2022 Hyundai Venue Review: The millennial Gen Z car without the FOMO

The 2022 Hyundai Venue is a much better product and well-packaged than before. New tech features and improvements in the body and space departments are impressive. However, there are two aspects, as per me, that share the number one spot.
The 2022 Hyundai Venue gets all the Important features

The 2022 Hyundai Venue gets all the Important features

Things I Liked

Things I didn't Like

Exterior design changesTurbo-CVT combo Insulation
Ride QualityReverse camera resolution
Handling
Voice command response
Indian Language interface

Conclusion:

Starting from the end, for friends who are just interested to know my opinion. The 2022 Hyundai Venue is a much better product and well-packaged than its predecessor. New tech features and improvements in the body and space departments are impressive and necessary, thus keeping customers’ demands in mind. However, there are two aspects, as per me, that share the number one spot- Looks and Feel.
Cosmetic enhancements, especially the front fascia, make the 2022 Hyundai Venue much more appealing than the outgoing model’s minimal grille design. The new front grille gives the new Venue some much-needed character. Similarly, the ride quality continues to be composed and refined and its car-like driving feedback makes it quite the driver’s SUV. The rear seat space sees improvement too with the addition of a few millimetres and improved thigh support. Thus, Hyundai has addressed earlier feedback from car enthusiasts about the outgoing Venue’s second-row shortcomings. As far as the features list of the new Venue is concerned, the options of ventilated seats, powered driver’s seats, drive modes, and a 360-degree camera are some of the welcome additions.
So, all in all, changes and improvements on the 2022 Venue not just make it a better looker but also an equally fun-to-drive car. So, if you like driving and are looking for a small family car, the 2022 Venue is quite an attractive option.
Hyundai Venue
Hyundai Venue

2022 Hyundai Venue: The Context

Let’s take a look at the percentage of SUVs sold in India out of the total number of cars sold - In 2017 it was 21% and by 2022 the percentage rose to 41 %. The graph of the compact SUV market is much steeper, for it grew from 15% in 2015 to 52% in 2022. Hyundai is riding high on this curve. More than half of their total sale comes from their SUVs i.e. 52 % to be precise. You might wonder why these data or numbers are a part of car review.
The tail lamps are joined by a bar light
The tail lamps are joined by a bar light
This is just me trying to understand why Hyundai would want to put powered seats, tyre pressure monitoring system, home-to-car connectivity features, OTA updates, reclining rear seats, puddle lamp, and type-C charging ports in a car which is supposedly their entry-level SUV. You can call it FOMO.
Also since more and more SUV buyers are moving towards aspirational and high-end features, and are willing to wait for their feature-loaded cars. So, the underlying point here is, that Hyundai doesn’t want to miss out on anything.

2022 Hyundai Venue: Changes and the new features

There are around 40 new changes with the 2022 Hyundai Venue. The most obvious is the face, which gets a bigger, broader, dark-chrome finished front grille, projector headlamps and the connected tail lamp LED light. The alloy wheels get a new diamond-cut design. The Venue now gets a puddle lamp as well. These changes give Hyundai’s smallest SUV a new personality and is visually much more attractive. And this new face could be the Venue’s USP.
The front row gets ventillated seats
The front row gets ventillated seats
When it comes to its interiors, there were three new buttons that intrigued me. The driver seat is powered now, so you can slide or adjust the backrest electrically with the help of two buttons. The third button is visible on the side of the armrest, which is there to control the air purifier.
Drive mode selector below the gear knob
Drive mode selector below the gear knob
The 2022 Venue also gets a drive mode selector with which you can shuffle between eco, city and sport driving modes. Each mode gets different colour displays and is programmed for better efficiency or performance.
Second-row sees additional legroom
Second-row sees additional legroom
Now, if you have followed our previous reviews, then you must be aware that the second-row space was a weak spot in the outgoing Hyundai Venue. So, the Korean Manufacturer brought in some changes in the second row wherein the back of the driver seat was scooped which improves the knee room, along with some increased thigh support. All these slight changes make the Venue’s second-row feel more open and spacious now. Then there is the 60:40 backseat split with a new 2-step backrest recline option. The second row can now comfortably fit two tall or three average-size passengers. And in addition, features like rear AC vents, ISOFIX and an armrest make it quite an indulging space.

2022 Hyundai Venue: High on Tech

The new Venue compact SUV packs in 60 plus telematics features and you can control your car’s vital functions via your Alexa device or using Hi Google. This is called the Home-to-Car feature. The company has also come up with a clever step to minimize the voice command lags, by embedding 65 commands in the car software only. So, in case of a bad network or low connectivity issue, the user will not experience any lag. Another interesting upgrade is the option to change the infotainment screen language to 10 Indian languages, in addition to English and Korean.
Aside from that, the car gets 6 sounds of nature on board, which can be soothing on a long drive. The Venue’s infotainment system software and the navigation software will also come with OTA (over-the-air) updates. And, to make this car relevant for newer smartphones, you get a wireless charger along with three C-type charging ports in the SX trim I was driving.

Safety Features

Hyundai has mentioned that the new Venue has around 30 safety-related features. Take a look at the main features in that list.
  • Up to 6 Airbags
  • VSM (Vehicle Stability Management)
  • Hill Assist Control
  • Rear Parking Camera
  • Headlamp Escort
  • ABS with EBD
  • Tyre Pressure Monitoring

The Engine options

2022 Venue continues with a similar combination of fuel and transmission options in its portfolio. The 1.2 l Petrol engine produces 82 bhp of power and 114 Nm of peak torque. Mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and delivers tested fuel efficiency of 17 kmpl. The turbocharged version delivers around 118 bhp of power and 172 Nm of torque. You can choose between 6-speed iMT and a 7-speed DCT with tested FE figures of 18 and 18.3 KMPL respectively. As expected, the most fuel-efficient version is the Diesel engine delivering a tested figure of 22.7 KMPL. Diesel Venue gets 1.5 L engine, producing 99 bhp and 240 Nm of peak torque.

The Drive and Performance

We had the Turbocharged DCT version to drive first during the national media drive.
Hyundai Venue Turbocharged DCT
Hyundai Venue Turbocharged DCT
The first thing which I noticed and stood out was the ride quality, which was smooth and quiet. The straight-line drive was precise and, on the corners, with a bit of body roll, the new Venue held its ground. The steering response was precise, and the suspension felt balanced with an overall composed body, like a car around corners.
The turbo engine was quick, touching three digits in no time but it wasn’t overwhelming. The 7-speed DCT will make customers look cool on the highways during quick overtaking. However, the engine-transmission combo did not feel quiet during hard acceleration. In case of hard acceleration and inclines the car could have been quieter. All in all, ride quality and refinement of the new Hyundai Venue seems good for customers who love driving.
And, in case you scrolled right down to the end of this story looking for a conclusion, you missed it.
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