Hyundai Venue launched in India: Competition Check

Hyundai has launched the all-new Venue in India with much fanfare. Priced in the range of Rs 6.50 lakhs to Rs 11.10 lakhs (All-India ex-showroom). The Venue is a global product for the Korean carmaker and it marks Hyundai’s entry into the highly lucrative sub-four metre SUV segment. Although the Venue is late to the party, it has some pretty neat tricks up its sleeve to give its well-established competitors a run for their money. So let us have a look at how the newcomer Hyundai Venue stack up against the rest of the sub-four-metre SUV lot-

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza:
Ever since its introduction, the Vitara Brezza has proven to be a runaway success. It is the highest selling car here with a monthly average of around 13000 units. The Venue might have a hard time dethroning the Vitara Brezza but it is most likely to eat up into its sales. Especially since the Maruti doesn’t come with a petrol engine option and only gets an AMT as the automatic choice. Meanwhile, the Venue debuts the segment-first direct injection (T-GDI) engine in India and also comes with a DCT automatic gearbox. The Venue is also the more contemporary looking of the two, but the Vitara Brezza is due for an update.

Ford EcoSport:
The EcoSport kickstarted the sub-four-metre SUV trend and has been a formidable name in this segment. It used to have a DCT automatic gearbox but not anymore, but unlike the Vitara Brezza, the American does have both petrol and diesel engine options. Ford is also the only car to offer six airbags in the segment. And although the SYNC3 system in the EcoSport is one of the best in business, we have to see how the Venue’s BlueLink connected car technology fares amongst the car buyers in India.

Tata Nexon:
The Nexon seems to be an underdog compared to the Venue on paper, but the baby Tata SUV has proven itself time and again in the Indian car market. It boasts of a five-star safety rating in NCAP tests and has one of the biggest room on the back bench in the segment. It too comes with both petrol and diesel engine options with a choice of AMT automatic in both the guise. Also, the Nexon is slightly cheaper than the newcomer Venue.

Mahindra XUV300
The XUV300 is basically a rebadged Ssangyong Tivoli and it did steer much excitement in the segment when it arrived earlier this year. Being based on the Tivoli underpinning, the baby XUV has the biggest wheelbase in the segment. And to make up for its late entry in the segment, the XUV300 came with a very comprehensive feature list. The Venue is trying to do the same with its many segment-first features and claiming to be the most ‘connected car’ in the country.

Honda WR-V:
The WR-V from Honda is one of the smaller players in the segment but offers both petrol and diesel options. Primarily based on the Jazz, the WR-V looks the part with its muscular body. But the Honda faces a big threat from the Venue since the latter is not only better equipped, it is also radical looking. In terms of powertrain, the WR-V does offer a choice of both petrol and diesel engine option but misses out on an automatic gearbox.


Prices for the Hyundai Venue (All-India ex-showroom)

Petrol
Hyundai Venue 1.2 Kappa E MT- Rs 6.50 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.2 Kappa S MT - Rs 7.20 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.0 GDI S MT- Rs 8.21 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.0 GDI SX MT- Rs 9.54 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.0 GDI SX (O) MT- Rs 10.60 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.0 GDI S DCT- Rs 9.35 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.0 GDI SX (O)+ DCT- Rs 11.10 lakhs

Diesel
Hyundai Venue 1.4 CRDI E MT- Rs 7.75 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.4 CRDI S MT- Rs 8.45 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.4 CRDI SX MT- Rs 9.78 lakhs
Hyundai Venue 1.4 CRDI SX (O) MT- Rs 10.80 lakhs