Since its launch in 2019, I’ve been a fan of the Indian built Hyundai Venue. I’ve been perfectly comfortable recommending it despite the fact that it competes in a fiercely contested segment, the affordable compact crossover.
My only criticism of the car? Well they’ve just fixed it in the facelift. I mean its face. I wasn’t a fan of the soft aesthetic, especially since the similar VW T-Cross had a more formidable visage. So when the recent spate of SUVs from Korea received a more square-jawed interpretation of the Hyundai design language, I was hoping that the Venue would follow. And it has. The front gets the major update, but even the rear-end had been improved upon, for a lower, wider stance.
THERE’S STILL SO MUCH CAR HERE
In a Venue, safety is taken care of with six airbags, isofix mounts, ESC and Hill Start Assist. The entire range is well appointed, but it’s the flagship N Line model that I found myself in. The N-Line replacing the previous generation’s Glide model as its range champion, and comes with a stylish black roof with sun roof, red stitching and mood lighting, theN logo on the steering wheel and an array of driving modes. Also present, a 4.2″ inch instrument cluster, glove box cooling and auto air-conditioning. There’s also electric seats and push button start – not that the rest of the range feel low rent mind you. Hyundai do a great job of packaging their cars, priced here between R249,900 and R449,900, all with a 7-year 200,000km warranty and 3-year 45,000km service plan. Power comes in two forms, a naturally aspirated 1.2l MPI engine good for 81kW/115Nm with a 5 speed manual box in the entry-level Motion model, or if you want the pacier 83kW and 172Nm model with its 1.0 turbo GDI engine, paired with either the 6 speed manual or 7 speed DCT auto.
With the new Venue, Hyundai are once again poised to succeed in a segment brimming with options. I refer to its own half-sibling, the Kia Sonet which hasn’t put a foot wrong since it’s launch last year, to the established likes of the Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Toyota Urban Cruiser, plus slightly ‘lower rent’ Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger. And then there’s the original tall hatch, the Ford Ecosport to consider, as well as the aforementioned T-Cross. Is the new Venue the best of the breed? Maybe, maybe not – but the badge has equity, the car is great at what it does and as for the rest, well the market will decide.
PRICING
Venue 1.2 Motion (manual) R294,900
Venue 1.0 Motion (manual) R354,900
Venue 1.0 Motion (DCT) R394,900
Venue 1.0 Fluid (manual) R389,900
Venue 1.0 Fluid (DCT) R429,900
Venue 1.0 N Line R449,900
