Venue

Overview

The Venue is the rare sub-four-metre SUV that can be bought two entirely different ways, and the difference is character rather than gimmick. Entry and mid variants use the smooth, unhurried 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol making 115 bhp, an engine built for relaxed commuting and easy maintenance. Step up to the turbo variants and the little 998cc three-cylinder makes 120 bhp and 172 Nm from low in the rev range, which transforms how the car leaves the line and attacks a gap in traffic.

It is the turbo that justifies the Venue’s place on shortlists against more expensive SUVs. The shove from around 1,500 rpm means overtaking on a two-lane road is a decision rather than a project, the tall gearing keeps the engine calm at highway speed, and the automatic option on the top variant suits the turbo’s spread of torque far better than the base engine deserves. Around town the short overhangs, the high seat and 195 mm of clearance make Indian roads feel negotiable rather than endured.

The trade-offs are the ones a small SUV makes. Boot space is a modest 375 litres, the three-cylinder turbo has a perceptible thrum at idle that the four-cylinder base engine avoids, and the three-star Global NCAP adult score is respectable but behind the Tatas in this money range. The variant ladder is also deep, so a well-optioned turbo automatic climbs steeply toward ₹13.60 lakh, at which point buyers start eyeing bigger cars. Choose the Venue turbo for genuine pace in a small package; choose the 1.5 for a cheaper, calmer daily drive.

• 120 bhp / 172 Nm 1.0-litre turbo on top variants
• Smoother 1.5-litre petrol on the base
• 195 mm ground clearance