Analysis: Hyundai Venue - Still want that Creta?

To be launched on May 21, the Hyundai Venue is set to make an impact in the compact SUV segment – but can it also end up cannibalising sales of its bigger sibling, the Hyundai Creta?

Published On Apr 19, 2019 11:00:00 AM

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Analysis: Hyundai Venue - Still want that Creta?

At the end of a series of teaser videos and a fairly long wait, the Hyundai Venue compact SUV finally made its global debut yesterday. While potential buyers know exactly where the Venue fits into Hyundai’s scheme of things, a lot of people were left wondering – does the Creta still have something unique to offer? And if the Venue can do it all, does one really need to stretch their budget for a Creta? This is a question that’ll be on the mind of every individual who has either of the two SUVs on their shopping list, so we’ve tried to answer all your questions and tell you what both SUVs have to offer.

Is the Hyundai Venue an alternative to the Creta?

In case you’re wondering, the Venue is not intended to be an alternative to the hot-selling Creta. What it is, is Hyundai’s first-ever compact SUV, one that will enter what is possibly the hottest segment in the Indian passenger vehicle market today, and will go up against established rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and the Mahindra XUV300. It is now the smallest SUV in Hyundai’s global line-up.

How much of a size difference is there in between the Venue and the Creta?

Being a sub-four-metre SUV, the Venue is decidedly more compact than the Creta, which is a proper midsize SUV and sits a segment above. Overall length is where the biggest difference lies between the two Hyundai SUVs. The Creta is a full 275mm longer than the Venue that has been tailored to fit into the sub-four-metre bracket (and consequently enjoy tax sops extended to ‘small cars’). The Creta is also a good 75mm taller, overall, than the Venue, and while the Venue is nearly as wide (1,770mm) as the Creta (1,780mm), the Creta has a 90mm longer wheelbase, which makes a clear difference in terms of interior space. The Venue’s rear seat is significantly down on space to the Creta’s, which has a good amount of room. Hyundai hasn’t yet revealed the exact capacity of the Venue’s boot, and while it is spacious and well-shaped for a compact SUV, it will most certainly fall short of matching the Creta’s 405-litre boot. Ultimately, for someone who needs the extra space, the Creta will still be the SUV to pick.

How do the Hyundai Venue’s engine and gearbox options compare to the Creta’s?

When it comes to petrol engines, the Hyundai Creta has only one option on offer – a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder unit that produces 123hp and 151Nm of torque. Gearbox options for the Creta petrol include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque convertor automatic.

The Venue offers more in the way of choice when it comes to petrol engines. On offer with the Venue are a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder unit – the same as on the i20 – that makes 83hp and 115Nm of torque, and a brand-new, 1.0-litre, three-cylinder T-GDI turbo-petrol churning out 120hp and 172Nm. An interesting point to note is that the Venue’s turbo-petrol engine makes more torque than the Creta’s 1.6-litre unit, and being the smaller of the two, the Venue is likely to be a sprightly drive. While the 1.2-litre petrol variant can only be had with a 5-speed manual, buyers can pick either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox for the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. Do remember, the Venue is the only compact SUV to currently get a dual-clutch gearbox, and that the Creta doesn’t get a DCT.

What the Creta does get, however, is a bigger diesel engine. Yes, it does have a smaller 1.4-litre unit available too (making 90hp and 220Nm of torque), but the one that sees most takers is the 1.6-litre diesel that makes 128hp and 260Nm of torque. In comparison, the Venue diesel borrows the 1.4-litre diesel from the Creta in the same state of tune. Where the Creta pulls out an advantage is in the gearbox options – while a 6-speed manual is standard for both SUVs, the Creta also has the option of a torque convertor automatic gearbox available with the 1.6-litre diesel engine. Yes, there is no automatic option offered with the Venue diesel – at least at launch. By default, the Creta will be the pick of the two, for those looking for the convenience of a diesel-automatic.

Does the Hyundai Venue have more features than the Creta?

It would be incorrect to say the Venue gets more features than the Creta, but it does pack in most of what its bigger sibling does. The biggest differentiator for the Hyundai Venue is its BlueLink infotainment system, which, with an embedded SIM card, offers 33 connectivity features, including giving owners the ability to track their vehicle, remotely switch the engine and air-conditioning on or off and more. The Creta does not have this feature, and will only get it when the new-generation model arrives later in 2020. The Venue’s floating 8.0-inch touchscreen unit is also bigger than the 7.0-inch screen in the Creta.

Both SUVs get projector headlights with LED DRLs, alloy wheels (16-inch on the Venue, 17-inch on the Creta), an electric sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, cruise control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, an Arkamys audio system, rear AC vents and six airbags. The Creta, in top-spec form, also packs in a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and ventilated front seats, which are feel-good features but add to the price and are, hence, missing from the Venue.

Feature-savvy buyers might just be drawn to a top-spec Venue rather than a mid-spec Creta.

How much lower will the Hyundai Venue’s price be than the Creta’s?

While we’ll only know for sure once it’s launched on May 21, it’s certain the Hyundai Venue’s price will undercut the Creta’s by a significant margin. Benefiting from tax sops for small cars, we expect the Venue’s prices to range from Rs 8-12 lakh, which is much lower than the Creta’s price range of Rs 10-15.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). That said, you will see an overlap in prices. For instance, a top-spec Venue could cost as much as a mid-spec Creta, and while it will likely have a lot more equipment, it will still be a significantly smaller SUV – on both the outside and inside.

Think the Venue has the potential to snare buyers away from the Creta, or does Hyundai’s bestselling SUV still hold a clear advantage? Let us know in the comments.

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