By Malusi Msomi

Introduced back in 2019, the Hyundai Venue was born to do battle with the likes of the Volkswagen T-Cross and Mazda CX-3. To keep up with the times, it has now received a facelift and boy do we like it.

Styling

Our test mule is a new addition to the Venue range and is called the N-Line which replaces the Glide model. It boasts unique styling cues like two-tone paintwork, 16-inch wheels and several N-Line badges on the wheels, grille, and front fenders. The N-Line also differentiates itself from its siblings with a unique front and rear bumper, with the latter housing twin exhaust tips. The new jewel-like front grille inspired by the Tucson has increased the Venue’s appeal.

The interior

The inside of the Venue is well-appointed and spacious. We enjoyed niceties such as an 8-inch touch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, comfy well-designed synthetic leather seats with red trim and N logos, automatic climate control, push-button start, cruise control and a sunroof for some interior ambience. There is however a fair use of plastic but somehow Hyundai has made it look good. A dislike we had was the steering wheel. As good as it looks, it only has height and no reach adjustment, but this might not be a deal breaker for most. In terms of convenience and practicality, it gets four USB ports (3x USB C), and a decent size boot coming in at 343 litres which is sufficient for most applications.

Power

The Hyundai Venue is powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 88kW/172Nm and it’s paired to a 7-speed DCT. The little three-cylinder is willing but a bit laggy, especially on pull-off. It does on the other hand cruise the highway effortlessly returning around 6.8l/100 km. Ride quality is decent on the Venue with our biggest gripe being wind noise. The exhaust sounds entertaining but gets droney at times, so those who want something quitter can opt for the Fluid model.

Safety

In terms of safety, the Venue N-Line comes standard with 6 airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters, Isofix child seat attachments, Advanced Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Hill Start Assist Control.

Conclusion

The asking price for the Hyundai Venue N-Line is R,438,900. At that price, the other 1.0-litre models in the range look a bit more enticing because more than anything else, you’re paying more for style if we’re being honest. Overall the updated Venue is a good product from Hyundai except the heavy use of plastic in the interior.