Will you buy this Hyundai Venue if it was sold in Malaysia for under RM60k
The new Hyundai Venue (renamed in ASEAN as CRETA) has officially gone on sale in India at a starting introductory price of Rs.790,000 (which is just USD8,900 and once sold in Malaysia with local taxes could be below RM60K).
Bookings for the second-generation Venue opened less than two weeks earlier in India. The model features comprehensive styling enhancements, a more upmarket interior, and retains the same powertrains as the outgoing version which arrived in Malaysia for a whopping RM149,888 with full taxes.
The new Venue competes with the Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Skoda Kylaq, and other models in the compact SUV segment.
Prices for the new Venue start at Rs.790,000. The model is offered in seven trim levels with revised nomenclature: HX2, HX4, HX5, HX6, HX7, HX8, and HX10.
The Venue’s sportier N Line variants have been introduced alongside the standard model, increasing the total number of trim levels to nine.
Exterior and interior
The new Venue features a more angular and upright design. It is 48mm taller, 30mm wider, and has a 20mm longer wheelbase than its predecessor.
Key styling elements include front and rear LED light bars, flared fenders with squared-off cladding, muscular skid plates, new 16-inch alloy wheels, and a lower-set front grille finished in dark chrome.
A total of eight colour options are available: Abyss Black, Atlas White, Atlas White with Abyss Black roof, Dragon Red, Hazel Blue, Hazel Blue with Abyss Black roof, Mystic Sapphire, and Titan Grey.
The Venue N Line differentiates itself from the standard model with redesigned bumpers and alloy wheels, ‘N Line’ badging, red accents, a revised grille, a new dual-ridge spoiler, and dual exhaust tips.
Hyundai has also removed the wheel-arch cladding on the Venue N Line.
The cabin of the new Venue has been significantly upgraded over the previous model. Notable improvements include dual 12.3-inch screens, increased physical controls, a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel, a revised centre console, a blue-and-beige colour scheme, and white ambient lighting. The Venue N Line features a sportier steering wheel and gear knob, an all-black interior with red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting.
In terms of equipment, the new Venue surpasses the previous model with ventilated front seats, Level 2 ADAS, drive and traction modes, rear window sunshades, front parking sensors, 2-step reclining rear seats, a 360-degree camera, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, and an eight-speaker Bose sound system.
Engine and gearbox
The new Venue continues with the same engine line-up as the outgoing model: an 84 PS 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 118 PS 1.5-litre diesel, and a 122 PS 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is paired exclusively with a 5-speed manual transmission, while the turbo-petrol engine is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The diesel engine is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission, with the latter being a new addition for the Venue.
The claimed fuel efficiency figures for the new Venue are 21kpl and 17.9kpl for the diesel manual and diesel automatic variants, respectively, and 18kpl for the naturally aspirated petrol manual.
