Hyundai Venue 1.0T N Line (2022) Review

Hyundai's top spec Venue N Line enters a very crowded market space and is vying for a title that is ruled by spec and price-conscious buyers. This hotly contested arena is filled to the brim with Indian-built compact crossovers that are all vying for attention, so what makes the Venue N Line stand out?

In this article:

Interior & Space

Does the bite match the bark?

Hyundai has been in a fierce battle with other motor manufacturers in a segment that came about after the demise of the mid-size family hatchback. The mid-size crossover SUV has become the most hotly contested market segment with no fewer than 20 models all vying for consumers’ money. In order to stand out from the crowd, Hyundai decided to release a sporty crossover to do just that.

The problem here is that it is very difficult to mix the sporty aspirations of a low-slung hatchback into a vehicle that is designed to have a semblance of ground clearance and a family-friendly aesthetic and still make a good car. Has Hyundai succeeded? We took the new model for a week of testing to answer that exact question.

Styling 

Hyundai has updated the latest Venue with a new grille that brings it in line with the bigger offerings such as the Creta and Tucson. The top-specced N Line model receives LED lighting front and rear as well as a new set of alloy wheels down the side.

To give the Venue an air of offroad-worthiness, faux skid plates are fitted front and rear as well as black plastic cladding around the side skirts and wheel arches. The N Line is rather elegant in its shade of Thunder Blue with Phantom Black roof, which hides the sunroof but highlights the rear spoiler.

Sportiness is added with a scattering of N Line badging and a twin exit exhaust tip while the design of the rear end split opinion amongst our crew. Some liked the solid black plastic trim panel that runs the length of the rear end while others didn’t but everyone agreed that the new LED light bar that spans the width of the tailgate is superb.

Space & Interior 

Opening the door to enter you are greeted with a set of faux leather seats embossed with the N logo and emblazoned with red piping and detailing. The red accents continue throughout the cabin with red tags for the air vents, a red ringed drive mode selector dial, red detailing on the gear lever, and a red-stitched sports steering wheel.

A new digital dash relays information to the driver and changes color depending on the drive mode selected. The seats may not be body-hugging as you would expect in a sporty vehicle but are firm enough to keep one planted during the morning commute.

Comfort & Convenience 

Starting up front, the N Line gets digital climate control to keep everyone comfortable as well as an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto for all your entertainment needs. There is a host of USB-C and 12v outlets to keep devices charged while red mood lighting keeps things sporty at night.

Despite its sub 4m dimensions, there is a reasonable amount of legroom and headroom as well as 350l of boot space to service a small family’s needs.

Performance 

The N line is powered by a 1.0 3-cylinder, turbocharged, petrol engine that delivers 88kW and 170Nm and pumps it out to the front wheels via a 7-speed DCT transmission. The intake and exhaust has a delicious raspy tone when pushing on, inspiring confidence in a vehicle that has a stiff suspension that loves corners but does become tiresome in stop-start Johannesburg traffic.

Fuel Economy 

Hyundai claims that the Venue N Line should return 6.9l/100km however real-world combined cycle testing returned a best of 8.5l/100km and a worst of 10.8l/100km.

Safety 

The Venue N Line gets standard fitment of ABS and Stability Control as well as 6 airbags for occupant safety. As far as driver and passenger aids go, you only get a rearview camera and PDC’s as well as ISOFix for the kid’s car chairs.

Price 

The Venue N Line comes in at just a hair under R450k and is supplemented by Hyundai’s segment-leading 7-year / 200 000km warranty

Competitors 

As we mentioned before the segment is highly competitive with vehicles like the Renault Kiger, Kia Sonet, Volkswagen T-Cross, Nissan Magnite, Toyota Urban Cruiser, and Suzuki Vitara Brezza all vying for the top spot.

Verdict 

The Hyundai Venue N Line is suited to those seeking a family conveyance on the sportier side. The sporty overtones and styling provide just the right amount of spice however due to the steep competition in this segment we advise potential buyers to test as many of these high-rise hatchbacks as possible to find just the right one.

 Lawrence MinnieLawrence has been involved with motorsports for almost 30 years. Whether it's two wheels or four, if it has an engine, he will try to race it. This love of motor vehicles has led him to ride, drive, film, photograph, and write about his passion. Freelance for a while but now a permanent fixture on the AutoTrader team for over 7 years, Lawrence contributes written, photographic, and video content for AutoTrader and AutoTrader Bikes.View News & Reviews

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