Why the 2022 Hyundai Venue doesn’t get a diesel automatic despite several segment-first features – Times of India

A successful product since its launch in 2019, the Hyundai Venue is one of the most sought after cars among Indian buyers looking for a sub-4-metre compact SUV. And now Hyundai has launched the first facelift of the Venue with extensive updates and several segment-first features. While the Venue has the option of three drive trains spread across its variants, there is a lack of a diesel variant with automatic transmission. Tarun Garg, Director, Sales and Marketing, Hyundai India, during an exclusive chat with TOI Auto, explained why Hyundai decided to offer the Venue diesel only with a 6-speed manual transmission, where demand for automatic transmission is high and continues. Grow.
Garg told us, “Our data shows that 36 per cent of Venue customers are first-time buyers and for those opting for the diesel variant, their first priority is the manual transmission. Out of the initial 21,000 bookings we received for the Venue, we have 35 Percentage is for diesel, 20 per cent is for turbo petrol and 45 per cent is for naturally aspirated petrol. And that is why there is no automatic with diesel for Venue as it is the preferred option of the customers.”

At Rs 12.32 lakh for the top-of-the-line SX(O) DSL variant, the Venue Diesel is being advertised as the most connected compact SUV in the country. This is because it is now equipped with Hyundai’s BlueLink platform which enables a wider suite of connected features. BlueLink is an artificial intelligence-based system that provides safety, security and convenience features like voice commands for vehicle operations, stolen vehicle tracking and stabilization, geo-fence alerts, over speeding alerts and much more. Garg said, “In 2018, sales of cars above Rs 10 lakh were 16 per cent and in 2020 this figure increased to 37 per cent. Of these, more than 41 per cent buyers went for Hyundai products. So here is the point to note. It’s how customers are willing to pay more to get those aspirational and convenience features (sunroof, voice commands and more).”
In addition to this, Garg also confirmed that in the Venue, a number of voice commands have been embedded in the BlueLink system, which does not depend on internet connectivity to complete the operation of any function. For example, commanding the system to turn on the AC, open the vehicle’s sunroof or tire pressure will happen immediately even if it is in low network areas. Customers of all Hyundai BlueLink-enabled models will also receive a monthly report card on how they drove and how their car performed. The service is being offered free of charge for the first three years of ownership.

The compact SUV is in great demand from the customer. That’s why we’ve scooped up the rear of the front seat to give more leg room to the rear passengers. Then we offer the segment-first reclining back seat. Plus, there’s ambient lighting and more. So by adding these features we have tried to set a new benchmark for this segment. And this is what we have done with the 2022 Venue. Garg added.
Obviously, with the new Venue, Hyundai India has checked the right boxes in almost every department. The combination of diesel and petrol engines gives it an edge over some of its flagship rivals. Also, while the absence of an automatic gearbox with the diesel variant may seem like a miss, the data shared by Garg makes it clear that key consumer demands in the compact SUV segment were addressed with the updated Hyundai Venue Is.