2022 Hyundai Venue — First Drive Review

Why would I buy it?

Practical cabin packed with features
Wide array of engine-gearbox combinations

Why would I avoid it?

Misses ventilated seats
Light beige fabric upholstery

Engine and Performance

While we review the 2022 Hyundai Venue, we’ll also be seeing if it gets all that it takes to beat the current bestseller in the segment — the Tata Nexon. Now, Hyundai has always prioritised giving buyers some choice in terms of powertrain and gearbox. Well, the segment bestseller Tata Nexon gets both petrol and diesel with the option of automatic as well. And the same goes for this Venue but with even more options.

The Hyundai Venue gets three engine options. One is the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol with 82bhp and 114Nm of torque output. In contrast, there's the high-tech 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbo-petrol that puts out 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. And finally, the most preferred diesel for the Indian market, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor that puts out 99bhp and 240Nm of torque. These engines come in a choice of three different gearboxes — the more powerful 1.0 turbo-petrol is offered with either a six-speed clutchless manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch auto. Meanwhile, the 1.2 petrol gets a five-speed manual, and the 1.5 diesel comes mated to a six-speed manual.

Now, the Venue's turbo option gets drive modes as well. Thus, there's quite an apparent change in the engine's power delivery and the way the throttle responds. In the Eco mode, the gearbox shifts up early to remain in the higher gear whenever possible, in a bid to attain more fuel efficiency. Whereas the Normal and Sport modes allow you to rev higher. In fact, you can shift manually with the gear lever or use the paddle shifters for a more enthusiastic experience. Not to mention, the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is quite a smooth and precise unit, and shifts down quickly when needed. It complements this small turbo engine well and the combination provides a nice peppy drive, be it in the city or out on the highway.

Ride and Handing

Since we’re seeing how the Venue stacks up against the Nexon, another USP of the Tata’s compact SUV is the way it drives and handles our road conditions. The Venue, too, does that while also providing that compact and easy-to-drive feel. The Venue's turning circle is still tight and the steering is very light, making it a boon to use in the city. It’s not the best in terms of steering feel but still manages to self-centre at low speeds and weighs up at higher speeds. Even its suspension is nicely tuned to make it feel pliant and offer a comfortable ride. Overall, despite being an SUV, it is easy to control like a hatchback and owners are going to appreciate it. Even new drivers will find it quite easy to drive as the hill-assist feature works flawlessly.

Exterior

Now, the Venue's front has changed to give it a more upmarket appeal. All thanks to the new grille. It gets the parametric design that we have seen on the latest Hyundai Tucson sold globally. It is shiny but not too loud. In fact, I'd say this is a good use of chrome and quite tastefully done. Its prime competitor, the Nexon, with its radical styling, is one of the good-looking vehicles. However, it hasn't received significant changes at the back, while the Venue does. Unlike the use of chrome at the front, the rear section is devoid of chrome, save for its badging. And the de-chromed look is quite appealing with the LED strip running wide between the tail lamps; a big change from its predecessor that will help the car stand out. Then, the new alloys and other small changes make it look sportier than before. All of this only aids in increasing its appeal among buyers.

Comfort, Convenience and Features

Inside, things remain pretty similar to the earlier Venue, that is, quite pleasant. Now, if you were to opt for the top-spec variant, like the one here, you get an electrically adjustable driver's seat. In terms of space, we'll see if there's a big change when we actually measure the car. However, worth mentioning is this two-step reclining rear seat, which will help occupants enjoy a more relaxed and comfortable drive.

The Venue has always led the pack in terms of features offered. This one's no different. In fact, it gets more updates inside to help take on its newer rivals. The biggest highlight is the main eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It now gets a Home to Car (H2C) connected car system that supports Alexa and Google Voice Assistant. What's more, this connected-car technology is updated with 60 Bluelink features and even supports 10 regional languages. That said, we would have loved it if it had ventilated seats, a feature that's proving to be a boon for our weather conditions.

Again, its rival, the Tata Nexon, had made quite a statement with its high score in safety standard tests. Well, the new Venue's test results are not out yet, but it doesn't fall short on any safety features. In fact, Hyundai says it gets more than 30 advanced safety features, including six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESC, vehicle stability management, hill assist, rear parking camera, and TPMS, among many others.

Conclusion

This new facelifted Venue model is available with the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine on all the variants, except the top-end SX (O). The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol is offered only in the mid-spec S (O) and top-end SX (O) variants. On the other hand, the 1.5-litre diesel engine is available in S+, SX and SX (O) variants. Another good thing is that, unlike the previous model, this time, the Venue can be had with its quick seven-speed DCT gearbox on the range-topping SX (O) variant.

All in all, the Venue is competitively priced. It has the looks, a practical cabin, features, and so many powertrain options to choose from. It's quite a capable product to take the bestseller crown from the Tata Nexon. But will it be able to do that? More so with the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift around the corner. Only time will tell.