We are exchanging the Hyundai Venue and buying a Honda Elevate ZX CVT.

BHPian hoopsandbhp recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Horrendous experience with the Hyundai Venue after just 3 years (66k KM)

tl;dr, Our Hyundai Venue (2021) broke down on the road 3 times in 30 days due to gear not falling into place (same problem in all 3 occurrences) and we are officially fed up with Korean cars. We are buying Honda Elevate ZX CVT and exchanging the Venue.

Event I (24th February, 2024): It all started on a normal drive while reaching home after almost 100KM of a drive that morning on the ORR. The car was under braking while reaching the toll gate and didn't fall into first gear, no matter how hard we tried to force it. It was going into gear when turned off on all 3 occasions. We called a tow truck because we didn't have Hyundai RSA and he charged 4k for 8KM, we didn't have any other option at the time as we were stranded near the Toll Gate. Service centre claimed that iMT actuator was damaged and it was replaced and covered under warranty. Car was better after the change but not the best.

Event II (March 16,2024): While driving back from a haircut after around 25km of driving that day, we slowed down a couple hundred meters before the speed breaker, and car was not falling into any gear no matter how much we tried. We were able to safely drive it off the road to stop. We called the same tow truck and he charged 5k for 10KM this time. This time service centre claimed that clutch bearing had to be replaced and again, it was done under warranty and delivered to us. Car was driving better but still not the best. We learnt our lesson and purchased Hyundai RSA (2k for 1 year) which offers free towing to service centre.

Event III (March 24, 2024): After around 25km of driving while coming back from HYB station, it wasn't going into gear again, again, we managed to drive off to the side of the road safely. After 20 mins of contacting and arranging RSA pickup, RSA tow truck driver just started and we were told to wait for 90 minutes. We started the car and tried putting it into gear, surprisingly it worked, so we called the RSA and told him not to come. We drove directly to the service centre. This time the clutch tube pipe had to be replaced and again, it was covered under warranty.

Learnings from this past 1 month (Warning: these opinions are purely based off of our experience with Hyundai Venue (2021), and I can guarantee it is not personal hate towards the company):

• Hyundai cars are absolutely not designed for longevity.
• Hyundai service (KUN Gachibowli) is not the most transparent service centre or dealership, we faced some issues during delivery too.
• Hyundai iMT is NOT a tried and tested technology, even if it is, it's not reliable at all.
• We were lucky to take extended warranty during delivery, as our total expense for the car was 11k(4k+5k+2k) instead of a ballpark figure of 30-35k if we had to pay for those parts.
• There seems to be some jerkiness (similar to what you feel in a manual if the car is knocking) in 1st gear while going at slow speeds. Service center guy says this is because we press brake while downshifting and that shouldn't be done in iMT cars because it damages the car. AFAIK, we haven't done that.

Conclusion:

• We are exchanging the Hyundai Venue and buying a Honda Elevate ZX CVT (Still deciding between White w/ black roof or Meteoroid Gray)
• Rephrasing Faisal Khan's words, a Honda is a Honda is a Honda
• We are going for the Elevate because our Jazz (2016, 1.3L km) runs butter smooth to this day and we believe the Honda CVT Engine will do great in the Elevate too.

Questions

• How much can I expect for the Hyundai Venue (2021, 66,000 KM, not more than 4-5 scratches on the car, that too they're only visible if observed closely, maintained very neatly inside)
• What are some red flags from the dealership I should be careful about while buying the Elevate? We will be adamant about a PDI before the invoice is generated because once it is generated, we are helpless.
• Pride Honda (Madhapur, Hyd) is charging 5k for logistics and 12k for so called 'Basic Accessory Kit'. Can I refuse to pay these charges?
• Sundaram Honda (Secunderabad) is charging 12k for 'Basic Kit' (I think both dealers offer this same Kit) and an absurd 34k for Signature Spoiler Kit. Shocking thing is this kit is not even a part of the 'optionals' section in the price sheet.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

We wanted a 5 or 7 seater car and test-drove vehicles like the Toyota Innova Hycross and Mahindra XUV700. The Carens wasn't even on our list.

BHPian vvivek85 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Cars have always been an integral part of my life. I had an inclination towards cars right from childhood. I still remember my family getting me a Maruti 800 cake for one of my birthdays. I am blessed to have had opportunities to own multiple cars in the last 14 years.

It all started with a modest Maruti Suzuki Alto which we got way back in 2010. Since then we purchased a Hyundai Xcent in 2014, a Hyundai Venue in 2019 and the latest entrant to our family Kia Carens. Cars might have changed, but the passion and love that I have for cars have been the same all throughout these years. I always treat my car as how I treat my kid, I will go to any stupidest extent to keep him safe, my belief is if we take care with the utmost respect they will serve us forever.

Baring Alto, Team-bhp played an integral role in me choosing all of my cars and I was happy with them throughout their tenure with me. So, I wanted to contribute my little part to this wonderful forum, what better than penning a review? This is my first review, would try my best to capture all important points which could be of use to any potential customers.

Why a new car?

We are a family of 6, all this while on rare occasions when we all 6 go out as a family, my daughter was accommodating with my wife, dad and mom at the rear. Now that she is growing up we wanted to get a large 5-seater or a 7-seater.

EV or Petrol

We had fixed a budget of 20 Lakhs, and considering spending that amount is a huge affair for us, I started with the groundwork in 2022. During the initial phase I was more inclined to EVs, I was following the current launches to the future launches. At one point in time, I realised India as a country has a long way to go in EV infrastructure and all the more the upfront cost is on the higher side when compared to ICE counterparts. Lastly, currently, there isn’t a car in the market which fits my requirements, we have TATAs and Mahindras in the pipeline but I expect their cost to go north of 25L and their products aren’t confident inspiring; especially TATA. So, finally we decided it to be a petrol ICE, I am very particular about getting an automatic this time around as I am done with manual cars.

What car?

Now that I have decided on ICE, which car to get? Brands considered, Hyundai, Mahindra, TATA, Toyota and Kia.

TATA

I have been very vocal about TATA in this forum, I have always been a fan of their turnaround and their focus towards safety; so I wanted my next car to be from TATA. Considering that it is going to be a petrol, I followed Harrier / Safari petrol version very rigorously. That’s when they launched Nexon DCA last year, while following the review thread, the number of transmission issues faced by DCA owners is simply astonishing. For once, I decided to skip TATA this time around as well, because I am sure Harrier twins will have the new 1.5 turbo DCA, I don’t have the heart to put my money in a product which is prone to issues, no disrespect to any prospective owners here, with a heavy heart, I have to move away from one of the great looking cars in the country.

Mahindra

I test drove the XUV7OO diesel auto and below is the feedback which I gave in the review thread.

Top end is costing close to 30L, which was way out of my budget. Poor from Mahindra on not having an auto mid variant, AX5 auto 7 seater is not available in petrol. Had there been one, I would have considered the car.

Toyota

Innova Hycross wasn’t on my list, but we just test drove it.

For a brief period, I contemplated going for the base model which was around 25 L. Later knocked it off as I felt it was too barebones for its price and I am against spending 2.5 million just for the brand name.

Hyundai

I was following Creta facelift in anticipation that Alcazar facelift which is due this June will be 80% similar to Creta. I was very disappointed with Creta facelift, rectangular headlights, poor calibration of AC controls, large grills to name a few. It reminded me of my Venue and I am not going to get a Venue look alike. In my opinion, off-late Hyundai designs are not clicking with all communities.

Current gen Alcazar didn’t make it to the list as I heard from one of the closed sources to Hyundai that there are suspension issues with Alcazar, he asked me to refrain from getting it.

Kia

Kia Carens wasn’t on my list at all, for some reason I initially didn’t like its looks, however, we wanted to take test drive. In 2022 we took a test drive, below feedback I provided in the review thread.

Fast forward to 2024, one fine day my wife and I discussed why not test drive it again as I was seeing really good reviews. We may have missed something during the initial drive. So I called Kun Kia Arumbakkam for a test drive, and immediately Mr Vijay came home with the iMT. This time we found that Kia has sorted out the seating and we liked the drive.

So we have zeroed down on Kia Carens, we decided to go for DCT. We had 2 variants in our mind, Luxury O / Luxury plus. Features which are missing in Luxury O were paddle shifters, ventilated seats, 2nd row flexibility, cost perspective Luxury plus is dearer by 1.5 Lakhs, after a lot of thought we finally decided to go for the top end cherry red.

We paid an advance of 25000 on 22nd Jan 24. I was informed that the delivery would be done within 2 weeks but it got delayed for more than 4 weeks due to production constraints. Full marks to SA Vijay, he was always responsive whenever I called and agreed to my conditions of payment after PDI, in fact, insurance too he didn’t force it on me, I went ahead with them to avoid hassles and got a discount of 15K.

I exchanged my Venue with them, got a price quote of 725000. I posted in Carwale and Spinny, I got more or less the same amount. Considering that I need my car till I get a new one, I agreed to exchange it at Kun Kia.

I received a call from Mr Vijay on February 24th that the car was dispatched from plant and I can do PDI on Monday which is 26th February. I went to Ambattur yard on 26th February and did a PDI and everything was normal. Considering that the top end now comes with solar UV glass I made it a point to check if there were any visible distortion. Meanwhile, I was informed by Vijay that all 4 windows auto up down wasn’t available as claimed in the brochure. Looks like Kia has stopped it, poor from Kia, they shouldn’t be giving false claims.I checked VIN it was a February 24 make, apart from that one glitch all was fine, and I agreed to release payment on Tuesday. Car was registered on February 28th 2024, I planned to take delivery on March 1st as on February 29th I will be stuck in month-end closing.

Photos taken during PDI

Total cost inclusive of My convenience plus and accessories was 23,23,148. I got only mudflap and 3D mats as accessories.

Mr Senthil from the exchange department came on February 27th and took back the Venue. Emotional moment for us, it served us well for 4.5 years. Hope he reaches better hands.

Parting ways with our ever trusted Venue.

March 1st we planned to take delivery after 12:30 PM, and reached the showroom around 12:10 PM. Car was ready, waiting for our arrival. Mr Vijay greeted us, completed few documentation formalities. March 1st being an auspicious date, there were quite a lot of deliveries. Kun Arumbakkam and Ambattur put together had around 43 deliveries planned. So I waited for a few minutes for our turn to come, around 12:45 PM we completed the delivery formalities. They arranged a small cake cutting along with a gift (Kia logo printed mugs). I would rate the dealership experience as 10/10, was very satisfied with Mr Vijay, and I gifted him a Parker pen.

Car front end started to grow on me, I am very happy that there isn’t any chrome grill. It was one of the pain areas in our Venue, cleaning it was a task in itself.

Carens is at least 160 mm shorter in length than XUV700. It is a mystery on how they managed to provide enough space for both 2nd and 3rd rows with useable boot.

Minimalist chrome usage is a major plus for this vehicle.

Front 3 quarter is drool-worthy, tri beam and DRLs are of the same unit.

Alloys are neatly designed happy that they have shown some differences with Seltos, unlike Alcazar which carries Venueish alloys. But Carens alloys will be hard to maintain and considering the gloss finish it can be prone to scratches. Only time will tell.

The reason for me to opt for red was to hide the dummy strip which connects the rear lights.

New digital instrument cluster in top variants

Touch screen is just top-notch but I found an ergonomic flaw. The screen is little bit tilted towards up. As I have a laid-back driving posture, need to lean a bit to access the top part of the screen.

I would rate in house map 6/10, it didn’t capture some of the one ways which have been there for at least 2 years. One positive thing to highlight, whenever there is a direction change a separate pop up appears within the map so that we don’t oversee. Thoughtful from Kia but need to go a long way

Ambient lighting is a class apart, I have seen those in Mercs, getting that feature to 20 Lakhs car is super cool. During night drives it gives a different feeling. That glossy area needs proper maintenance, prone to dust.

Ample amount of leg space is available in the second row, you have the option to slide back the second row.

Third row space is usable even for adults, my wife who is around 5.6 can accommodate without any issues. Main reason for me to go for Carens.

Continue reading vvivek85's ownership experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Hyundai has also updated the S(O) Turbo trim with new features.

Hyundai has launched a new base variant of the Venue Turbo. The new 'Executive' trim is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Venue Executive MT is positioned below the 'S(O) Turbo' MT variant. It comes equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digital instrument cluster, rear AC vents and cruise control.

The Venue Executive Turbo MT is powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 118 BHP and 172 Nm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Hyundai has also updated the S(O) Turbo trim with new features. It now comes with a sunroof and gets reading laps for the driver and front passenger. The S(O) Turbo MT is priced at Rs 10.75 lakh, while the 7DCT version costs Rs 11.85 lakh (ex-showroom).

I had saved spending 55K to 60K (Right headlight replacement, camera replacement) on my Venue in 4 years of ownership.

BHPian vvikek85 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Venue is 4.5 years old, all of a sudden the reverse camera wasn’t displaying any content as shown in the video.

I took my car to Kun Hyundai Ambattur on December 2nd, they analysed the issue and stated the camera is defective and should be replaced. I had opted for extended warranty, so I was informed it will be covered under the warranty. Out of curiosity when I enquired about the cost, the response was Rs 45000

Service advisor informed me on raising warranty claim which would take a week. I told them on my road trip plan on 23rd December and requested them to process ASAP, next day Chennai got affected with Michaung cyclone which created a huge impact in service center and they weren’t functional for 3 days. I followed up in the week of December 11th, was informed approval is yet to be sought and it will take a week more. Followed up on 19th December, got a positive news of part is expected to arrive on 20th December, I inform that I can come only on 22nd December. Yesterday I called and re confirmed, SA told me parts have arrived but they have got instructions to not take any vehicles for service as the service center is flooded with 800 flood affected cars. Mr Suman stated that he will ship the part to Kun Arumbakkam, I can get it fixed there today. I went this morning, Kun Arumbakkam too was flooded with vehicles, SA informed me that it is not possible to take my car inside the fix the camera. I explained about my situation, they decided to replace the camera at the road itself as only bumper needed to removed but asked me to wait for some time as they had many cars to attend. I waited there for 3 hours for my issue to be sorted.

Appreciate Kun Ambattur and Kun Arumbakkam for their prompt actions during these crunch situations, I can feel the amount of pressure they will be going through due the sheer volume of flood affected cars. Lastly, spare a thought for those owners, I happened to see some cars with massive dents, torn bumpers. I wish they get back their cars soon as I can imagine what they will be going through without their companion.

Learning - Please take the maximum available extended warranty available for the car, the 20K or 30K which we spend will be worth it in the longer run. Until now, I had saved spending 55K to 60K (Right headlight replacement, camera replacement) mind you things started deteriorating after 4th year of ownership.

Here's what BHPian manub22 had to say on the matter:

Back in 2011, when my Hyundai-i10 had reached its fourth year, I was grateful for having opted for the extended warranty for the 5th year. Thankfully, the service-center replaced both my 2-Din music system and Power-Steering EPS module at no cost on separate occasions. During my inquiries, I found that the replacement cost for each of these components was approximately 30-40k at that time.

This experience led me to believe that modern cars are equipped with numerous electronic parts, making it crucial to consider extended warranties. As these components may develop issues after 3-4 years of usage, having an extended warranty can save significant expenses in the long run !!!

Here's what BHPian Chhanda_Das had to say on the matter:

Is that ₹45,000 I am reading here or are my eyes deceiving me  ? Are you sure that they quoted this sum for the reverse parking camera ? If that is the case then I can definitely smell something fishy. This is because the Blaupunkt reverse parking cameras (model numbers DH-02, DH-03 and DH-04) that Hyundai India recommends for the Venue do not have a maximum retail price above ₹2450 inclusive of all taxes. You can verify this under the "Electronics" section.

Here's what BHPian aeroamit had to say on the matter:

The cost quoted by SA might be including labour charges as well as taxes. I checked for same in Boodmo and under Venue Rear Camera assembly is priced @ 39K+. OEM units are costlier as it has specific connector and not generic ones used by aftermarket Camera units. Eventhough, we can bypass and feed video to OEM display through right set of wires.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I am not a driving enthusiast and most of my driving would be in the city. Highway drives are limited to 400 km

BHPian amit_hhh recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi Guys,

I tried to search for my question on Team-BHP threads but couldn’t find what I was looking for. If you find a related thread for my query, please feel free to merge the thread. Apologies for any inconvenience due to this!

I have recently booked Hyundai Venue S Optional Turbo MT. I did a lot of research and took test drives of various cars from different segments such as Seltos, Elevate, Brezza, I20, Altroz, Nexon, Sonet, Citroen C5 Aircross, and Venue. This is my first car and I have recently learned to drive, although have to brush up on my driving skills once I have my car. I want to go for MT only, not for automatic. After taking a test drive of all the above cars, I found all the C SUVs a little big and didn’t feel confident to drive them. For hatchbacks, I felt confident but wanted to go for the SUVish trend. In Sub Compact SUVs, I was left with Nexon, Sonet and Venue now. I did not go with Nexon because of poor reviews of Tata’s after-sales service and all touch-based panels of the new Nexon Dashboard. Plus Nexon is a bit wide and we have cramped parking space at our home, so had to skip. In Sonet, I felt cramped and the all-black interior was feeling suffocating to me and my mom. So the only choice we were left with was Venue. Brezza didn’t feel appealing to us because of its basic interiors.

First of all, I am not a driving enthusiast and most of my driving would be in the city and sometimes on highways with family trips once in a while within a distance of 300-400km max. I would prefer to hire a car if I am going to any mountain places with a skilled driver.

Now in Venue, I was confused between engines whether to go for its NA engine which produces 81 BHP power or Turbo which produces 118 BHP. Initially, I was fine with the NA engine because that is enough for my requirement to go from point A to Point B as long as it is reliable. But with the Turbo engine S Optional model, other features are also coming with a price difference of 60k only. One important feature I am considering is Rear Wiper in Turbo along with Cruise Control. I think Rear Wiper is an important safety feature and since it’s given in the Turbo variant, I went with the Turbo engine.

I want to know what you guys think about this decision. Should I go for a turbo engine considering my needs and expectations from a car? How will the absence of a rear wiper affect the overall safety while driving if I go ahead with NA? I don’t care much about Cruise Control. I felt vibrations also in Turbo while NA was very silent. The SO NA model comes with a rear defogger though, not with a rear wiper. I am not sure why I am so fixated on the rear wiper and how practically it is used in real-world conditions. I intend to keep the car for the long term as long as it can be kept.

What will be the mileage difference between the NA and turbo engine and the maintenance cost plus the lifetime of these 2 engines?

In a nutshell, my criteria to go for Turbo from NA was just Rear Wiper in the turbo model at a price difference of 60k ex-showroom. I am having second thoughts after booking the car about the turbo engine now.

Please suggest whether to change it to an NA engine and compromise on the rear wiper or keep the turbo model only. Thanks!

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say on the matter:

If you consider the best combination of features, power, turbo petrol engine, reliability, and manual transmission along with a Compact SUV body style all under 12 lakhs OTR Gurugram, I have to agree that the Venue S(O) Turbo MT is the best option out there, None of the other cars offer such an interesting combination. Either they are not as powerful or lacking features or are expensive. So the Vennue S(O) Turbo MT seems to be the best pick for you. For around 60k to 70k more, you are getting a much more powerful and torquey engine, 6-speed transmission (over 5-speed), 16-inch tires, rear wiper, and cruise control which itself more than justifies the price differential.

When buying a car, I would always recommend going for the more powerful engine over the options available, in this case, it is almost a no-brainer considering the amount of feature additions you are getting. Moreover, getting a more powerful engine will help down the road when you become a more experienced driver as you don't have to plan your overtakes, the car will not feel out of breath on the highways or at triple-digit speeds, and so on.

The mileage difference isn't significant at hardly a 1 to 2 km/l difference, that too only in the cities whereas on the highway, the Turbo is surprisingly more efficient (provided you adapt to the turbo petrol engine). Maintenance costs are similar and hardly worth worrying about.

So don't fret, you have made the right choice. Go ahead with it. If you need any further advice, feel free to ask.

Hope it Helps!

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Agree

Given your city-based driving and even considering some highway drives(3-400kms twice a year) later on when you develop some confidence and feel like it, I would still suggest sticking with the NA engine.

I would say no since turbo petrols are known to be very sensitive to driving styles especially in city driving. Driving with a light foot will alleviate much of this but not all especially with an MT.

Second, the power delivery of turbo petrol isn't linear. When the turbo kicks in, say at 2000rpm there will be a sudden surge in performance which can catch you off-guard initially and could become an annoyance later on, especially in the city. Now I haven't driven Hyundai's turbo petrol and I have never driven a turbo petrol with MT so this is based on what I've read on the forum and my experience with turbo petrols with AT/DSG/AMT and turbo diesel with MT.

It's important IMO but with the defogger, the only time you would miss rear visibility is during rains. You can reduce it a bit using rain repellents like Rain-X etc. during rains but only to an extent. But to remove the rear overspray you'll have to get down and wipe off the dirt. Sedans don't have any wipers because they don't have to deal with the rear spray.

Can you do without it? Depends, it's very important for me since I am used to it but it's not common to see people using theirs even if available.

That's the difference between the 4-cylinder NA and 3-cylinder turbo petrol. Inherent vibrations in the 3-cylinder and the TGDi engines are known to vibrate more when cold.

Depends a lot on your driving style(light/heavy foot) and traffic. Turbo petrols are known to give low FE numbers when driven with heavy feet as they dump fuel to cool down. NAs will give a predictable FE whether or not varying a lot. In simple words, you're driving a 1.0 NA until the turbo spools up and then you'll feel the surge in power which people buy the turbo for, which for you doesn't make a lot of sense.

I am expecting some additional maintenance due to the turbo but since we haven't heard of any out-of-the-blue issues or high costs so far, they should be doing ok. Owners can guide you better.

I don't think there should be any issue with the lifetime of any engine in 2023

Suggestions:

If I were you I would rather get the i20 top trim with the smooth 1.2 NA and MT/CVT.

But if the SUV design is what you want to go for and you've decided on the Venue then I would suggest sticking with the NA.

In case you want to re-evaluate some wildcard suggestions and open to hatchbacks:

1. Ignis: would seem a bit old now but with discounts should be optimal for your use case but might not be what you want.
2. Glanza: Lovely interiors you might like them, much better than the Baleno

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan had to say on the matter:

Strictly speaking, Hyundai petrol mills are known to be not as efficient nor as rev-happy as their Japanese counterparts so I'd urge you to check out the Fronx that said, if you are dead set on getting a Venue, then perhaps go with the NA if most of your driving will be in the city as you would likely get better mileage with it compared to the turbo.

Here's what BHPian Chandrahas had to say on the matter:

I use a Nios i10 turbo (manual) in Gurugram traffic daily and can list down the pros and cons that you'll be facing compared to NA petrol.

CONS:

1. There is nothing low down the revs so you'll have to slip the clutch quite a lot. Also, taking off even from speed breakers will require you to shift to 1st gear.
2. It's very easy to stall it. Everyone stalls it the first time they move it and even after 10k kms, I manage to stall it once in a while.
3. Throttle response is not quick/sharp. When you press the accelerator there is always some delay before the car surges ahead. I'm not talking about the turbo lag, i.e even when cruising if you plan to vary throttle input there is some delay.
4. Turbo lag is present and is quite an annoyance in the slow-moving/choc-a-bloc traffic.
5. There is no crescendo like the NAs. The top range feels flat after the strong mid.
6. Car shakes at startup and while idling. Constant thrum is present. Wiser fellows at my home don't like it. (I love it and it's not a con for me tho).

PROS:

1. Mid-range is devastating. If you are in the right gear and the right revs, it will haul...
2. It's very easy to maintain high triple-digit speeds and overtaking even fast-moving traffic is easy. For example: the car does 120kmph @2800 RPM. Lend great cruising ability to the car.
3. I get very good fuel efficiency despite my primitive driving style. I get 14-15 km/l in the city and 18+ km/l on long drives (MID indicated)
4. For your use case - I think you are better off with the NA. Please take a test drive.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Baleno is a wonderful car for most people. It is reflected in the sales figures. Had my budget permitted, I would have gone for a Kia Sonet automatic (TC).

BHPian sonmi-451 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I purchased a Suzuki Baleno CNG Zeta in grey colour on 16th November 2022. The odo reads 23,4XX a year later. My usage pattern has been about 50% highway and 50% in and around cities. I used to live in Vjayawada when I purchased the car and was expecting to use it there for a couple of years at least, but had to move to Hyderabad just 6 months after purchase. I believe this change in ownership experience of a CNG car from a Tier-II city to a metro might be helpful for potential owners.

Space:

I am 5'11 and another 6-footer can sit behind me easily. I also use a car seat for my daughter and still space is not an issue. Sub-4 m SUVs like the Brezza, Venue and Nexon seem tighter on space than the Baleno.

Easy to Drive:

This is common with Suzuki cars. The clutch and steering are light and the gearbox is smooth. No issues there.

CNG Mileage:

On highways, when I maintain speeds between 90 and 100 km/h, I get 28-30 km/kg as long as the acceleration is not too aggressive. Even when driven with heavy foot it's easy to get 22-23 km/kg on highways.

In the city, I used to get about 19-20 km/kg when in Vijayawada. In Hyderabad that has dropped to 17-18 km/kg. I was expecting the city FE to be around 22 km/kg when I purchased the car, but after noticing the average speeds (using the Suzuki Connect app) to be ~22-25 km/h in the city, I am not surprised anymore.

With the cost of CNG at Rs. 90-95 per kg, I am looking at Rs. 5-6 per km in the city and Rs. 3-4 per km on the highway. The latter at least helps me feel better for not opting to buy a Tiago EV considering the many reliability issues owners are reporting.

Head Unit:

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are a boon. You will never go back to using a cable once you get used to them. Add a wireless charger and the experience gets even better. The huge plastic area around the 7-inch unit sticks out as a sore thumb.

Lights:

LED headlights (on Zeta and Alpha) are good, for people with mostly city usage. They may be enough. I added Aozoom FLP 1090 fog lights to improve visibility on highways and also teach some manners to high beam abusers. The low beam lighting has improved drastically, on highways and the high beam has improved a good deal as well, but these fog lamps have a wide spread and are not very focused. I find it odd that the DRLs below the headlights are not always on though!

Audio:

I am not an audiophile. The stock speakers sound alright as long as the volume is below 70%. Above 70%, some genres of music cause the speakers to crack up. So I keep volume below 60% most of the time.

Driving:

In the city, the car is easy to drive. The only gripe I have is with the 2nd gear. I wish 2nd gear had more torque lower down to avoid going into 1st gear when tackling potholes or speed breakers. I used to like it better in Vijayawada where the roads were mostly flat. I have been struggling after moving to Hyderabad where the change in elevation is much more frequent and as as a result, the gear changes as well. Add to that the traffic here and it makes me regret not buying an automatic in the first place.

I don't miss the automatic on highways though. I would have liked a little more power though. On flat roads, when running on CNG, the power seems adequate. It's on the inclines that the car struggles. I would have happily given up a little FE to gain a little more power, but I am sure engineers at Suzuki know better.

I find the braking to be good for the most part. The car stopped without much drama on a few occasions when I had to brake hard.

Ground clearance is decent at 170 mm, but I feel we need at least 180 to 190 mm to handle our roads without much bother. On some occasions, I used to hit 120 km/h when using my Sunny/Venue, but I don't feel confident doing that in my Baleno, I stick to speeds between 90 and 100 km/h most of the time. I go to 110 km/h at the most if I have to, even on Hyderabad's ORR. The car doesn't feel planted, due to its light weight and soft suspension.

Suspension:

I like the suspension setup on the car, It is soft but not too soft for my liking. Only the big potholes cause it to bottom out. This setup will turn off enthusiasts though (which I am not). I do have fun once in a while but I prefer comfort over it any day. I would have preferred a stiffer suspension If we had better roads.

Ergonomics:

Not sure if the seating falls under this. I find the seating to be too low. This was almost a deal breaker for me, but considering my budget constraints and the need for a CNG car with a decent feature list, I had to compromise. This does bother me a lot. Even with the seat set to its highest position, the under-thigh support is missing (I am 5'11 and obese). Mind you, the seats in the Baleno, at least to me, seem to have a longer base than the first-gen Brezza. I used to hate the short seat base in the first-gen Brezza. Due to the low seat height, I end up with my bottom on the seat but knees in the air with little under-thigh support. This issue is more pronounced on long trips which I do undertake at least a couple of times a month. I did buy two cushions - one about 2 to 3 inches thick and another about an inch thick. Both didn't help much. I like how wide the seats are, considering I am an obese person. The cushioning is good even on long drives.

Another major irritant for me is the front windshield. I find it to be way too short. The visibility of the front is hampered. I never had this issue in any of the cars I used before in India (Sunny, Venue, Zest, Ertiga and first-gen Elantra). I find the rear-view mirror to be blocking part of the view as well. I did get used to it for the most part, but it is still in the back of my mind on every drive, unfortunately.

Other than these, I don't have any complaints. I do like the physical buttons for the air-con.

Purchase and After-sales:

The on-road price was Rs. 11.20 lakhs, along with a Rs. 15K discount in the form of accessories (only because we knew some higher-ups at Varun Nexa). The purchase experience was smooth. I was probably among the first few hundred customers to get delivery of a Baleno CNG when it was just launched back then.

The after-sales service and support have been good except for a couple of issues I shall touch upon a little later in the post. No surprises with service costs so far. It is due for the next service at around 27K km. Here are the previous service costs. Unfortunately, I don't remember all the details but I did opt for teflon coating during either the 3rd or 4th service. I did get some discount for 4th service on labour costs:

• 1st free service at 1,000 km - Rs. 248
• 2nd free service at 5,223 km - Rs. 248
• 3rd free service at 9,173 km - Rs. 4,631 (Rs. 1,710 - parts & Rs. 2,920 - labour)
• 4th paid service at 17,686 km - Rs. 5,752 (Rs. 3,777 - parts & Rs. 1,975 - labour)

I got the 4th service done very early at 17.6K km as I had moved to Hyderabad by then, but was in Vijayawada for a trip. I wanted to get it done at the service centre which I knew very well. I was not sure how the experience and costs would be in Hyderabad.

I wanted to list the observations above first for people who prefer a short read (although it doesn't appear short now). I shall delve into a few more details below.

Vehicle history in India: Please skip to the next section if you are interested only in the Baleno.

Back in late 2019, after my daughter was born, I purchased my own first car in India - a 2014/15 TATA Zest AMT with 75,000 km on the odo, from a family friend. He had a relative in Tata Motors, so he had got it serviced at the dealership regularly. The car didn't have any major issues as such, but we did know some expenses would be needed in the next 1 or 2 years. I was guessing this would be Rs. 30-40K at the most.

I loved the seating comfort and suspension of the Zest but the AMT was horrendous. I was willing to live with it though. In the couple of months that I had it, I was only getting 13-14 km/l of mileage even on highways. On top of that, the service centre told me I might have to spend close to 80K for on various things like clutch for the AMT, suspension components, etc. The low mileage combined with the expenses due made me sell the car within just 2 months. Initially, my plan was to keep this car for 3-4 years or until a good enough and affordable EV was launched. In hindsight, I regret the decision to sell it instead of getting it fixed. I did get back the same amount I paid for it though.

Next, I purchased a 2012 Nissan Sunny XL with ~78,000 km on the odo for Rs. 3.2 lakhs. Loved the diesel engine in this car a lot. Even though the seating was low, I didn't feel uncomfortable even on long trips. Maybe because the seat base was long enough? I spent close to Rs. 1 lakh on it to fix part of the suspension, new seat covers, new paint (it had many scratches but no dents) and a few more things I don't recall now. I was happy with the car, but due to Covid, I only put 22K km on the car in the couple of years that I had the car. Once Covid came to an end and I knew we would be travelling more, the itch to upgrade to something newer and with a higher seating position led to me selling the Sunny. Also, the car required constant upkeep and even though the amount was not too high, it did seem a little too frequent for my liking. I sold it and purchased yet another used car.

Next came a 2020 Hyundai Venue S Plus with 59,000 km on the odo in white colour. The first owner put 59K km in just 18 months or so. The car was in great condition. I got it checked by a senior Hyundai service head and got a go-ahead after the service history was checked too. I purchased it for Rs. 8.75 lakhs. The only gripe I had with this car was the space at the back, but we were a family of 3 (myself, my wife and 2-year-old daughter) so it was manageable. Loved the refined diesel engine and the FE was decent too. I was looking forward to my first 6-speed gearbox experience in India, but that enthusiasm was cut short as it required more frequent gear changes compared to the Sunny, which was far better in this regard. The clutch was not light either, maybe because it was old. With the increased usage, I put close to 5K km on the odometer in a span of 3 to 4 months. I started to feel pain in my left foot when stuck in traffic in the city. The car asking for frequent gear changes also didn't help. I started to contemplate selling the car and getting an automatic this time.

That's when I had a shock. The car's engine started spewing smoke and oil when the dipstick was removed. This clearly didn't happen when I got the car checked at the time of purchase. Since the car was still under factory warranty the Hyundai service centre agreed to get it fixed under warranty. They didn't agree to replace the engine, but to fix it. I was not at all happy with this. I ended up selling the car for a loss of Rs. 1.8 lakhs within 3 to 4 months of purchasing it.

My family had had enough of me wasting money on used cars. I was given a strong warning that the next car had to be a new car. I couldn't argue either considering how my impulsive nature had cost us a lot of money with used cars so far - money which was taken as loans .

Buying a new car:

I had decided that my budget would be 10 lakhs, but was willing to stretch to 12 at the most if it meant I could get a car I liked in most aspects and hence keep it for a long term (5 to 7 years).

When I started looking for a new car back in August/September 2022, I wanted something which was convenient (read automatic) and had a lower cost of running (CNG/EV/Diesel). I knew the Tata Tiago EV was around the corner I even booked it. During the waiting period, the more I thought about it, it became clear that with a range of just 180-200 km on a single charge, the Tiago EV as the only car would not do for me as we did go on long trips relatively often. Diesel options were limited to the sub-4 m SUVs mostly. I did like the Nexon a lot after test drives. Since the clutch in most diesels is not light and diesel AMT SUVs like the Nexon and XUV300 cost Rs. 14-15 lakhs to start with, I had to drop the idea. Even though I had a bad experience with the Hyundai/Kia 1.5 Diesel, I really wished for the Kia Sonet base version to be available with the iMT, but it was only available in the mid variants which were, again, way out of my budget. The on-road prices of diesel cars (except Altroz D) were out of my budget and I was not getting diesel automatics as well even if I stretched it to Rs. 12 or 13 lakhs. Though I liked the Altroz, the cost analysis (both upfront and running costs) favoured CNG cars. The only problem was that all CNG 5/4 seater cars were of at least a segment lower compared to the Altroz.

I almost decided to go with Tata Tigor CNG. That's when I came to know that the Baleno CNG could be available soon. It seemed like the best possible compromise at that time. So I paid the booking amount and waited for it only after confirming that the Zeta CNG would come with 6 airbags and the Team-BHP official review also mentioned that the second-gen Baleno seemed better built than other Heartect platform-based cars. I cancelled the Tiago EV booking and booked the Baleno CNG Zeta.

The on-road price was Rs. 11.2 lakhs which included insurance through Suzuki. The insurance was more expensive by Rs. 10K or so compared to offers from Acko, but I wanted to have the hassle-free experience of having Suzuki insurance. I did get a few cosmetic/body-related accessories because I had to use that 15K discount/coupon I was offered for accessories. I chose not to go with seat covers as my back gets sweaty during summer on long trips. I never felt comfortable with seat covers in Indian weather conditions. Maybe high-end ones might be different. I did purchase the extended warranty package as well (Rs. 16K covering up to 5 years). Other accessories I got were as follows:

Fog Lamps - Aozoom FLP 1090 - Rs. 16K (local shop)

The accessories shop guy said he wouldn't need to cut any wires but ended up doing it anyway . I am afraid this will spoil my warranty (extended to 5 years now). Fog lamps are linked to the high beam switch, so they go to high beam mode along with the headlight. I make sure to use the high beams when there is no oncoming traffic unless the oncoming 4-wheelers have high beams ON and don't respond to my dipping. I am extra careful with oncoming 2-wheelers though.

DashCam - 70mai Pro Plus A500S - Rs. 11K (Amazon)

This is the model with dual cams. I am satisfied with the performance so far. It's been close to 8 months since I got this. The front one (2k resolution) is good enough to read number plates in most light conditions. The one at the back (1080 p) struggles with number plates in most conditions unless the vehicle is very close and moving slowly.

TPMS - JK Treel - ~Rs.2.5 or 3K for 4

I purchased this going by the opinions of other Team-BHP members. I got it from Kunal ji, who is very professional. I also purchased another set for my father's car from him as well. Performance has been good, but lately looks like one of the tyres is losing air very slowly. I am not sure if it is the TPMS that's causing this. Need to get it investigated soon.

Rear Bumper Guard - M-tek - ~Rs. 5K

Just like the powerful fog lamps, I understand this accessory is also illegal in India, but with the number of idiots on our roads, I couldn't resist. It has already saved my rear bumper on at least two occasions I know of from bikers. One of those incidents was bad enough to bend the guard substantially.

Other observations and final thoughts:

I would have been a much happier owner if I had continued staying in a Tier-II city like Vijayawada. CNG was available much more freely there and the car required much fewer gear changes too. In Hyderabad, I find a minimum of 5 to 6 cars (half an hour wait time) waiting in line. The only time the number is less is during early morning (before 7.30 AM or so). Also, find things "Out of Stock" way more often here. I usually don't wait if I see any more than 5 cars waiting in line. Combined with that, the issue with heavier traffic and steep roads in many places has made my experience a lot worse once I moved to Hyderabad. If I had known these issues with CNG in metro cities in advance, I would have bitten the bullet and gone for an automatic. I would have most likely gone with Ignis AMT.

The Baleno is a wonderful car for most people. It is reflected in the sales figures. Had my budget permitted, I would have gone for a Kia Sonet automatic (TC). For the price I paid and the running costs I am seeing, I am satisfied with the Baleno. My current project/client lets me work from home permanently. If I were to start going to my office daily in my car, I don't see myself being able to drive this car every day for 20-40 km daily. I may end up getting an automated clutch for this car or replace it with an automatic car.

I would like to close this post by thanking the Team-BHP admins for granting me membership in the first place and also a piece of advice for anyone who is not in great financial shape to be careful with their car purchases, please. I have made many mistakes (I made a few while in the US too - post for another day) and lost lakhs of rupees due to my impulsive nature. Cars are depreciating assets and wrong decisions can result in a substantial burden, as I have learned the hard way.

I shall post reviews of the second-gen Ertiga CNG (father's car) and Tiago EV (brother's car) later on.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Isn't a modern car equipped with sensors to alter the air-fuel ratio to maintain the proper idle at any altitude?

BHPian koushm recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have a 2020 Hyundai Venue T-GDI which runs fine at sea level and idles at around 850 rpm after the engine is properly warmed up. Recently, I visited the hills of Darjeeling and at an altitude of 2000 m, my car started idling at around 1,200-1,300 rpm. The idling rpm is stable. I am very new to the hills and have searched on Google but haven't found any information regarding the same. The service centre people are also clueless about this. According to them, as there is less oxygen at the higher altitudes, the car idles at higher rpm. But, isn't a modern car equipped with sensors to alter the air-fuel ratio to maintain the proper idle at any altitude? Kindly help me experienced BHPians.

Thanks in advance.

Update: Sorry to ask another novice question, please don't get disturbed. If the air mass entering the combustion chamber is less, then can't it be accommodated by allowing more air to enter the combustion chamber using ICV and not injecting more fuel?

Here's what BHPian kosjam had to say on the matter:

The ECU mostly tries to ensure that the air-fuel ratio remains as close to the set ratio. As the air in the mountains is thinner, less power is generated per power stroke owing to lesser air mass entering the combustion chamber. This would cause the rpm to be unstable, hence more fuel is injected till a stable rpm is achieved. For your car type, it could be around 1200-1300 rpm as you stated.

Update: Don't worry, answering a question is also a learning exercise quite often because some research is required sometimes.

For example, in this case, I am unfamiliar with the term ICV. Anyway, after some research, I now understand this.

Coming back on topic, @flyboysid has explained quite accurately, that the cubic capacity is fixed on an engine, so even opening the ICV will not increase the volume of air taken into the cylinder. As the air itself is less dense, the fuel injected cannot be more per cycle, as a result, less power is produced in the cycle, and if the engine is not able to produce enough power, the ECU will detect the instability and increase fuel to compensate, which will reflect on the panel as increased RPM.

Whether your vehicle has a turbo or not, will not make a difference, as during idle, the turbo is bypassed in most vehicles.

This is perfectly normal and not a cause for concern.

Here's what BHPian FLYBOYSID had to say on the matter:

Air enters the chamber as per volume, and the Cubic Capacity of your engine is fixed. The mass is governed by the density of the air. The Turbo Charger does the job of increasing the mass flow into the chamber. The amount of mass flow the turbo can increase is also a function of the initial density of air at the altitude. Therefore, the increase in RPM. For a Naturally Aspirated engine, it’s increase in RPM only.

I had noticed the same during my trip to Leh in my SX4 in 2010. However, I was astonished to see the increase in Fuel Efficiency. On a tank-to-tank basis, it returned close to 15 km/l. The only time I saw the figures above 11 km/l was at high altitudes.

Idling RPMs of even the Jet Engines vary when they land there with the settings for plains. If I remember correctly they used to bump up the fuel flow to make the engine sustain. Yes, there were jets whose engines were not computer-controlled!

Here's what BHPian aviator1101 had to say on the matter:

Any engine whether turbocharged or NA will operate at a higher rpm at higher altitudes, both during idling and with load applied.

At idle it is to sustain the engine's operation itself. And with load to produce the same power, higher rpm would be required for reasons stated by kosjam and FLYBOYSID in their posts.

I have a different concern. The change in RPMs at higher altitudes like Ladakh, North Sikkim, etc is common. These are places where it is recommended even for human beings to acclimatize before exerting themselves. But at Darjeeling which is barely at 2000m AMSL and the air density is also not that rare, it should not increase by almost 50%, in your case from 850 to almost 1300.

Is there any other problem? Or is it just the higher idling rpm that is bothering you?

Do share the inputs. Such issues are always a learning.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The same engine in a similar config is also used in the Hyundai Creta and Alcazar but in the lighter Venue, it feels very high-spirited.

BHPian SerArthurDayne recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It has roughly been 11 months since I bought the compact SUV in Dec 2022 and have clocked close to 11,000 KMs on the ODO. Sharing the comprehensive ownership experience along with a poignant commentary on the SUV segment in India.

Here are some details about my Car:

• Hyundai Venue Dec 2022
• Variant: S+ Diesel
• Engine: 1.5l 4 cylinder CRDi (BS 6 - Phase 1)
• Transmission: Manual
• Colour: Titan Grey
• Price: INR 9.99 Lakhs Ex-showroom

A picture of the machine:

Why I bought Hyundai Venue

My Criteria:

• I just knew that I wanted to buy a diesel car. With the govt. coming hard on Diesel, I figured it'd be good to enjoy one of the last diesel engines before they go extinct.
• Had to buy an SUV (raised-up FWD hatch) owing to the road conditions in India.
• Budget was around 15L, with some wiggle room.
• Decided that a sub-4m car would work, as I didn't really need the extra space and features of a larger car.

Based on the above Criteria, the options narrowed down to these:

• Hyundai Venue: The base diesel (S+) variant started at 9.99 Lakhs Ex-showroom (Less than 10L, so less taxes). For a base variant, if offered crazy features and value for money, as I'll further elaborate.
• Kia Sonet: Before the facelift of Venue, this car offered better value. But the facelift changed the game. Also, no manual gearbox with diesel.
• Tata Nexon: Expensive diesel variants. The variant that costed around 10 Lakhs, had absolutely no features, came with smaller tyres and felt emptier than my ex's heart. Venue came with full-sized tyres. Also, Tata is notorious for its insufferable service experience and quality issues. It is said that: "Tata cars are safe because they spend more time at service centres than on roads." *PS: No offence to Tata fanbois. Please don't hit me with your "desh ka loha".
• Mahindra XUV 300: Similar story as Nexon. Overpriced AF, but with pathetic looks. Its interior was absolute bilge. This atrocious car has been long neglected by Mahindra and only sells because of the hoax created by "unpaid" influencers. While other cars have gotten facelifts or upgrades, this is the only car that has degraded over time. Yes, it has performance, but do you really need it? Does it even make a slight difference in the overall ownership experience?

For a decent ownership experience, you need features. And for a feature-rich Nexon or XUV 300, you need upwards of 14 Lakhs. If I have to spend so much on a sub-4m car, I would rather spend a bit more and get a car like Creta from the upper segment.

Had also, gone for the TD of Kushaq/Taigun. Rejected it for the reasons why everyone else also rejects them. To know more, read this satiric and acute article on Kushaq/Taigun, written by, truly yours.

Thus, Hyundai Venue emerged as the clear winner.

Variant Selection:

I wanted to get a variant with a sunroof. But when I took the TD, I realised that a small sunroof does not matter much. So, no need to spend the extra 2 lakhs, when I'm getting most of the necessary features in the S+ variant.

"Identify your needs first. Then, finding a car becomes easy."

Ownership Experience

Pros:

• Looks: Although this is subjective, it was kind of a love at first sight. Didn't like the pre-facelift version of the Venue much. If your car makes you wanna take its pictures all the time, then you have a nice-looking car.

Here are a few snaps of the Beauty in Goa:

• Engine: The 1.5l CRDi Diesel engine is a gem. Same engine in a similar config is also used in heavier Hyundai Cars like Creta and Alcazar. This engine on a lighter Venue feels very high spirited. The turbo lag is evident. But once you hit the revs higher than 1500 RPM, the turbo kicks in and it puts a smile on your face. More than sufficient power and torque. This engine is butter smooth. Properly refined and silent. Unlike the Nexon's engine which is probably borrowed from a Tractor.
• Mileage: As Indigo say, this is a lean, clean, mileage machine. Drive it with a light foot and it'll be lighter on your pocket. In city, it returns around 15 kmpl. On highways, it is around 20-25 kmpl. Not bad at all. Segment best.

• Features: Korean cars usually try to provide features over and above the segment standard. And this car isn't any exception. Even for a lower variant, it comes with many standard safety features. Highline TPMS is very helpful. It has full sized steel wheels with wheel caps that look so good that you could be forgiven for thinking that these are alloys. Rear AC vents, HD Rear parking camera with sensors, infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Digital MID make the car well equipped. Multiple charging ports (front and rear), front armrest, sufficient boot size and smart storage spaces make the car really practical.
• Service: Hyundai provides a very satisfactory service experience. Haven't experienced any major issues yet. Service network is wide and even the roadside assistance is quick and helpful.

Cons:

• Steering: Although it is light and can be manoeuvred with one finger, it is pretty vague. There's a lot of play in the centre. It weighs up at high speeds but just does not feel confident and accurate. Also, the car is very light. So, the overall high-speed stability is not good.
• Suspension: The ride is not very comfortable. Feels stiff. It glides through the normal bumps pretty well, but could definitely be better. Even the seats could've been made better for longer drives.
• Build quality: Even though it has scored 4 stars in the ANCAP, we still can't be sure of its build quality as the material used in international markets is different. The outer panels don't feel indestructible. Only a proper crash test might provide more clarity. But now, every new Hyundai car comes with 6 standard airbags. So, it's a step in the right direction.

Should you buy Hyundai Venue?

Venue comes in 3 engine configs:

• 1.5l Diesel: This is still the best value-for-money car in the segment. Sufficient power, good mileage and features at a reasonable price. Should definitely be considered if your budget is less than 14 Lakhs.
• 1.2l Petrol: This naturally aspirated engine has very less power. But it is low maintenance and very refined. But this same engine is available in Hyundai Exter. Exter should be chosen over Venue if you want this engine.
• 1l Petrol: This turbo engine is quick and comes with interesting variants that are feature-loaded (Knight edition and N-Line). The DCT gearbox is also good and can provide a satisfactory ownership experience.

But if your main objective is mileage and don't want to spend more than 15 Lakhs on a sub-4m car, then you can also check out the Toyota Hyryder or Maruti Grand Vitara, if the budget allows and you want a petrol car.

Video review of my Hyundai Venue

Feel free to ask if you have any questions on this. Do let me your feedback in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It made immense value for money to get a 1.5 diesel with all the basic features for 9.99 Lakhs Ex-showroom in Chennai.

BHPian Masalawheelz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Ownership report of my 2022 Venue SX Diesel Manual

Hello to everyone reading this! I’m grateful to now be a part of this community which I have been lurking about for the last 10-15 years.
Cars have always been one of my biggest passions in life and I’ve always enjoyed my time with them!

My car ownership started in the year 2016, after two years as a lawyer, I earned and saved up a little bit to buy a pre-owned Honda Brio in May 2016. It was a fantastic little car that came with only 5000km on the ODO. My wife and I loved it and we took it everywhere we went, including on some beautiful long drives from Chennai (different trips to Bangalore, Mysore, Coorg, Ooty, Kotagiri, Coimbatore, Salem, Yercaud, Yelagiri, etc), I was always apprehensive that this variant (S) didn’t come with airbags. We sold the car after about 1 and a half years, after adding just 15,000km to the ODO and brought home a spanking new VW Polo GT TSI (1.2L) in December 2017. My dad and I bought our cars together, where initially we were to get a Polo GT & Vento TDI but my dad ended up picking the Ford EcoSport Titanium TCDI instead and enjoyed it for 5 years.

My own tryst with the GT TSI was a dream. The car performed like a miracle for 4 years and about 45k km with multiple trips to Bangalore, Mysore, Coorg, Wayanad, Madurai, etc. Once I learned to adapt to the nuances of the engine and gearbox, I was easily getting 12kmpl in the city and about 17-18kmpl on the highway, despite never being slow! She was a fantastic little beast who taught us valuable lessons on German engineering and refinement.

The first issue of noise and heaviness from the steering of our GT TSI led to the entire steering rack replacement on warranty. The second issue crept in at the end of 4 years and worried me quite a bit as the flooring on the driver’s side started getting damp. I kept checking and the dampness kept growing within a month. A detailed inspection by two VW ASCs didn’t yield any results and a known FNG indicated that it was with the condensation of the AC. Being in a coastal city and having seen the havoc caused by Rust, I bid farewell to the baby beast – our dear GT TSI with a heavy heart in December 2022 knowing that it would be quite impossible to replace her!

In the same year, my wife and I also made the biggest purchase in our lives. Our own little house by the beach in Chennai. We dumped all our savings into the house purchase and renovation of our flat so there was literally no budget for a new car! Out went our dream of upgrading to a Taigun 1.5 GT. As our budget was a very tight 11 lakhs, I didn’t mind sacrificing the convenience of an automatic to get a good engine, which I wouldn’t get bored of within a couple of years. I also wanted delivery of the car at the earliest as I was without one after the sale of our beloved GT TSI.

In came the Venue SX Diesel Manual. It made immense value for money to get a 1.5 diesel with all the basic features for 9.99 Lakhs Ex-showroom in Chennai. I always liked the blocky and geometric design of the Venue as well which sealed the deal. What I didn’t like were the unnecessary Sunroof, the ugly-looking tripod instrument cluster, the weird-looking wheel caps, and the patchy Bluetooth connection of the infotainment system. The lack of Rain sensing wipers and auto-dimming IRVM was a compromise as our GT had them 5 years ago! As this was more of a head-over-heart decision, we decided to go with the flow. While I wanted to go in for a white shade as usual, the wife demanded Red so we ended up with the Fiery Red shade.

We got delivery of the car within a month of booking as the Factory is in Chennai so we brought this fellow home in February 2022. He is definitely not a good looker with clean lines but damn he is immensely practical! The Diesel heart meant multiple long-drive plans without too much fuel budgeting and the torque of a diesel has been fun to play with.
So I returned to a manual after 4 years with the GT TSI.

The second head-over-heart decision was whether to invest on the stock alloys which were 35K or invest in better tires on the stock-styled steel wheels. The car came with Ceat tires which I wasn’t fond of so, in another head-over-heart decision, got the tires changed on the day of delivery to Continental UC6s which, in retrospect, was a good decision as the stock tires were of lower quality and quite noisy.

As it is a diesel which shockingly did not come with insulation under the hood, and as the door panels were vibrating a bit with increased sound, we got the doors damped with Dr. Artex Iridium damping sheets and the Hood damped with heat and noise-reducing damping sheets. This made a world of difference and I would strongly recommend anyone getting a diesel, or a Hyundai, or any of the Japanese kids (Honda, Suzuki, Toyota) to get damping done on the doors for better quality of the stock audio and a good decrease in road noise.

We got window tints for the 4 windows and the read windshield along with 3M CR70 for the front windshield and the sunroof glass. We also got Ceramic Coating done on the car in June 2022 as the Red shade actually had depth which was fading due to routine maintenance. A friendly neighbourhood garage did the Ceramic Coating as we were looking for budget-friendly options for it. Both – sun films and ceramic coating were mainly because the car is parked on the road during the day and in the open, inside the building at night, and is therefore subject to all elements of nature throughout the year.

The engine has good tractability and pulls cleanly from low RPMs. While I do feel that this engine has much more potential (Read–Remaps), I’m a little worried about its effect on the long term life of the engine and the fact that the braking is absolutely not confidence-inspiring. I have therefore left the engine bone stock. My biggest grouse with the car is the stupid single Horn given by Hyundai which is loud but sounds pathetic. (I don’t understand the step-brotherly treatment when they can give a good Horn on the Creta). As it is a single Horn, most of the accessories stores say that they will not convert the Horn to the Skoda, VW, or Audi Horns which sound awesome. Members – please throw light on possible solutions to this!

I have always found the clutch on Hyundai to be inaccurate. The clutch is light and has little play but the exact level where the clutch engages/disengages is always a mystery and is not progressively noticeable like in other cars. I also regularly drive my colleague’s 2021 Ertiga petrol which also has a light clutch, but the action and engagement are precise compared to Hyundai. Have any other members felt or noticed this or is it just me?

This car is truly a silent workhorse that hasn’t caused a single DPF issue since the date of purchase. The engine is very refined, especially at higher speeds and we have clocked 26k KM in 20 Months which isn’t too much running but was definitely more pleasurable in a Diesel. The total ODO includes trips from Chennai to Bangalore, Mysore, Thekkady, Cherai Beach, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Karur, and a wonderful 2500km trip to Goa and back this year. The full black interior, although claustrophobic, is a breeze to maintain and the 3D mats that Hyundai sells for just 3k are absolutely worth it!

My daily runs are about 30-40km – 5 days a week and the Venue gives an average of about 15kmpl in the city. On our Highway drives, I have seen averages of between 18kmpl to 22kmpl depending on the average speed, traffic, number of passengers in the car, and extent of use of cruise control. This is very good mileage as my dad’s EcoSport, in comparison used to give about 15kmpl in the city but never more than 17-18kmpl on the highway. The AC deserves a special mention – it is an absolute chiller and I have realised that keeping it on Auto mode actually improves the average mileage – not sure how though!

The Conti UC6s have made a world of difference in our long drives. This is coupled with the fact that we have been carrying out wheel balancing, tire rotation, and nitrogen air refilling only at our neighbourhood MRF outlet. I was surprised to find out that the “Nitrogen” air advertised by most fuel outlets is not really Nitrogen. The best part is that we top up free Nitrogen at the MRF outlet once every 3 months or 3000km as I retain 33psi which goes down to 30-31PSI only after 2000-2500km.

For general cleaning and maintenance, I use a non-waxed duster to wipe the top layer of dust off the car and then use Proclear Raw Extreme CX (initially) and Proclear Raw Extreme CRC (presently) for daily maintenance and this gives a good clean and shine on the car. Once every 2 months, I have the car pressure washed at the same neighbourhood garage, and once every 6 months, I get a maintenance coating done for the ceramic coat.

Got the 3 free services completed at 950km, 8900km & 18,000km in a period of 14 months based on consequent trips planned in the car. The Service, I would say has never been accurate. Yes, they are prompt in follow-up and pick up but there is no clarity from the Service Advisor on what is involved in the service, how much time it would take, or the specification of the engine oil (I wanted fully synthetic engine oil and not mineral oil). I tried two service centres based on proximity – Kun Hyundai & V3 Hyundai and both were pretty similar in service. In fact, during the 3rd service, one of the guys soiled the sun shade and roof liner in a couple of places with his greasy hands which could never be fully removed.

In conclusion, this guy is a sensible and frugal mile muncher who goes about quietly doing his work. All he wants is some highway action every now and then to keep his internals clean (DPF) and periodic maintenance to ensure he is in top shape! Looking forward to more mile munching with this guy with a 1200km trip planned in two weeks.

Cheers!

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Kia Sonet was also on my mind but its equivalent model lacked features that were a must for me.

BHPian vikasshu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Dear Fellow Venue Owners,

I recently took delivery of my new Venue S(O) 1.0 Turbo petrol in Typhoon Silver shade. Unfortunately, so far I have not driven it as my license has expired and I am waiting for a renewed one.

The buying experience at Sapphire Hyundai Dwarka Delhi was very good and welcoming. My sales associate was really nice and gave me a lovely deal with timely updates at each point. I should share with you that it is my first car from Hyundai stable. Years back (in 2005) I wanted to buy a Santro but our experience at a showroom was not good and ultimately we bought a Wagon R. Then in 2015, when I wanted to upgrade, I had a bad experience at another Hyundai showroom because of an insistence on buying accessories.

Therefore, the day we went to the Hyundai showroom, I had no big hopes and I was setting expectations for my wife as well. But later on, she remarked that whatever I shared with her had not been true at all. I think the credit goes to Sapphire Hyundai Dwarka and my sales associate who gave us an amazing experience. The car’s final price was ₹ 11.61. I opted for 4 and 5th-year extended warranty and paid 15k additional for it.

Why a new car and why Venue?

I owned a beautiful red coloured 2015 Scorpio S 10. My car had 50k on Odometer and it was in an impeccable condition. Her colour was as bright as a new car. Her engine was peppy and always eager. But it was looming close to its life because of the NCR diesel ban. I had some alternative plans for retaining her but when discussed with Gurus, all shared the problems in my strategy. Special thanks Bhpian @joybhowmik who has been a guide throughout my Scorpio journey. Therefore, with a heavy heart, I decided to sell it off. I must share that it was really painful for me to sell such a wonderful car. Thankfully the day she left our house, I was not in town.

Since I loved my Scorpio and its lovely mhawk engine, I needed something equally good. We also decided that we’ll stick to petrol cars this time. We also decided to go for sub 4 meter as parking space is a premium in the locality where I live. Plus there are just 3 of us who travel, so a smaller car should be good.

My other criteria that I loved in my previous car and wanted in the new one as well are

• Cruise control
• TPMS
• Good ground clearance
• Budget 11-12 Lakhs (max)

And I felt Venue met these criteria. Though Sonet was also in my mind, the equivalent Sonet model lacked the features that are a must for me. It was ruled out. I also liked XUV 300 but this time I wanted to try a new brand.

I got a lovely deal for my Scorpio so decided to go for cash down. Initially, we short-listed a white shade for the future car considering the pain faced in re-selling a red Scorpio. But later the family decided that Typhoon Silver looked much better.

Since my car was already gone, I wanted to get something immediately and before the start of pitra-paksha / shradh period. The dealership arranged a white one on priority for me. But because of a change at the last minute, I requested them to get a silver one. Since silver was not available immediately, they had to get it from the Chennai plant. And took 7-8 days time. It was dispatched on 21 September. I did a PDI on September 27 at the dealership and made all payments that day itself. Finally, on September 28, we took the delivery of the car.

I’ll share my experiences as I’ll get to drive it and seek some advice for accessories. Rear bumper guard is one that is on my mind.

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