Hyundai’s rejuvenated Venue

One of the top-sellers in Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s vehicle range – the popular and versatile Venue – has been given a rejuvenation treatment and is bound to attract a lot more attention with its new looks and a revised line-up of derivatives.

Article by: Hyundai

As the junior member in Hyundai’s local range of sports utility and crossover vehicles, the Venue has been a mainstay for the Korean company in terms of sales after its initial launch in 2019. Altogether 17 162 Venues have been sold in South Africa since 2019.

With an attractive, bolder front grille and a fresh new appearance from behind, the new Venue is bound to continue its role as a popular choice for young couples, families or singles who are shopping for a versatile car that is as comfortable in the city as on the open road and off the beaten track. It offers a unique, entry-level vehicle for consumers seeking savvy design with an abundance of safety, convenience and connectivity features.

“We have also added a range-topping Venue N Line variant with an individualized grille and several other bespoke exterior and interior design features to accentuate its status,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

“Despite its smaller stature, the new Venue has a distinct road presence with a perky engine and drivetrain, and a set of additional standard features that create a compelling package for buyers in this market segment,” says Anderson.

The name “Venue” refers to a “place” people want to be seen in. The vehicle embodies the characteristics of “the place to be”, while reaching the desired destination, wherever that may be.

The new Venue is again launched with three specification levels and two different engines: the Motion as an entry-level derivative, followed by the Fluid version with more design and convenience features; and topped by the N Line variant with its unique signature design features. There are altogether six variants in the 2022 Venue model lineup.

Bold, attractive exterior.

The design of the new Venue exhibits compact but confident body forms, delivering a new interpretation of Hyundai’s signature design language. The side profile exhibits full-volume wheel arches and strong character lines, while the new, revised cascading grille and front end incorporates Hyundai’s signature design DNA found on the other SUVs in the range such as the Creta, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade.

The bold new front grille has wider dimensions with a cascading chocolate-box appearance, with the indicator light cluster on the far top corners forming a unit with the grille. The headlamps, with daytime running lights in the Fluid and N Line versions, are housed in separate clusters. The N Line is decorated by its own, bespoke grille with the N Line-logo.

On the new Venue’s completely redesigned rear end, the new taillights are joined across the new hatch door with a horizontal strip to form a visual unit. The hatch door is also wider at the bottom, offering a wider bottom opening to the luggage area. Below the new hatch door, a wide, square horizontal design element containing the registration plate holder, reverse and additional taillights, creates the impression of a wider, bolder stance.

The Venue 1.2 Motion is equipped with 15-inch steel rims with a styled plastic cover, while the 1.0 Turbo Motion variants come with 16-inch wheels, also with styled plastic covers. All Fluid models have 16-inch alloy rims, while the N Line variant comes with a bespoke 16-inch alloy rim. Roof rails on the Fluid and N Line variants complete the side view.

Interior and convenience features.

The new Venue’s inviting interior offers intuitive controls and forward-thinking design, excellent use of dimensions to create a spacious cabin for the driver and both front and rear passengers, and decent sized luggage area that adds to the practical nature of the car.

The Venue Fluid and N Line derivatives come with a 60/40 split, flat-folding rear seatback to maximize utility for various trips. The Motion variants have a solid rear seat back that can also fold forward to enlarge the luggage area. The cargo space features a rear cargo cover for added security and can be removed when necessary.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel has audio controls and – in the Fluid and N Line derivatives – cruise control buttons to make a long road trip much easier for the driver.

In the new Venue, the infotainment system features an 8-inch display audio touchscreen system and rearview monitor.  It includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions for intuitive operation of the most used smartphone functions, including app-based navigation, streaming audio and voice-controlled search capabilities.

Consumers will appreciate available convenience features such as a USB and USB-C ports, a Supervision 4,2-inch TFT LCD display to show useful information, a rearview camera and Bluetooth hands-free phone operation. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, in the Fluid and N Line versions feels comfortable and luxurious.

Glovebox cooling, rear air condition ventilation ducts and automatic cruise control with buttons on the steering wheel also form part of the convenience features in the Fluid and N Line derivatives of the new Venue.

Motion and Fluid derivatives are equipped with a manual air conditioner, while the N Line features an automatic air conditioning system. Venue N Line-drivers can also enjoy the luxury of a sunroof. Air vents for the rear seats keep passengers cool in the 1.0 Turbo Motion and Fluid variants, as well as the N Line version.

Safety.

The new Venue boasts a comprehensive list of standard safety features including six airbags – front (2), side-impact (2) and side air curtain (2) – for the Fluid and N Line options, seatbelt pre-tensioners with force limiters, Isofix child seat attachments, and an Advanced Braking System (ABS) to deliver safe car control in difficult road conditions for all derivatives. The Motion derivative comes with two airbags – one each for the driver and front passenger.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is a standard feature in all Venue 1.0 Turbo Motion, Fluid and N Line derivatives. Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which balances braking forces at each wheel when the car is dynamically loaded, and Brake Assist, which provides maximum ABS-level braking force to the driver when an emergency stop is necessary, is standard equipment throughout the range. All Venue 1.0 Motion, Fluid and N Line variants also come with Hill Start Assist Control.

Engine and drivetrains.

Two engines are used for the new Venue range:

• The 4-cylinder Kappa 1.2-litre MPi petrol engine which delivers 61 kW maximum power and 115 Nm maximum torque. This naturally aspirated engine, which is used in the Motion variant with a 5-speed manual transmission, recorded fuel consumption of 6,5 litres per 100 km.
• The 3-cylinder Kappa 1-litre TGDi petrol engine delivering 88,3 kW maximum power and 172 Nm maximum torque between 1 500 and 4 000 r/min. This turbocharged engine is used in Motion, Fluid and N Line variants, couples with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. Fuel consumption of 6,5 litres per 100 km was measured with the 6-speed manual transmission, and 6,9 litres per 100 km for the Dual Clutch Transmission version.

Gear shifts with the DCT can be done manually by moving the gear lever to the right, and then up and down to select the required gear. The N Line variant has three different driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – that can be selected with a knob on the middle console between the front seats. The selected mode is indicated by the relevant colour in the driver’s instrument cluster.

Suspension.

The Venue’s suspension tuning provides a very good compromise between passenger comfort and confident vehicle control. The suspension and steering deliver a combination of control, balance, optimization and ground clearance to achieve utility and maneuverability in a small vehicle footprint.

McPherson type struts with a stabilizer bar and coil springs are used for the front suspension, while a coupled torsion beam axle with coil springs ensure comfort and secure road handling at the rear.

Exterior colours.

The Venue colour palette covers a wide spectrum that allows buyers to express a sense of their own personal style.  The Motion and Fluid variants are available in Typhoon Silver, Polar White, Titan Grey, Phantom Black, Fiery Red and Denim Blue.

Buyers of the N Line derivate can choose between three two-tone colour schemes: Polar White with a black roof; Shadow Grey with a black roof; or Nicobar Blue with a black roof.

Pricing.

The prices (VAT inclusive) of the new Hyundai Venue range are:

• Venue 1.2 Motion (manual) – R 294 900
• Venue 1.0 Motion (manual) – R 354 900
• Venue 1.0 Motion (DCT) – R 394 900
• Venue 1.0 Fluid (manual) – R 389 900
• Venue 1.0 Fluid (DCT) – R 429 900
• Venue 1.0 N Line – R 449 900

Included in the prices are Hyundai’s groundbreaking 7-year / 200 000 km warranty, 7-year / 150 000 km roadside assistance, and a 3-year / 45 000 km service plan. Service intervals are at 15 000 km, or annually when applicable.