By Otsile Kadiege

One of Hyundai’s best-selling models in South Africa is the Venue. Since its introduction back in December 2019 the compact SUV has sold just over 17 000 units locally. In recent times the segment the Venue is playing in has become quite competitive with more automakers entering the segment, offering consumers more-for-less. In a bid to remain one of the top sellers in Mzansi, Hyundai SA is introducing the updated Venue which sports an updated design, new technologies, a new more powerful 1.0-litre petrol engine, carried-over model lineup with the addition of the N Line grade and a host of convenience features to list a few.

Bold new design

The new Venue has had quite a significant exterior refresh. Up front, it now boasts a bold new look thanks to a redesigned grille with dark chrome accents. The grille is flanked by redesigned split LED daytime running lights and halogen or LED headlights. In profile the facelifted Venue remains untouched. However, depending on the chosen model grad it now sports newly designed 15- up to 16-inch styled cover and alloy wheels. At the rear, the updated Venue boasts an LED rear light combination lamp and a newly designed rear bumper.

In recent times Hyundai has been dishing out the N Line package to some of its models and the updated Venue is the latest to get the treatment. On the outside, the package adds a handful of sporty exterior styling updates like the N Line dark chrome grille with different patterns and N Line badging, a faux front skid plate, N Line badging on the front fenders, dual-tone 16-inch alloy wheels, a black contrasting roof with a sunroof and a faux rear skid plate which also houses dual exhaust pipes.

The exterior colours available for the updated Venue are Typhoon Silver, Polar White, Titan Gray, Phantom Black, Fiery Red and Denim Blue. The Venue N Line gets its own set of two-tone body paint options which include Polar White with Black roof, Shadow Gray with Black roof and Nicobar Blue with Black roof.

Premium interior design and new tech

Inside, depending on your chosen grade the updated Venue is available with cloth, cloth and leather combination and artificial leather seats. Higher-end Fluid model derivatives get powered window controls, a redesigned multifunction steering leather steering wheel, a Supervision Cluster with a 4.2-inch TFT LCD & Rheostat, an 8-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, glove box cooling, two USB Type-C ports at the rear, rear air vents and 6 airbags.

The Venue N Line adds mood lighting, aluminium pedals, the TGS knob on the steering wheel, artificial leather seats with N badging, red contrast stitching as well as red accents, an N badged gear lever and a drive mode selector.

Safety and driver assistance systems

Safety features in the updated Venue include six airbags (driver, passenger and side curtain airbags), ABS with EBD braking systems, ISOFIX, ESC – Electronic Stability Control, HAC – Hill Assist Control, reverse camera and Park Distance Warning.

Powertrains

Powering the updated Venue is a new 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine making 88.3KW and 172Nm. It’s either paired to a 6-speed MT or a 7-speed DCT and has a claimed fuel consumption of 6.5l/100km with the manual and 6.9l/100km with the DCT.

The facelifted Venue is still available with a 1.2-litre MPi petrol engine 61kW/115Nm and is solely paired to a 5-speed MT. Fuel consumption of the latter is at a claimed 6.5l/100km.

Updated Venue pricing

Pricing for the updated Hyundai Venue range is as follows:

• Venue 1.2 Motion MT – R294,900

• Venue 1.0 Motion MT – R354,900

• Venue 1.0 Motion DCT – R394,900

• Venue 1.0 Fluid MT – R389,900

• Venue 1.0 Fluid DCT – R429,900

• Venue 1.0 N Line – R449,900