Hyundai has finally entered the fray of sub-compact SUVs with the all-new Venue. It was recently launched with prices ranging between Rs 6.5 lakh and Rs 11.1 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). One of the Venue’s direct rivals is the Ford EcoSport, whose variant-wise features list has been given an updated along with a cut in prices soon after its launch. But which of the two sub-4 metre SUVs offer better value for their price? We find out.

Dimensions

• The EcoSport is longer by 3mm but its wheelbase is 19mm longer than the Venue.

• Hyundai’s offering is wider and 42mm shorter without roof rails.

• Both have a very similarly voluminous boot but the EcoSport offers an extra 2 litres of space.

ENGINE

Petrol

• The EcoSport is the most powerful petrol option in this segment with both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged engines.

• Venue’s new turbo-petrol engine is torquier and gets an AT variant unlike the turbocharged engine of the Ford.

• Hyundai’s sub-4m SUV also claims more fuel efficiency than the corresponding powertrain options of the EcoSport.

Diesel

• The EcoSport is more powerful but has less slightly less torque.

• Hyundai Venue claims slightly better fuel efficiency figures.

• Neither of the two offer an automatic variant with the diesel engine.

Variants Comparison

We will be comparing similarly priced variants of both the Venue and EcoSport (a price difference of upto Rs 50,000). Both petrol and diesel options will be compared separately.

Hyundai Venue S 1.2L vs Ford EcoSport Ambiente

Common Features

Safety: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, auto door lock, front passenger seatbelt reminder, front seatbelt pretensioners

Exterior: ?Halogen headlamps, black coloured ORVMs.

Interior: Fabric upholstery, flat fold rear seat and front adjustable headrest

Comfort and convenience:Tilt-adjustable steering, manual AC, day-night IRVM, electrically adjustable ORVMs and front power outlet.

Audio: 4 speakers, Bluetooth, USB & FM/AM radio with steering mounted audio controls

What Venue S offers over EcoSport Ambiente: ISOFIX child seat anchor, rear AC vents, body-coloured door handles, rear defogger and 2 front tweeters.

What EcoSport Ambiente offers over Venue S: Follow-me-home headlamps, telescopic steering adjust and adjustable rear seat headrests.

Verdict: The Venue is our pick over the EcoSport at this price point as it offers plenty of features as well as child seat anchors over the EcoSport, while being more affordable.

Hyundai Venue S 1.0L vs Ford EcoSport Trend

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: Rear defogger.

Exterior: Body coloured ORVMs and door handles.

What Venue S(1.0L) offers over EcoSport Trend: ISOFIX child seat anchors, rear AC vents, front centre armrest with storage, rear power outlet and roof rails.

What EcoSport Trend offers over Venue S(1.0L): Telescopic steering adjust, driver seat height adjust, turn indicators on ORVMs, 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with embedded navigation, rear wiper washer, rear view camera, adjustable rear seat headrests and auto AC.

Verdict: The EcoSport offers more comfort and features for the premium and makes it our pick. However, the Venue with its ISOFIX child seat anchor is more suitable for a family with a small child.

Hyundai Venue SX vs Ford EcoSport Titanium

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: Rear-view camera, front fog lamps

Exterior: LED DRLs, projector headlamps, roof rails, 16-inch alloys, turn indicators on ORVMs

Interior: Leather steering wheel, front centre armrest with storage, adjustable rear seat headrests, height adjustable driver’s seat.

Comfort and convenience: Electric folding ORVMs, auto AC and rear power outlet

Audio: Touchscreen infotainment system

What Venue SX offers over EcoSport Titanium: ISOFIX child seat anchor, cruise control, electric sunroof, Arkamys sound tune, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED taillamps, projector fog lamps, rear AC vents and automatic headlamps.

What EcoSport Titanium offers over Venue SX: Telescopic steering adjust, embedded navigation in the infotainment unit, rear wiper washer and push-button stop-start.

Verdict: The Hyundai Venue is our pick here over the EcoSport despite the premium. It offers additional safety and comfort features along with smartphone compatibility that is missing on the Ford sub-4m SUV.

Hyundai Venue SX+ DCT vs Ford EcoSport Titanium+ AT

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: ISOFIX child anchor seat, electronic stability control, traction control system, hill assist and automatic headlamps.

Comfort: Electric sunroof

Audio: Touchscreen infotainment system with embedded navigation.

What Venue SX+ offers over EcoSport Titanium+: Cruise control, Arkamys sound tune, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED taillamps, wireless phone charger, rear AC vents, air purifier, Hyundai Bluelink connected car technology (remote functions) and smart key.

What EcoSport Titanium+ offers over Venue SX+: Side and curtain airbags, telescopic steering adjust, rear wiper washer, rain sensing wipers, 60:40 split folding rear seat, paddle shifters, rear seat fold-out centre armrest.

Verdict: Given that the two are quite closely priced, the Venue and EcoSport meet differing requirements. However, as the Ford sub-4m SUV has additional safety features, it is our pick over the Venue which has more technology to offer.

Hyundai Venue SX(O) vs Ford EcoSport S 1.OL

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: Side and curtain airbags (total 6),

Interior: Rear fold out centre armrest, 60:40 split folding rear seat and leather seats.

Comfort and convenience: Rear-wiper and washer and smart key.

Audio: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for the touchscreen infotainment system

What Venue SX(O) offers over EcoSport S 1.0L: Wireless phone charger, air purifier, rear AC vents, Hyundai BLUELINK connected car technology, hot buttons on IRVM.

What EcoSport S 1.0L offers over Venue SX(O): HID headlamps, gloss black front grille,, telescopic steering adjust, rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, multi-colour footwell lighting, tyre pressure monitoring system.

Verdict: The Ford EcoSport offers more conveniences while the Hyundai Venue offers more tech features. At these prices, we pick the Venue for its segment-first connected tech features. The EcoSport does offer added utility with HID headlamps for better illumination, auto-dimming IRVM for improved visibility and safety information from the tyre pressure monitor but for a premium over the Venue.

Hyundai Venue S vs Ford EcoSport Ambiente

Common Features

Safety: Dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, auto door lock, front passenger seatbelt reminder, front seatbelt pretensioners

Exterior: ?Halogen headlamps, black coloured ORVMs.

Interior: Fabric upholstery, flat fold rear seat and front adjustable headrest

Comfort and convenience:Tilt-adjustable steering, manual AC, day-night IRVM, electrically adjustable ORVMs and front power outlet.

Audio: 4 speakers, Bluetooth, USB & FM/AM radio with steering mounted audio controls

What Venue S offers over EcoSport Ambiente: ISOFIX child seat anchor, body-coloured door handles, rear defogger, rear AC vents and 2 front tweeters.

What EcoSport Ambiente offers over Venue S: Follow-me-home headlamps, telescopic steering adjust and adjustable rear seat headrests.

Verdict: While the features on offer are the same as while comparing the petrol-engined variants, the diesel EcoSport being more affordable is the one we’d pick. However, at these prices, the Venue will turn out to be the better choice for buyers with small children as it comes with ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Hyundai Venue SX vs Ford EcoSport Titanium

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: Rear-view camera, front fog lamps, rear defogger

Exterior: LED DRLs, projector headlamps, roof rails, 16-inch alloys, turn indicators on ORVMs, body coloured door handles and ORVMs.

Interior: Leather steering wheel, front centre armrest with storage, adjustable rear seat headrests, height adjustable driver’s seat.

Comfort and convenience: Electric folding ORVMs, auto AC and rear power outlet

Audio: Touchscreen infotainment system

What Venue SX offers over EcoSport Titanium: ISOFIX child seat anchor, cruise control, electric sunroof, rear AC vents, Arkamys sound tune, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED taillamps and automatic headlamps.

What EcoSport Titanium offers over Venue SX: Telescopic steering adjust, embedded navigation in the infotainment unit, 10.67cm premium MID with chrome rings in the instrument cluster, rear wiper washer and push-button stop-start.

Verdict: With the revised pricing of the Ford EcoSport, the diesel engine Titanium variant costs the same as the Hyundai Venue’s SX diesel variant. With no difference in price, the Venue does offer more safety and tech features than the EcoSport. Hence, we pick the new Hyundai sub-4m SUV at this price.

Hyundai Venue SX(O) vs Ford EcoSport Titanium+

Common Features (over previous variants)

Safety: Side and curtain airbags (total 6), ISOFIX child anchor seat and automatic headlamps.

Interior: Rear fold out centre armrest, 60:40 split folding rear seat.

Comfort and convenience: Electric sunroof, rear-wiper and washer and smart key.

Audio: Touchscreen infotainment system with embedded navigation.

What Venue SX(O) offers over EcoSport Titanium+: Wireless phone charger, air purifier, rear AC vents, Hyundai BLUELINK connected car technology, hot buttons on IRVM, cruise control, Arkamys sound tune, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility for 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, LED taillamps.

What EcoSport Titanium+ offers over Venue SX(O): Telescopic steering adjust, rain sensing wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, multi-colour footwell lighting, tyre pressure monitoring system

Verdict: For the additional tech and infotainment features, the top-spec Hyundai Venue is our pick despite the premium. The Titanium+ is not the EcoSport’s top-spec variant but still offers more conveniences and informative features at a lower price. We pick the Venue over the EcoSport as it offers a lot more features for the slight premium.

Source: cardekho.com