow LED DRLs inserted above them to give the XUV300 a specific lighting signature.
The SUV character can also be seen from the side profile that retains the squarish look, the roof bars and also gets the prominent character line that runs across the body.
Being less-than-4-metres long, it’s a fact that the Venue doesn’t appear as if it were squashed together or with compressed proportions—something that we typically observe at this level.
The rear is more in keeping with the front design, featuring square-shaped LED tail lamps that link with a light bar on top end versions to generate visual width.
With the 2022 facelift, there came a fair number of design tweaks, most notably on the front and rear, which make the Venue feel more in line with Hyundai’s global design language but without compromising on the compact proportions.
Powertrain Versatility
One of the Venue’s strengths is its numerous engine options. The base engine is a 1.2-litre NA petrol burner that makes approximately 83PS and is offered only with a 5-speed manual gearbox which is perfect for city runabouts with its linear power delivery and impressive fuel economy.
The star engine of the range is the 1.0-litre turbocharged GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol motor producing 120 hp and 172 Nm of torque.
This flexible powerplant is paired with a 6-speed manual, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, or Hyundai’s novel iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission), which doesn’t have a clutch pedal but can shift manually like “traditional” manuals.
For economy-oriented buyers, Hyundai formerly provided a 1.5-liter diesel, but that is gradually being phased out across the industry as it moves away from diesel propulsion in smaller vehicles.
Cabin experience: A touch of premium
Sit inside the Venue, and the cabin is instantly appealing, with a well-thought-out design and quality materials that belie its price.
The dashboard has a sharp design, which is dominated by an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Upper trims come with a digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, wireless phone charging, air purifier and a premium sound system.
The Venue was also one of the first in its class to offer connected car tech through Hyundai’s BlueLink system, which includes remote engine start and stop, climate control, and vehicle tracking and geofencing, to name more than 60 features.
Despite its small exterior dimensions, the cabin accommodates five occupants quite comfortably, although rear seat comfort is cramped for three adults on extended trips —
A form factor limitation that cannot be overcome by a body shell less than four meters in length. Not the largest, 350 liters of boot space, also has adequate weekender thunk.
Driving Dynamics
Hyundai has set the suspension up in the Venue such that it doesn’t roll around in a corner too much thanks to which body roll is well contained and yet, it’s not harsh and offers a rewarding ride, something that is tuned specifically for India’s road conditions.
The electric power steering is very light for ease of driving around town, but offers decent feel for the highway.
The turbo-petrol model – especially when paired with the dual-clutch auto – offers a lively drive with little lag and sharp shifts that do its back-road-blasting intentions no harm at all.
There are different drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – to alter throttle response and steering weight depending on driving style.
Safety Framework
As for safety, the Venue offers an arsenal of up to six airbags, coupled with electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, hill assist control and tyre pressure monitoring.
The high-strength steel body contributes to basic crash protection, though the Venue’s global NCAP score could be better relative to some other rival crossovers.
Market Positioning
The Venue is among the crowded sub- compact SUV category that also Urbanites Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and the most recent Renault Kiger.
Its placement suggests that they’re looking for few if any compromises—so, not ideal interior space efficiency, and not the lowest entry price, but the best features and driving experience.
Evolution and Impact
With regular updates and special editions, Hyundai has ensured that the Venue has stayed fresh in a constantly developing market.
It embodies Hyundai’s smart embodiment of these tangled urban consumer desires – an SUV design identity with compact dimensions and aggressive capabilities for downtown driving combing features and technology resonating to other higher tiers of vehicles.
Hyundai Venue:
The Hyundai Venue is the epitome of what the modern subcompact SUV is all about — squeezing style and features into the smallest possible package to make it look like you’re getting a lot for a little.
With its combination of premium features and range of powertrains in the entry SUV segment, the Venue has not just further bolstered Hyundai’s presence in the Indian market but also made us sit up and take notice of what’s on offer under-four metres.