On to the drive, we headed from the airport hotel through a part of the city and then on to the outer ring road towards Ramoji Film City. With a 998-cc, in-line three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine under the bonnet making 120 hp and 172 Nm, the Hyundai Venue has a lot of go on tap. A revised gearbox, a new-generation seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, does duty, sending the output to the front wheels.
In “Eco” mode, there is an evident delay and things are relaxed for comfort. “Normal” mode is ideal for city use and especially in traffic, however, for this sojourn, “Sport” mode was my preference. There are more revs to play with and, while the kick-down leads to longer-held gears, it’s the all-time usability I found impressive. The response is more immediate and that, together with the well-calibrated steering system and pliant suspension, makes for an enjoyable drive. There are even paddle-shifters on the steering wheel to enhance the sporty driving angle.
The ride quality is impressive and it feels more stable and planted at highway speed than its predecessor. The steering feels lovely and has excellent response. The brakes have good feel and bite too, with discs at the front and drums at the rear, but panic braking from speed tends to upset the car and send it off the intended trajectory. That apart, at civilised speeds, there is nothing to complain about and the Venue presents itself as a strong contender in the burgeoning compact SUV segment.
The list of rivals is long, in what has become a spectrum of compact SUVs, with the Hyundai Venue sitting above the middle and close to the top. It has three engine options each with their own transmission pairings: an 83-hp 1.2-litre, four-cylinder with a five-speed manual starting from Rs 7.53 lakh, a 120-hp 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol starting at Rs 10 lakh, which offers either a six-speed intelligent semi-auto manual or a seven-speed, dual-clutch auto—which we have here—at the upper end, with the 1.5-litre, four-pot, turbo-diesel, with a healthy 100 hp and 240 Nm, paired with a six-speed manual only, starting at Rs 10 lakh, all ex-showroom. The most expensive variant is the Turbo SX(O) DCT Dual-tone, which costs Rs 12.72 lakh (ex-showroom); Rs 15,000 less than the one we are driving. Would we like to see a taut and precise Venue N Line? Sure. Let’s wait and watch! Exciting times ahead for Hyundai India.
Need to Know – Hyundai Venue Turbo SX(O) DCT
Price: Rs 12.57 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 998-cc, in-line three, direct-injection, turbo-petrol
Max Power: 120 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque: 172 Nm @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, coupled torsion beam rear
Weight: 1,220 kg (estimated)
