After much hype and anticipation, Hyundai has finally launched the Venue compact SUV. Priced at Rs 6.50-11.11 lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India), the Venue is offered in four trim levels with three engine options – a 1.4-litre diesel, a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit. While manual transmission is standard, the turbo-petrol can also be had with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
As has become its modus operandi, Hyundai has packed its latest offering to the gills with equipment. So, how does the top-spec Venue stack up against the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and the Mahindra XUV300 in terms of features and price? We compare each of their top-spec variants, on paper, to find out.
Exterior
With a cascading front grille and dual-headlamp setup, the new Venue follows Hyundai’s latest design language and also sports an upright SUV stance that has worked well for the Creta. Similar to the rest of the competition, it comes with projector headlamps and LED DRLs, though the Ford goes one up by offering an HID headlight unit. The highly sought after sunroof finds place only in the Hyundai, Mahindra and Ford. Notably, the Venue wears a smaller set of wheels compared to the 17-inchers on the XUV300 and EcoSport.
Comfort and Convenience
Right off the bat, Hyundai has tried to tip the scales in its favour in this segment by equipping the Venue with its Blue Link connectivity technology that offers 33 smart features. So, while all contenders have keyless entry, push button start and auto climate control, owners of the Venue (with automatic gearbox) will be able to control all these functions remotely from their smartphones. The XUV300 is the only one to have the added flexibility of a dual-zone air conditioner, while rear seat passengers in the Venue and Nexon will be thankful for their dedicated AC vents.
Light sensing auto headlamps are a standard fitment across all the SUVs, except the Nexon. Rain-sensing wipers, auto interior rear view mirror, heated wing mirrors and telescopic steering are few of the other items that can be found in other SUVs but are absent from the new Hyundai’s equipment list.
Barring the Tata, cruise control is part of the package across the range. If you’re one who likes to tinker around with driving modes while behind the wheel, then the Venue will leave you wanting for more, unlike some of its rivals. Mild-hybrid technology, with auto start stop, is another feature missing on the latest entrant to the compact SUV segment.
Seats and Upholstery
Basic essentials like driver’s seat height adjust, adjustable headrests, armrests and 60:40 split folding rear seats are universal in this segment. However, what manages to set the cabin apart in the Hyundai, Mahindra and Ford is the use of richer materials for the upholstery, steering wheel and gear knob.
Infotainment
Matters are more closely matched in this department, with features like Bluetooth, steering-mounted controls, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation and voice recognition being available across the board. The 8.0-inch displays running on Hyundai’s Blue Link and Ford’s Sync3 systems are the largest in the class. The XUV300 and Vitara Brezza come with decently sized 7.0-inch touchscreens too, while the 6.5-inch unit on the Nexon is a size too small in this comparison. The Venue still manages to pull ahead of the competition by being the only one to offer a wireless phone charger.
Safety
Owing to safety regulations, basic kit like dual airbags, ABS, EBD and rear parking sensors are standard across the range of SUVs. However, the Mahindra uniquely comes with front parking sensors too. The more expensive trio – the Venue, XUV300 and EcoSport – offer much more by the way of safety in their top-spec trims, including six airbags (seven in case of the XUV), brake assist, ESC and hill start assist (also available on the Nexon). Isofix child seat mounts and reversing camera are common offerings too.
While the Hyundai Venue is yet to be crash-tested, the competition has been subjected to this scrutiny in some form. The Tata Nexon is the first Indian car to have scored a perfect 5-star GNCAP rating, while the Maruti Brezza follows suit with a 4-star rating in the same test. The European-spec EcoSport and the SsangYong Tivoli (on which the XUV300 is based) have each fared well with four stars in the Euro NCAP tests.
Price
It is evident that the Venue is a formidable competitor when it comes down to equipment levels alone. Additionally, Hyundai has managed to give it an attractive pricing that not only undercuts the XUV300 and EcoSport significantly, but also knocks on the territories of the more budget-oriented Brezza and Nexon (with only the top-spec turbo-petrol Venue costing a bit more). It will be interesting to see if the Korean carmaker’s latest product can climb to the top of the SUV sales chart in the coming months.
(*Prices for the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV300 are ex-showroom pan-India)
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
