Hyundai is planning to strengthen its SUV portfolio in India. In a bid to do so the company will launch the Brezza rivaling Venue compact SUV next month. The Hyundai Venue was first unveiled at the 2019 New York Auto Show and since then the SUV has created quite a buzz. Today the brand previewed the Venue in an utmost unique fashion, amidst the Arabian sea on a cruise liner. The compact SUV’s powertrains, specifications and features list too has been revealed. The SUV has a staggering 11 segment firsts, but before we get to that let’s take a look at the car’s design, powertrains and connectivity features.
The Venue features unmistakable compact SUV proportions and comes with Hyundai’s signature design language. The side profile sports bold and large wheel arches along with an edgy shoulder line. At the front, the mesh pattern grille is a part of Hyundai’s new design language for SUVs. The fog lamps are surrounded by square-ish DRL strips and the headlamps above look very sleek.
It’s the first time Hyundai India will be offering its Kappa 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The in-house developed seven-speed dual clutch transmission too will make its debut in the Venue. The 1.0 litre T-GDI engine makes 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. Transmission options for this engine include the seven-speed dual clutch unit and a five-speed manual.
Even though this engine is built for better performance, Hyundai says that fuel efficiency hasn’t been compromised. The exhaust manifold has been integrated to the cylinder head, thus improving fuel efficiency at higher rpm ranges. Moreover, the DCT has been subjected to rigorous durability tests for high gear strength and better clutch friction materials to offer the optimal performance at high speeds, off-road, hill-sides and harsh climatic conditions.
There’s also the 1.2-litre petrol engine and the 1.4-litre diesel mill which currently powers most of Hyundai’s existing portfolio. The former makes 82bhp and 115Nm of torque while the latter is good for 89bhp and 220Nm of torque. These engines however will only be mated to five speed and six speed manual transmissions and the dual clutch unit will be uniquely offered with the turbo-petrol powertrain.
The car features a host of segment firsts such as wireless charging, air purifier, projector fog lamps, HD display screen and wheel air curtains. Another highlight of the car is the ‘Hyundai Blue Link’ connectivity system. The in-built tamper-proof device is powered by a Vodafone-Idea eSIM and a cloud based voice recognition platform by Global AI, an artificial intelligence company. The highlight of this system is that it allows owners to control the cabin temperature of the Venue via a remote.
On a hot day the owner can use the Blue Link app to cool the car before getting in or warm it up on a cold day. Engine start, door lock and unlock and horn and lights too can be controlled via Blue Link. This system also provides crash assistance and road side assistance, which connects the car to 24X7 call centres and also facilitates voice recognition. Safety too is taken care of with 6 Airbags, speed sensing auto door lock, ESC/ESP & VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), HAC (Hill Assist Control), BAS (Brake Assist System) and ISOFIX.
The Hyundai Venue is set to enter the highly competitive and fastest growing compact SUV segment in India. Hyundai’s new compact SUV will rival the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport and Tata Nexon.
Here are the powertrain options and segment first features of the Venue:
| Engine | Maximum Power (bhp) | Maximum Torque (Nm) | Transmission |
| 1.0 L (Kappa T- GDI Petrol Engine) | 118 | 172 | 7 DCT & MT |
| 1.2 L Petrol | 82 | 115 | 5 MT |
| 1.4 L Diesel | 89 | 220 | 6 MT |
Segment first features: