Hyundai Venue: India-spec vs US-spec

The upcoming sub-compact SUV will be sold in international markets as well, but what’s going to be different? We find out

Update: Hyundai has launched the Venue in India with prices beginning from Rs 6.50 lakh (ex-showroom India). Click here to know more.

• The Venue debuted simultaneously in India and the US.

• US-spec Venue is slightly bigger in proportions.

• India-spec Venue misses out on features like drive modes, heated seats and ORVMs.

• US-spec gets more safety tech like autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist among others.

• India-spec Venue gets three engines compared to just one in the US.

• Hyundai Venue to launch in India on 21 May 2019 with expected prices between Rs 7.5-12 lakh.

Hyundai’s new baby SUV, the Venue, is an international model that made its global debut simultaneous at the 2019 New York Auto Show and in India in April. Apart from having the steering wheel on the opposite sides, we take a look at how the India-spec and the US-spec of the Venue differ from each other.

First off, let’s take a look at the dimensions of what should be the same car:

The US-spec Venue is slightly larger than the India-spec model, which has been shortened slightly to fit under the 4m bracket for lower taxation benefits under our laws. We cannot yet confirm how it affects the space inside, but the 530 litres of boot space on the US-spec model is likely to come down to around 350 litres for the Indian market. The 2mm height difference is possibly due to the India-spec Venue that will be offered with 16-inch alloys instead of the 17-inchers to be offered in the US.

Exterior

The two models may look exactly the same to the naked eye, but on closer inspection, small differences can be noticed. The lower section of the front bumper has a slightly different design in the US-spec as the sections flanking the central air dam don’t feature fog lamps. Instead it is fitted with a white element that features a three-dimensional ‘+’ pattern. This pattern is present on the India-spec venue too for the elements around the projector fog lamps. Another difference up front is the aluminium-finished inserts on the bottom lip of the front bumper of the Indian Venue which gives it a more rugged look than the US-spec. At the rear, the same ‘+’ shaped elements are highlighted in white for the US-specific variant compared to the India-spec model, while everything else looks largely similar.

Hyundai has not showcased any dual-tone roof option for the Venue, which will be available in the US variant, in India. However, this may be offered here as well later on. The India-spec 16-inch alloys are wrapped in wider 215/60 rubber while the US-spec 17-inch alloys will wear 205/55-section tyres.

Interior

The most immediate difference to observe between the India and US versions of the Venue is the dashboard theme. We’ll be getting an all-black layout while the US market will get a dual-tone black and beige dashboard theme. The colour choice is reversed in the case of the steering wheel as the US-spec gets a black finish on the middle spoke design while we’ll get a steel finish.

The seat upholstery is different too even though there’s no apparent difference in the seat designs save one. In the US-spec, the Venue gets a headrest for the middle passenger of the rear bench which is not offered on the India-spec.

Features

This is where you’d usually expect a long list of differences between the Indian and US models, however Hyundai has kept the Venue fairly well equipped for both markets. In addition to everything we’ll be getting, the US-spec also gets heated seats and ORVMs as well as drive modes. The controls for the latter are positioned just behind the transmission console, which is replaced with a cubby hole for the India-spec.

Both models get the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with BlueLink connected car technology. However, the US variant also gets Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant systems integrated which allows users to use voice-activated devices like the Amazon Echo or Google Home to start the car. It also gets additional safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane keep assist and driver attention warning. The US-spec Venue can be seen with a small box-like apparatus on the central air dam up front which houses the hardware for some of the radar-based safety features.

Engines

Hyundai will be offering the Venue with different engine options for both markets. The US-spec sub-compact SUV will be offered with a 1.6-litre petrol engine producing 121PS of power and 153Nm of torque. This engine will be offered with a choice of either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT.

The Indian model will come with a total of four powertrain options. The star attraction being the new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine which makes 120PS of power and 172Nm of torque and can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. Alongside it, Hyundai will be offering the Venue with a naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine and a 1.4-litre diesel engine, same as the Elite i20. The lower-spec petrol engine is mated to a 5-speed manual and has an output of 83PS and 115Nm while the diesel engine produces 90PS and 22Nm while mated to a 6-speed manual.

Do we miss out on much with the new Venue?

The India-spec Hyundai Venue misses out on some features as compared to the US variant but it is still a well-equipped model. As a result of the fewer features, the Venue will be better priced to take on its rivals in India like the Mahindra XUV300, Ford EcoSport, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Tata Nexon as well.  It will be launching on 21 May 2019 with prices ranging between Rs 7.50 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.

Also read: Buy Or Hold: Wait For Hyundai Venue Or Choose From Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Or Tata Nexon?