Maruti Brezza vs Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet vs Tata Nexon: Space And Practicality Comparison

They started as entry-level SUVs, but are now knocking on the doors of segments above in terms of performance, size and features. But, which one comes out on top?

The subcompact SUV space has been abuzz in 2022 with the most popular models getting updated to keep up with the influx of new competitors. Maruti gave the Brezza a refresh with new premium features and an updated powertrain. 

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Venue has been given a facelift with minor feature updates too. As for the Tata Nexon, new special variants come every season. The only constant has been the Sonet which has been our top pick so far. 

While they have their own unique propositions, only one can be our top recommendation based on its practicality. 

Looks

While all these subcompact SUVs are very similar in terms of length and their wheelbase, they all have different forms of visual presence. The Maruti Brezza comes across as the most grown-up in terms of its design thanks to its proportions and smooth edges while the Kia Sonet looks the most premium with its sporty and aggressive design. The facelifted Venue still stands out for its distinctive styling in terms of the front fascia with the studded grille, while the Nexon is beginning to look dated amongst the competition.

• Kia Sonet prices

Boot space

The Sonet, Venue and Nexon are all able to fit a three suitcase set and a duffel bag. However, the Kia SUV has the most room to spare even with those four items in the boot making it the most accommodating one here. Meanwhile, the Brezza’s boot is unavailable to fit the suitcase set but can still fit the small and medium suitcases along with two duffel bags. This reduced luggage capacity for the Maruti SUV is likely due to its raised floor.

All except the Kia Sonet come with 60:40 split folding rear seats. Here the Brezza’s high floor offers the advantage of a flat boot with the rear seats folded down.

INTERIOR

Cabin fit, finish and quality

The Maruti Brezza’s grown-up theme continues to the cabin as well, but the dark brown theme with fabric upholstery is more dull than mature. It is the sheer width of the cabin that truly makes it feel like a proper SUV. But while the dashboard’s design looks premium, the quality is a bit of a let down especially when you consider it is the priciest in its segment.

The cabin of the Hyundai Venue feels like a step ahead of the Brezza with its minimalistic layout, mix of leatherette and fabric upholstery and digital displays. However, the Kia Sonet comes out on top with its use of better materials and upmarket styling such as the cross-stitching, the patterned surrounds and the integrated display on the dashboard.

Lastly, we have the Tata Nexon with a good-looking cabin. However, when it comes to the actual fit and finish, the Tata SUV falls behind its key competitors.

• Tata Nexon price

Front seat practicality

All four SUVs take very different approaches with regard to the cockpit design with varying levels of practicality in mind. The Kia Sonet wins again as it offers at least two dedicated spaces for keeping your phones, the most number of charging options including a cooled wireless charging pad, along with a few more storage areas. Not far behind is the Hyundai Venue that offers a storage recess on the passenger side of the dashboard.

Next we have the Maruti Brezza which is not lacking for practical features, but only offers the basics that would be expected of it. The Tata Nexon scores the lowest in this aspect due to its lack of storage space in the central console and impractical design of the central tunnel. The placement of cupholders in the voluminous glove box is not an acceptable workaround. 

Rear seat experience

The Tata Nexon’s rear seat has the softest cushioning and offers the most support. Its width comfortably seats three, giving its first win in this comparison. It’s not all good news for the Tata though as the rear bench does suffer from a lack of features and its 12V power socket is behind the rear right passenger’s shoulder. 

The Maruti Brezza offers the same sense of space as the Nexon with the ability to seat three but the seat cushioning is not as supportive and hence not as comfortable as the Tata offering.

The facelifted Venue can’t sit three comfortably unlike the previous two but offers better experience with the reclining rear seat backrest which increases the comfort level for rear passengers. Thanks to the scooped front seat backs, it offers a sufficient amount of legroom and kneeroom. Also, the lighter cabin theme of the Venue offers a better sense of space. 

•  Maruti Brezza prices

The Sonet offers a premium experience in the rear as well, but its rear bench does not feel as spacious or as comfortable as the others. However, it is the only one to offer retractable rear sunshades.

None of them offer a headrest or a three-point seatbelt for the middle seat in the rear, which is a shame. 

Features

In terms of features, all four of these sub-four-metre SUVs are fairly well-equipped in their top trims. However, each offers something over the others which cater to different buyers. The Brezza comes with a head-up display and a 360-degree camera, while the Venue gets a four-way power adjustable driver seat. The Sonet and Nexon are available with ventilated front seats, but the Kia adds sound-mood lighting.

They all come with sunroofs, auto AC, cruise control and touchscreen infotainment systems. However, the Sonet’s 10.25-inch unit offers the most premium user experience while the Nexon’s infotainment system feels the most dated and least refined due to its display and the user interface. The Brezza’s new nine-inch touchscreen system works smoothly while the Venue’s system with the eight-inch touchscreen is easy to use.

• Hyundai Venue price

Safety

The Tata Nexon is the highest scoring subcompact SUV with a five-star rating as per the older Global NCAP crash tests. In the same tests, the Brezza scored a four-star rating. However, they both were pre-facelift models. The Venue and Sonet have not been tested by GNCAP.

All four cover the basics with hill-hold control, electronic stability control and dual front airbags. However, the Nexon does miss out on six airbags (that will become the norm from October 1 next year) which are available with the other three.

Powertrain options and ride quality

The Sonet gets the widest variety of powertrains and is the only one to offer a torque converter automatic with its diesel engine, giving it the edge over the Hyundai Venue. The Nexon also offers a wide choice of powertrains, but the automatic options use the less refined AMT which is hard to overlook given its pricing. The Brezza continues to be a petrol-only offering and the only one to offer a torque converter automatic with its naturally-aspirated petrol engine.

While all four have a city-oriented suspension setup, the Brezza and the Sonet are the most balanced. The Nexon is the sportiest and most settled on the highway and the Venue feels softer which is good for comfort at low speeds in the city.

Verdict

The Tata Nexon delivers on two key aspects - safety and rear seat comfort. If these are your priority, then you should definitely consider the Nexon. While it is not missing any key features and offers good choices in powertrain, it lacks the finesse and quality that its rivals have to offer.

Between the Kia Sonet and the Hyundai Venue, the differences are fewer as both are premium offerings with similar feature sets. However, it is easier to pick between the two on one simple basis - the Sonet is a better driver’s car and the Venue offers more comfort for rear seat passengers. So, if you’re more focused on the driver seat, pick the Kia and if you’re prioritising the rear occupants, we’d suggest the Venue.

While the new Maruti Brezza isn’t an outstanding winner in any of our parameters, and its interior could have been better, it manages to offer the most balanced overall experience. Its larger proportions, spacious cabin, premium feature list and balanced ride are its highlights and makes the package hard to fault.

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