The sub-4 meter compact SUV space that started in 2013 has now become the largest SUV in the Indian market. The country’s second largest carmaker – Hyundai made a successful attempt to dive into this sales-friendly ocean in 2019 with the Venue. The compact SUV made headlines as the country’s first connected SUV. It also held the best-seller spot for a long period. Now in 2022, a change was due to revisit the Venue. Hyundai met the need, launched the Venue facelift in our market and asked us to spend some time with it. to tell all this to you guys if 2022 Hyundai Venue Facelift Worth buying or not. So, read on to find the answer.
2022 Hyundai Venue facelift review: New clothes!
Design is subjective, he says. Therefore, it is difficult to please the large target audience with the looks of the car. However, we feel that Hyundai has got a lot right for the Venue this time around. The new radiator grille is Humongous. It is wider than ever and is finished in dark chrome theme. Interestingly, it merges into the upper part of the vertical-split headlamps, which have also been modified.
Look around the chin, and you’ll see that the bumper is a new unit. Plus, the wide bottom air dam helps cut through the visible bulk. Sadly, the only change in the side profile is the new design for the 16-inch alloy wheels. They look good but they will be difficult to clean and maintain. In fact, they feature a diamond-cut finish for added bling.
Step up the back end, and it’s stunningly beautiful. The old squarish tail lamps have now been dismantled and replaced by new sharp looking units. Nicely infused with piano-black elements, the tail lamps are connected via a light bar. These three different elements together form the letter ‘H’. The bumper view follows the same theme as the front to kill bulk. Collectively, all the visual changes on the Venue facelift add some fresh air to the compact SUV’s exterior.
2022 Hyundai Venue facelift review: New cabin!
Step inside the cabin and the Hyundai Venue facelift welcomes you this time with more colours. Of course, the feature list is also long. Starting with the first cosmetic update, the interiors are now finished in a two-tone theme. A lighter shade has been used at the bottom of the dashboard, which is also visible on the upholstery. It clearly makes the cabin feel airy. The feeling of more space is also evident.
The front seats have been scooped-out to carve out more legroom and knee room for the rear seat occupants. We believe change will be welcomed when long-lived people decide to become drivers. Plus, the seat back of the rear bench now brings a two-step recline function, making longer distances a little more comfortable.
Coming to the feature list, the add-ons include a new all-digital instrument cluster, which is legible in all kinds of lighting conditions. And as soon as you switch driving modes, the interface also appears with different themes. Other additions to the feature list include an increased number of connected car features, voice assistants from Alexa and Google, ambient lighting, 4-way powered driver seat and fast-charging Type-C port.
Hyundai has also added 6 new ‘Sounds of Nature’ ambient music to the updated Venue. Moreover, Hyundai’s keen eye for safety helps the compact SUV to pack a host of safety features as standard across all variants except the entry-spec E trim. The list includes – dual-front airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control, brake assist system, hill start assist, automatic headlamps and more.
However, adding ventilated front seats would have been great too. In short, these changes make the Venue facelift a posher in-cabin experience. The feature-loaded cabin tries to score high on safety, technology and aesthetics in the new avatar of the Venue.
2022 Hyundai Venue facelift review: Better performance?
In this regard, except for two major updates, Hyundai hasn’t changed much on the facelifted Venue. Firstly, the Venue now gets driving modes. In fact three in total, namely Eco, Sport and Normal. Secondly, the Venue facelift gets a new-generation DCT paired with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol motor.
The overall feel of the driving mode remains chaotic. To save fuel with a mileage-friendly gear shift pattern, the Eco is best suited for urban runouts as the shifts happen quickly across the rev range. Move to normal, and the location begins to behave progressively. In this mode, it is apt to make strides and provide a decent fuel economy.
Sport mode is all about getting the most out of the turbo-petrol motor. Tuning is on the crisp side, and picking up speed and doing quick overtake maneuvers in this mode is an easy task. Also, Hyundai has managed to make a substantial distinction between the three modes.
Coming to the new-gen DCT, it is relatively smooth compared to the outgoing unit. The shift also feels sharp on the new transmission. However, only those with a keen eye will be able to note the distinction. Engine options and gearbox options remain unchanged on the 2022 Hyundai Venue facelift, and this also tells us that Hyundai could have used this opportunity to offer the option of an automatic gearbox with a capable 1.5L oil burner.
2022 Hyundai Venue Facelift Review: Buyable in 2022?
The 2022 Hyundai Venue facelift doesn’t look boring, and it is indeed a feature-packed car now. There are enough upgrades to help it stay fresh for the next few years. Since it has always had a predictable handling and comfortable ride, it manages to tick another box in an Indian compact SUV buyer’s list. With prices starting at Rs 7.53 lakh (ex-showroom), the Venue facelift does not disappoint as a value-for-money offering. The entry point for the turbo-petrol and diesel trims has been kept around Rs 10 lakh, ex-showroom. With all this, it seems fair to say that the 2022 Hyundai Venue facelift in the updated avatar is worth considering. However, if you’re in need of a diesel-automatic compact SUV, look elsewhere.