Hyundai

IWAS A bit sceptical about the need for the Venue – it seemed a stretch to bring yet another compact SUV into Hyundai’s ranks when they already have the Kona and Creta. And the name… Who calls a car a Venue? But, I’m told, the name originates from the South Korean manufacturer’s desire for the car to represent a special place. And yes, the inside is kind of special, and it’s difficult not to enjoy the vehicle. It has stylish looks, sharp lines and some good oomph under the hood.

But what I liked most about the Venue is how comfortable and easy it is to drive. After being handed the keys to the top-of-the-range seven-speed dual-clutch auto derivative, I swiftly set off for a spin around the Cape Winelands – and for a guy who generally loves auto transmissions, it was a pleasure to operate. The ride is firm, but remains comfortable, and the overall experience is smooth. Handling is impeccable and the steering responsive, bordering on almost too sensitive. The six-speed manual is almost as good to drive, but I’m someone who’s always going to opt for an automatic.

Hyundai has borrowed the engine from the Kona for the smaller Venue – the entire range comes with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol 3-year/45 000 km

service plan 7-year/200 000 km

warranty 7-year/150 000 km roadside assistance Model tested:

R369 900 power plant. And, perhaps surprisingly, it packs a real punch – you might find the responsive accelerator takes some getting used to, as it attempts to take you from zero to a hundred faster than Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone.

It’s jacked up from a safety perspective, with ABS and EBD standard across the range.

There are two front airbags in the base model – the Motion, and six airbags (including sideand curtain units) in the Fluid and Glide models. The Motion lacks a stylish infotainment system, but the Fluid and Glide options come standard with an eight-inch display featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (handy for connecting to your phone for navigation, and blasting your tunes).

Time will tell whether the Venue will pose a real threat to the Volkswagen T-Cross that’s currently seated on the compact SUV throne, but I’m sure it’ll provide some stiff competition for its German counterpart.

/ Venue 1.0 TGDI Glide DCT