Introduction: The Hyundai Venue has been a runaway success for Hyundai in India. And why not? They stole the show in terms of pricing and are offering a product that not only looks modern, but comes packed with features never before seen in the industry. All this at a price point that threatens to challenge and beat all its rivals in months to come. While we brought you a detailed review on the petrol-auto Venue last month, we got behind the wheel of the diesel version too and here is what we think about it.
Think SUVs and you will immediately associate them with diesel powertrains. Yes, the price difference between petrol and diesel is coming down but the fact that the latter delivers 20-30% higher economy, is about 10% cheaper and offers a lot more torque means diesel SUVs are very much in demand today. And this is where we the Venue diesel comes into the picture. If you have a monthly running of over 1600-1800 km, continue to read on.
The Venue diesel is available in all four trims of E, S, SX and SX(O) which means you can opt for anything from the basic one to the top end that looks very attractive thanks to key exterior elements. Talking of which, the Venue is similar to other compact vehicles in terms of length but is narrower than the XUV300, Brezza and the Nexon. Likewise, it has the lowest height among all the rivals and we will be frank here, dimensionally, the Venue tries hard to match the others.
Design: Where it stands out however is the imposing front-end design. There is no taking away from the fact that the Venue ends up stealing the show from its rivals. The striking indicators, squarish DRLs (day time running lights) and the massive chrome laden grille makes the compact SUV look bigger than what it really is.
The side profile is a lot like its elder sibling the Creta, and helps it show off the cool looking alloy wheels. We are a fan of the design and finishing up the side are the roof rails. At the back, things aren’t as interesting as the front. Rather, the Venue looks compact and muscular from here, a lot like the first gen BMW 1 Series - this is mainly down to the small, cute tail lamps. The rear is clutter free and the reflectors get a squarish treatment too.
Getting inside the Venue isn’t a challenge and once seated, it gives you a very car like feel. This will be appreciated by those who are looking at a compact SUV but want the ease of driving factor for daily runs. The cabin is finished in black with silver inserts at places to break the monotony. Quality of level is good, if not class leading but one area where the Venue ups the ante is in terms of features. From the much talked about Blue Link app to the sunroof and even wireless charging, the Venue will definitely impress the younger generation.
That said, space isn’t the best around. This is especially true for the back row where rivals like the Nexon offer far more space. Getting five large adults into the Venue will call for some levels of discomfort. The boot though is large and offers 350 liters of space which more than that of the XUV300 and the Brezza.
Engine: But it's the engine we need to focus here and hence let's turn our attention to the powertrain. We covered the 1.0 turbo-petrol that comes with an optional DCT auto ‘box a few weeks back and were quite impressed. The diesel motor is the same unit that also powers the Verna, Creta and the i20 and has impressed us time and again with its smooth nature. It comes paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox - no optional automatic as of now.
90 bhp of power and 220 Nm of torque aren’t class leading figures but where the motor leaves a smile on your face is its tractable nature. Turbo lag is well controlled and once past 1500rpm, the Venue diesel moves ahead with enthusiasm. We drove it on the uphill stretch from Guwahati to Shillong and even with four pax on board along with air-con running at full blast, the mid-range proved its mettle, thus preventing the need to downshift often. And when on the boil, above 2500rpm, it gathers momentum at a rapid pace.
The gear shift quality is another area where Hyundai has perfected the game. Along with the EcoSport, it is one of the best gearboxes around and the 6th cog helps you get good fuel economy figures. Talking of which, at a certified 23.7 kmpl, the Venue is the second most efficient car in the segment. Another area where the Venue diesel will earn brownie points are the NVH or the noise, vibration and harshness levels. Drive rivals like the Brezza or Nexon back to back and the Venue will leave you surprised. It is that good. In fact, during daily commutes, if the air-con is running, rear passengers will not be able to make out if it's a petrol or a diesel mill under the hood.
Conclusion: We loved the petrol Venue for its light steering and this one is no different. In fact the additional weight of the diesel unit makes the steering slightly better when it comes to feedback at higher speeds. The Guwahati-Shillong route is famous for never ending curves and corners and it was a joy flicking this new Hyundai around bends. Not the most direct or feedback laden set-up, but very good nevertheless.
Hyundai threw us a surprise when they announced the pricing last month. The diesel range starts at Rs 7.5 lakh (ex-showroom) and this means it undercuts every single rival apart from the Nexon. If you are in the market for a stylish sub 4m compact SUV, one that is comfortable, feature loaded and drives well, the Venue calls for a serious look!
