If there ever was an overcrowded segment in the auto industry, it would be the compact SUV sector. There are so many options to choose from that it can be sort of over­whelming to sit down and decide which vehicle to buy. That’s why we, Nepal Drives, are here. But that’s not the point we are trying to make. What we are getting at is how dif­ficult it can be to be noticed and to stand out. This is especially so as most offerings in the segment are so similar to each other. Each new car is as good as the next, and there are very few major differentiating factors. And that means making a big disruption in this pond of compact SUVs is no easy task. Despite this, the Hyundai Venue has managed to make some noise in the market. But that is usually the case when Hyundai brings a new product. One could say they have been riding the success wave the Hyundai Creta gen­erated. But, more importantly, they have always been on top of their marketing game, on social media, and elsewhere.

Then the question comes to this: is the Hyundai Venue a product pushed through smart marketing? Or is it worth the hype? We find out.

Rs 3,496,000- Rs 5,596,000 Price of Hyundai Venue

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Exterior

You can tell the manufacturers have taken bits and pieces from their lineups to make the Venue, but it is still a brand new car. At first glance, you might see glimpses of the Creta in the Venue, but the designers have gone a step further to ensure it isn’t just a rehash of their existing lineup. It is distinct, with its split headlamps and large cascading black chrome grille. It also squeezes under the 4-meter mark and certainly looks compact without losing out on its appeal. The plastic body cladding, roof rails, flared wheel arches, the 16 inch wheels, all work to give the Venue a deceptively large presence. Attention to detail is evident from the stylish front end to the dazzlingly detailed tail lamps. There is a robust, almost boxy air to the overall design which is Hyundai’s next generation design language borrowed from the Hyundai Palisade and the Santa Fe.

Interior

You sense that the moment you lower yourself in the plush seats and hold the thick-rimmed steering wheel. For one, you get a cooled glove box to store your beverages and keep them cool. You can charge your phone wirelessly, if you have a phone that supports the feature. Then there is an electric sunroof, and a manual blind to sheath your­self from direct sunlight. If that wasn’t enough, you also get an Air Purifier equipped with Hepa filter that cleans the air in the car to main­tain a healthy cabin atmosphere.

The top of the dash is nice to the touch, the aircon vents are smooth­ly detailed, and the buttons on the steering wheel and climate control feel premium. But the 8-inch touch­screen infotainment is where the action happens. Not only does it boast of Apple/Android integration, navigation, and Arkamys-tuned sound, it is your portal into the bun­dled BlueLink connected car tech. (Although it will be some time before Nepal gets to enjoy all the features that come with it.)

Nevertheless, the cabin is still a pleasant place to be in. You can reconfirm if the feeling is mutual with your passengers who will be enjoying the contrasting coolness of the cabin from the sweltering mid-summer heat thanks to the rear air-con vents. You will be grateful for the space between you and your co-passenger, which means you will not be bumping into them every time you shift gears.

Even the rear passengers, three of whom can comfortably fit in the rear seat, will be pleasantly surprised with the amount of space in the cab­in. The central hump isn’t too high, and wide enough to place both your feet on it. Leg space is fairly good, too, with a lot of room under the front seats.

Engine and Performance

Yes, you read that right. But it’s a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo­charged motor, so don’t write it off just yet. There is an option of a 1.2L petrol and 1.4L diesel, but you might want to know what this little engine has to offer.

We were driving the 1.0-liter turbo petrol engine with a 6-speed manual transmission. If you’re thinking the three cylinders compromise on the refinement, you’d be wrong; at least at lower revs and at idle. In fact, the common man or woman will be none the wiser to the deducted cylinder.

Neither is it a slouch. Shift into gear and get going with your right foot and you’re presented with a linear output of power that gets the Hyundai Venue up and running at a brisk pace. You will reach triple digit speeds quicker than you anticipated (though, if anyone asks, we do not recommend you exceed the govern­ment speed limits). The turbocharg­er does wonders for the Venue, and far surpasses your assumptions of a modest 1.0-liter engine.

Most of the bumps and potholes are taken care of by the excellent suspension, the importance of which we cannot overstate considering our roads. Even on the turns, you don’t experience intolerable body roll. Nevertheless, the soft, cushi­ony ride provided by the Hyundai Venue is definitely geared more to city driving.

Also made for city driving are the light clutch and steering. If you are looking for a relaxed driving experi­ence, the Venue is the “place to be” (get it?). That said, we admit that we weren’t completely bowled over by this factor. The steering is extremely light, as with most Hyundai cars, and we would have welcomed a lit­tle more feedback. You sort of miss out on the driving fun; but in the hullaballoo of an overcrowded city it will keep you relaxed on your way to work and back. Maybe we’re just being finicky at this point, but a little more feedback would have been the cherry on top.

Verdict

First off, the success of the Hyun­dai Venue is not only credited to the marketing gimmicks. It is a great vehicle that goes over and beyond with the features and amenities on offer. If creature comforts and fancy frills tickle your fancy, you will want to have a look at the Hyundai Venue.

Also, in terms of the driving experi­ence, we can definitely see ourselves getting into the Hyundai Venue and heading out to work every day with­out a complaint in the world. Once again, the feature-rich characteristic will make life easier.

Overall, the Hyundai Venue has earned the right of being the center of attention in the automotive crowd because it HAS managed to stand out in the crowded compact SUV segment.

But what if you’re looking for a more basic car? What if the bells and whistles aren’t what you’re looking for? What if you don’t want to stand out in the crowd? Then maybe the Hyundai Venue isn’t for you. With time the cars that come into the market are going to get fancier, and you’re going to get more frills with each upcoming model.

Of course, it all comes at a price. The tricky part is balancing the price point with the utility. The limits of this balance are being pushed con­stantly by manufacturers, and it is becoming more and more dif­ficult for customers to decide on buying from the top of the line in the segment, or jumping to higher segments. This is where the Hyun­dai Venue sits, right at the tip of the fulcrum of this balance, and it is among the cream of the crop in the segment. That is why it is the talk of the town; why it stands out.