2026 Hyundai Venue Review: Everything You Asked For, And More!

The Hyundai Venue has been a strong contender in the sub-4-metre SUV segment. So much so that even when buyers knew that a new-gen model was on its way, Hyundai still managed to sell around 10,000 units of the outgoing Venue in the previous month. At the same time, interest in the new-gen Venue appears to be at an all-time high. On paper, the SUV seems to be better at every level, and we were in Goa recently to find out if there is any truth to it, or if it's just some old wine in a new bottle.

Looks & Size

If a strong road presence is what you look for in an SUV, then the new Venue will surely attract you. It’s still a sub-4-metre, but it looks bigger courtesy of its boxy silhouette, sharp line and styling inspired by its bigger sibling, the Creta. And it doesn’t just look big, it has grown in size. One of the reasons for that is it’s based on the new K1 platform, which also underpins the Kia Syros.

Overall length is still 3,995 mm; however, the Venue is 48 mm taller at 1665 mm and 30 mm wider at 1800 mm. The wheelbase too has increased by 20 mm to 2520 mm, which translates to an improvement in cabin space, but more on that later.

Also Read: New Hyundai Venue, Venue N Line Launched At Rs 7.90 Lakh

In terms of styling, the flat face now houses a larger grille with dark chrome details, twin rectangular LED headlights (lower trims get projectors) and end-to-end LED daytime running lights. The new beefy front bumpers come with integrated faux skid plates, and along with the flares, wheel arch cladding adds extra muscle to the SUV.

For an even more SUV-esque look, Hyundai also offer roof rails from the HX6 variant and above. The taillights too are connected and get LED treatment (a standard feature), while the Venue lettering is encased behind a glass surface. A premium touch for sure.

Cabin Layout & Space

If you felt the exterior still had some visual traits of the old Venue, the cabin will not give you that feeling at all. There’s an all-new layout, with a new dashboard, colour palette and new equipment. The multilayered design of the dashboard is highlighted by the dual-tone white and navy treatment, along with stone effect for the centre crash pad. There’s also the Venue lettering embossed on the passenger side. The dash is highlighted by a set of wide twin displays and the Double-D new steering wheel, with the Morse code for the letter H instead of the Hyundai logo.

The upholstery, too, gets matching dual-tone treatment with more Venue branding, and yes, you do get the comfort of front ventilated seats. All trims from HX8 and higher offer 4-way powered seats to the driver, but height adjustment is still manual. The centre console is also redesigned and offers more storage options with a separate platform for the wireless charger, Type C USB ports, and good-sized cup holders. The front central armrest also has storage.

Also Read: New Hyundai Venue Subcompact SUV: Variants Explained In Detail

The impact of the increased dimensions becomes more apparent in the second row. Yes, it’s still best for two adults, but if 3 people are sitting abreast, it will be a bit more comfortable than before. The knee room too is much better, and the rear passengers also get the convenience of two-step recline and 60:40 split from HX6 and above.

This being a Hyundai, the air conditioning is excellent as ever, and you now get rear AC vents as standard. Higher variants offer automatic climate control, and you have an electric sunroof as well. But new-age buyers might be disappointed that there is no panoramic sunroof, as you find in some of the other SUVs in this segment. One of my favourite features, and an underrated one at that, is the addition of retractable rear sunshades. However, it’s only offered from the HX6 and above, although I feel it should have been on offer in some of the lower trims as well.

Infotainment & Tech

A few years ago, having a proper big-sized touchscreen in lower trims was unheard of. In fact, the previous Venue itself only came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system from the trim that was one above the base model.

Today, the new Venue offers you a wide twin-screen set-up with a 10.25-inch infotainment display and digital cluster with a 4.1-inch TFT screen as standard. And yes, you also get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard across the line-up. And if you opt for the top-spec HX10 trims, you get a pair of 12.3-inch displays.

One big reason for this is the new K1 platform, which has enabled Hyundai to offer a more advanced infotainment system. The system is paired with a sweet surround sound system from Bose; however, I would have preferred the Harmon Kardon unit that does duty in the Kia Syros. Yes, Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car tech is also on offer, and there’s also a voice assistant, which, in addition to English, understands regional languages as well, like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and even Hinglish. However, the features did not work for us.

Safety

With the new Hyundai Venue, the safety quotient too has massively increased. Standard offerings include - 6 airbags, ABS & EBD, front disc brakes, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, and hill-start assist. Hyundai offers 3-point seatbelts for all, front pretensioners, ISOFIX mounts, and an emergency stop signal. Speed-sensing locks, impact-sensing unlocks, and rear parking sensors are also standard.

A few features that get added as you move up the variant line-up include tyre pressure monitoring system, rear disc brakes, rear camera, and auto-dimming IRVM. But what remains exclusive to the auto-spec automatic variants are the Advanced Drive Assistance Systems (ADAS). In fact, the new Venue gets Level 2 functions at that, bringing in features like forward collision warning and avoidance assist, rear parking collision avoidance assist and 360-degree surround view cameras, among more. In total, there are 16 ADAS functions in the regular Venue, while the N-Line gets a bunch more, including a rear Radar system.

Engine & Performance

Now, in terms of powertrains, there is no change with the Venue. You still have two petrol and one diesel engine on offer – 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.0-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Now, all three are offered with a manual transmission, and while the turbo petrol unit is offered with an optional 7-speed DCT automatic transmission, the diesel engine also gets a 6-speed torque converter. While it’s the diesel automatic that I wanted to get my hands on, I only got to drive the 1.0-litre unit with the 6-speed manual gearbox.

Now it’s a very familiar engine. We have seen this not just in the outgoing Venue, but also in the Kia Sonet and Syros. The three-cylinder motor is peppy, offers good power delivery and is quite fun to drive. At 118 bhp, the engine feels more than adequate to propel this subcompact SUV. There’s good low-end torque, which peaks at 172 Nm, and the engine also builds power and speed nicely.

The 6-speed manual does a fine job of sending power to the front wheels. The shifts are smooth and slick, and slot in nicely. The ratio distribution is also quite good, and if you are looking for a driver’s car, then the manual is the one to go for. There is an automatic dual-clutch transmission as well, but it’s not the most engaging option. I’d rather pick the 1.5-litre, which is extremely frugal, along with the convenience of the 6-speed automatic.

Ride & Handling

One aspect of the new Venue I was keen to explore was the ride comfort. Now, the previous SUV’s suspension was a bit too soft and bouncy at high speeds. Something that I also experienced in the Kia Syros. But I had no such complaints with the new Venue. The ride is nice and plus at low speeds and felt planted and stable at high speeds.

The handling, too, seems to have improved, and with the better ride, you now get more confidence to touch triple-digit speeds. I also love the new steering wheels. It has a nice heft to it, feels more solid than ever, and also weighs up nicely at higher speeds. The NVH levels, too, have improved.

Price & Verdict

The new Venue is priced between Rs. 7.90 lakh and Rs. 15.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The N-Line, on the other hand, begin at Rs. 10.55 lakh but tops out at Rs. 15.48 lakh (ex-showroom), mainly because there is no diesel automatic option for the sportier range. In terms of pricing, the new Venue seems spot-on, especially when you consider all the standard features on offer. In a nutshell, the car has certainly become better at every variant level. You get more creature comforts, smarter tech and a familiar set of engines. The addition of a diesel automatic is the cherry on the cake.

Now, there are some misses as well. For instance, the Venue doesn’t come with a panoramic sunroof like some of the other cars in this space, and that might date some buyers. But, I don’t see it as a deal-breaker, and if you are looking for a solid, feature-packed subcompact SUV, I will definitely recommend considering this.

Photos: Pawan Dagia