2022 Hyundai Venue facelift. (Image credit: News9 Live - Nishmanya Bahadur)

Back in 2019, Hyundai decided to expand its presence in the Indian SUV space with the launch of the Venue compact SUV -- a model which just like the Creta midsize SUV, aimed to disrupt the segment by being the most well-rounded package. The Venue did indeed manage to recreate much of the success of the Creta, with the compact SUV comfortably selling over 8,000 units a month on average. However, Hyundai can't afford to stagnate in this market with its products if it wants to continue getting the same sales numbers, as the launch of the Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger have changed the landscape of the segment quite drastically given that both SUVs have shown that a punchy turbo-petrol engine, roomy cabin and long features list can be offered at a much lower cost. Regular updates to the Tata Nexon and the recent launch of the new-gen Maruti Suzuki Brezza also show the need for a refresh. Hence, Hyundai has launched the Venue facelift, with revised styling and new features to keep the SUV relevant in the segment.

One of the key changes made to the Venue facelift is its exterior styling. Hyundai has re-worked the front-end of the Venue quite a bit, to bring it in line with its larger SUVs (think new-gen Tucson) with the addition of the new 'Parametric Jewel' grille design which is made up of small, tinted mirror-like elements that merge with the upper half of the split headlights. The new Venue also gets a reprofiled front bumper with a wide, rectangular air intake and an updated faux skid plate. While all these changes do make the SUV look more modern and distinctly different from the previous model, in my opinion, the new grille doesn't feel well incorporated with the rest of the Venue's design.

The profile of the Venue facelift remains unchanged over the pre-facelift as the SUV still sports short front and rear overhangs, a squared-off silhouette and a well-proportioned look. What's new is the restyled 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheel design, which looks rather unique, but isn't to everyone's tastes.

Around back, the most noteworthy change on the Venue facelift is the new taillights, as not only are they a new shape, they also get new 'T' shaped LED lighting elements, pixel like indicators and are connected by a slick, full-width LED light strip. Besides the taillights, the only other change at the rear is the new bumper which sports a wide, rectangular design with reflectors on the edges, which mirrors the look of the front bumper.

Step inside the new Venue and you'll notice that Hyundai hasn't fiddled with the overall layout of the interior and instead it has worked towards giving the SUV a more upmarket look with the use of a dual-tone black a beige interior colour scheme as against the older model's all-black theme. I much prefer the new interior colour scheme as it gives an airier feel, though the light beige finish on the fabric portion of the part-leatherette seat upholstery does dirty easily with our relatively new review unit already showing slight stains.

The keen eyed among you will notice the Venue's new steering wheel design, which feels good to hold and has been borrowed from the larger Creta, as have the tactile paddleshifter on the automatic variants. Another addition is the new digital instrument cluster which has been borrowed from the i20 and replaces the older model's analogue dials and coloured MID setup. The digital cluster does change colour depending on the drive mode and is easy to read, though it lacks any real customisation one would expect from a digital display.

On the equipment front, the Venue facelift gets a single pane electric sunroof, an air purifier and an updated 8.0-inch infotainment system which continues to support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, while also adding Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration to allow you to use the voice assistants (in either English or Hindi) to control and monitor various car features remotely. The infotainment system also gets six in-built 'Sounds of Nature' sounds, something we have seen on more premium Hyundai and Kia cars, as well as the latest iteration of Hyundai's BluLink connected car technology which now has over 60 connected features.

While the front seats are comfortable and reasonably supportive, the main new addition to the seats is four-way electric adjustment for driver's seat, which is a first for the segment and adds to the premium feel. However, I would have preferred to see cooled front seats on the features list, as that is a very useful feature in the summers and something the Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon offer.

Moving on to the rear seats, they are well cushioned just like the ones up front, although, they are best suited for two passengers given the limited width of the cabin. Legroom is alright for a compact SUV, though headroom is a bit tight if you are taller, although that can be remedied to a degree with the help of the reclining backrest. Rear occupants also get access to two USB Type-C charging ports, a well-positioned centre armrest and a small screen displaying air quality. The boot isn't the largest in the segment and has a high loading lip, though it does have a very usable shape, making it easy to fit a couple of large suitcases.

For the facelift, Hyundai has carried forward all three engine options from before -- the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine. We got to test the 1.0-litre petrol engine with both its gearbox options and the turbo-diesel as well.

Let's begin with the turbo-petrol engine. The three-cylinder unit has made an appearance in a variety of Hyundai Group cars, and just like in the other offerings, it develops the same 120 hp and 175 Nm of torque. On paper these numbers are quite impressive, though in application, the engine does have noticeable turbo-lag, with the unit only coming to life after crossing the 2,000 rpm mark. This makes it feel a bit dull at lower speeds and in heavy traffic conditions, though when you up the pace, you realise there is more than enough power on offer. The three drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport (only available with the DCT), do alter the engine response, with Eco reducing responsiveness and Sport doing the converse.

The updated seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox it comes with, now feels marginally quicker shifting than before, but can still get caught out at lower city speeds. What is a great addition is the steering-mounted paddleshifters, that are tactile and fairly responsive, though the gearbox does hesitate on downshifts occasionally. The clutchless manual gearbox, or as Hyundai calls it 'Intelligent Manual Transmission' (iMT), does take some getting used to for first time users, though is quite easy to adapt to. The gear throws are nice and smooth, and the system offers plenty of convenience over a traditional manual gearbox, with a fractional increase in price. But an area it doesn't perform as well as you'd hope, is when driving in a spirited manner, as the gearbox doesn't allow quick-shifting and feels at its best when driven in a more laid-back manner. We only got the time to test the fuel efficiency of the turbo-petrol DCT, which returned a figure of 11.26 kpl in the city.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine is the same unit as the one in the larger Hyundai Creta, though as it doesn't get the variable-geometry turbocharger (VGT) it only produces 100 hp and 240 Nm. In use, this diesel engine still feels very punchy, as it has a wide torque band which makes it fairly tractable. Refinement levels are also great for a diesel, though beyond the 3,500 rpm mark, both noise and vibration increase substantially, without providing much more by way of performance, meaning it is better to short shift than push it to the redline. This engine is also only available with a six-speed manual gearbox, which slots into place nicely and is quite smooth to use.

Steering on the Venue facelift is still very light, which is great for low-speed manoeuvring and city usage, though as it doesn't weigh up as the pace goes up, it doesn't provide much feel or feedback at higher speeds. While cornering, while the Venue does turn in well it tends to understeer on the limit and due to the slightly numb steering feel, it isn't a car you'd want to hustle through a set of corners.

Ride quality is an area the Venue performs quite well in, as its softer setup allows it to absorb most smaller bumps and it rounds off edges well, making it quite comfortable for use around town. That said, it still doesn't deal with larger potholes as well, with those filtering into the cabin quite frequently. At high-speeds, the Venue's ride feels composed and stable, though larger road imperfections can still be felt inside.

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