NEW GEN NEW VIBE

The second-generation Venue gets a complete overhaul, inside and out. But is it enough to stand out in the fiercely competitive subcompact SUV segment?

- KINGSHUK DUTTA

The second-generation Hyundai Venue arrives with a new-gen tag, but that's not the only thing new about it. Something fundamental and arguably more important has changed - intent. The intent is now to look sharper, be more premium, and reclaim the lost ground in one of India's most fiercely contested segments. Now, at first glance, it may appear familiar, but spend some time behind the wheel and inside the cabin, and the difference becomes unmistakable. You quickly realise that the new Venue is not a result of a halfhearted effort but of a comprehensive and total rethink. It now promises to be more sophisticated, more connected, and more aligned with evolving buyer expectations. But has Hyundai done enough to future-proof its subcompact SUV? We took the new-gen Venue for a spin on the roads of Goa to find out.

DESIGN & DIMENSIONS

The new Venue features a sharper, more geometric design language. The front is bold and upright, anchored by a sleek LED light bar that spans the nose, seamlessly integrating with the new quad-beam LED headlamps. The beefier bumper and sculpted bonnet add further to its road presence. The squared-off wheel arches and newly designed 16-inch alloys give the new Venue a more confident, almost butch profile. At the rear, the connected LED light bar enhances the visual width, keeping the look clean and modern. The chunky rear bumper rounds it all off, reinforcing its SUV credentials.

As for dimensions, the Venue is now 48mm taller and 30mm wider than before. The wheelbase has increased by 20mm to 2520mm, translating into a little more space inside the cabin and slightly larger overall proportions.

INTERIOR COMFORT & FEATURES