Hyundai Venue

The Venue is available with three engine options. Diesel lovers have the smooth and refined 1.4-litre from the Elite i20 with 90PS of power and 220Nm of torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual. The less expensive petrol option is the 1.2-litre engine which produces 83PS and 115Nm and comes with a 5-speed manual as standard. The range-topping petrol, however, is the all-new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol Kappa T-GDI petrol motor that churns out 120PS of power and 172Nm of torque. It comes paired with a first-in-class 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

The Venue is available in a total of 6 variants with petrol engines and in 5 variant with the diesel engine. Petrol lineup consists of the 1.2L E MT, 1.2L S MT, 1.0L S MT, 1.0L SX MT, 1.0L SX MT Dual Tone, 1.0L SX (O), 1.0L S DCT and the 1.0L SX+ DCT. The diesel lineup gets 1.4L E MT, 1.4L S MT, 1.4L SX MT, 1.4L SX Dual Tone and the 1.4L SX (O).

Though the Venue is shorter than the competition measurement-wise, it does make up for this lack in height with great road presence. The only real downside to its appearance is the familiarity that its popularity will inevitably bring.

The design on the inside is a nice balance between contemporary and modern with a touch of minimalism added in to keep things looking clean. The trim is an all-black affair with the only relief coming in the form of an off-white headliner. The beauty of the dash layout lies in its simplicity which also allows the 8-inch touchscreen to take centre stage. And the touchscreen does everything to deserve the spotlight. There are also wow features like a wireless charger and air purifier. Plus, the multi-colour backlights in the controls help it feel premium.

Ford EcoSport: The one that kicked off the segment in style. The EcoSport combines proper mini-SUV looks with sporty handling, top-shelf safety kit and a choice of three engines and two transmission options. There’s not much wrong with it, honestly.

Honda WR-V: There’s more to the WR-V than being a Jazz on steroids. While it retains the hatchback’s basics of space and functionality, it brings in the added advantage of high ground clearance. It also gets a sunroof. Doesn’t everyone want a sunroof in their lives?

Tata Nexon: Among the best vehicles to roll out of a Tata factory ever, the Nexon comes very close to acing the compact-SUV game. The funky styling, big 350-litre boot and some segment-firsts like an activity key make it a formidable force in the segment.

Maruti Vitara Brezza: Arguably the best package in the segment, the Vitara Brezza is built for India and has everything that the average buyer wants, and nothing less. The 1.3-litre diesel is now offered with an AMT as well. The 5-speed manual transmission and a rather stiff suspension setup work very well to give you a sporty drive. Not to mention, it delivers over 20kmpl in the city!

Mahindra XUV300: The one with the most features on offer, Mahindra has loaded the XUV300 to the gills with tech. It gets punchy engines, aggressive looks and a large and spacious cabin. But, the package just feels a bit old from the inside and the boot space is a bit of a letdown.