HYUNDAI VENUE v VITARA BREZZA v NEXON v ECOSPORT v XUV300
WINNER OF THE SUB-FOUR METRE CATEGORY?
THIS IS A SEGMENT WHERE A LOT OF FACTORS DECIDE
things. Before the Venue came along, the Mahindra XUV300 was
the best car in the segment. But this was only if you looked at the
cars in isolation and not at their price tags. As soon as money came
in to the equation, the XUV lost some of its sheen. The top-of-the-
line XUV300 is a good `1.1 lakh more than the Venue, and that
is a lot of money in this price-sensitive segment. The Nexon is a
solid product, but there’s too many small ergonomic issues that
spoil an otherwise wholesome driving experience. The Vitara
Brezza remains a favourite but it has begun to feel its age and the
competition has raised the bar on all fronts – materials used on
the inside, infotainment systems, features and even engines. The
Brezza should be due for an update with the new 1.5 diesel, but as
things stand, it falls a bit short. As for the EcoSport, it offers a solid,
sporty package but unlike what the fanboys on social media think,
the competition has matched and even bests it on the dynamic
front. And remember, this was the first of the sub four-metre SUV
breed and it is a platform that has begun to feel its age. The Venue
may lack the space and the robustness, but it scores highly on
features, dynamics and pricing. It is certainly the most complete
compact SUV you can get for your money right now. L
HYUNDAI VENUEEngine 1368cc, in-line 4-cyl, turbo-diesel
Transmission 6-speed manual
Power 89bhp @ 4000rpm
To r q u e 220Nm @ 1500rpm
Weight NA
0-100kmph NA
Top speed NA
Price `10.84 lakh (ex-showroom)