Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue

Nissan Magnite and Hyundai Venue belong to the fastest-growing segment in the Indian automobile industry, the sub-compact SUV segment. What it essentially means, is the length of the cars is under 4m to encash to tax benefits. What people get is an SUV, of sorts, without having to spend exorbitant amounts of money. They give me a road presence, which does matter a lot in India, for a small premium over the hatchbacks. The Nissan Magnite starts at just Rs 4.99 lacs and tops up at Rs 9.35 lacs ex-showroom Delhi. The Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, starts at Rs 6.75 lacs and goes all the way up to Rs 11.59 lacs. But how will these two face-off against each other in terms of features and safety, let’s find out in detail!

Also read: Nissan Magnite vs Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza – The Real Test!

Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue – Specifications

Nissan Magnite is powered by 3-Cylinder 1L Petrol and a bit more powerful Turbo-Petrol Engines making 71 bhp/96 Nm and 99 bhp/160 Nm respectively. Now, Magnite having a Kerb weight of a mere 1039 kg is able to draw a lot of performance from these engines. Although the steering is a bit inert, the turbo-powered engine is decent enough to put you back in your seat once the turbo kicks in. Magnite offers a decent ride and handling experience, especially around the corners. The stiff suspension translates to high-speed stability.

Hyundai Venue offers all sorts of engine and transmission combinations to choose from. The 1.2L Kappa Petrol makes 83 bhp and 114 Nm and the 1.0L Turbo GDi Petrol makes an impressive 120 bhp and 171 Nm. The 1.5LU2 CRDi Diesel on the other hand makes 100 bhp and 240 Nm. Now, the Turbo-petrol is for the enthusiasts as it offers a phenomenal performance combined with the lightning-fast 7-DCT transmission. The steering and clutch are light, which makes it a great city car. The iMT also makes it easier to drive in traffic. Overall, a good grip and firm suspension make it stable at high speeds.

If you are looking for a diesel engine, there is only one on offer here, which will make your choice pretty straightforward. But when it comes to a petrol engine, the Nissan Magnite’s manual is a good option because of its less weight. But it is the 7-speed DCT automatic of Hyundai Venue that is much quicker than the CVT of the Magnite.

Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue – Fuel Economy

Magnite gives a rather impressive 20 kmpl mileage with its 1L Turbo-Petrol and a healthy 18.75 kmpl mileage with the naturally aspirated engine. The figure falls slightly at 17.70 kmpl mileage with CVT Automatic. This is a decent mileage considering the size of the sub-4m SUV. The Hyundai Venue lacks in the fuel-economy department and the Nissan magnite has a clear edge.

Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue – Dimensions

Nissan Magnite and Hyundai Venue have identical length and wheelbase. But Venue has a distinct advantage in terms of height and width making it appear more SUV-like. The road presence factor certainly gets enhanced by extra height and width. Venue also has an edge in terms of practicality with a bit larger boot than the Magnite. There is very little to choose between the two, but Hyundai Venue takes it home for us ever so closely.

Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue– Exteriors

Nissan officially calls Magnite: Bold and beautiful and that is precisely what Magnite’s exteriors are. You just can’t miss the large chrome grille at the front, along with the sleek and stylish First-in-segment Bi-Projector LED Headlamps with LED turn indicators. The L-shaped LED DRLs with LED fog lamps also accentuate the edges of the bumper. The aggressive wheel arches and a 205 mm ground clearance gives it a rather sporty stance. The side profile really stands out, thanks to a chrome beltline running around the windows as well as a quarter-glass at the rear to provide a sense of roominess in the cabin. The wide-split tail lamps make it look wider than it actually is. All-in-all, bold design choice is what Nissan has gone for here and we are not complaining. It certainly looks sporty and bold, especially with those silver skid plates.

The front end of the Venue has a dark chrome cascading grille with a mesh pattern. In a rather unconventional manner, the headlight unit is placed lower down on the bumper, which consists of Projector headlamps and fog lamps and LED DRLs. The ground clearance is 190 mm, which gives it a more hatchback-like stance. The roof rails do give Venue a sort of a sporty element. the rear of the Venue, however, looks quite ordinary without any flashy bits.

Now, looks are subjective, but the Nissan Magnite looks closer to what an SUV is supposed to look like abd Venue tends to drift towards a cross-over type of look.

Nissan Magnite vs Hyundai Venue – Interiors, Features and Safety

Being the latest launch, Magnite is filled to the brim with all the techs and features. The interiors of the Magnite are certainly driver-oriented, with the centre console tilted 5 degrees towards the driver. There are 7-inch digital cluster and 8-inch digital instrument display with Wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Steering mounted controls and cruise control helps in enhancing accessibility and convenience. As optional features, one can upgrade to Wireless charging, JBL Audio System and Nissan Connected Car Tech. On the safety front, there is a 360-degree surround-view camera, Hill-start Assist, Traction Control, Vehicle Dynamic Control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, ABS and Dual-Airbags.

As is the case with all Hyundais, Venue is packed to the brim with features, tech and convenience quotient. To start with, in the centre console sits an 8-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-end DCT variant also had Hyundai’s Bluelink Connected Car Tech. Convenience features include Steering Mounted Controls, Sunroof, Automatic Climate Control, Smart Key with Push Button Start, Wireless Charging, Front and Rear Power Outlet and an Air Purifier. Safety features include 6 Airbags, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill-Assist, Rear View Sensors and Camera, ABS, EBD with ESC, ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

It is clear the Hyundai venue is more expensive than the Nissan Magnite, as a result of which, Venue does come with a lot more safety and convenience features. But as a value for money proposition, Magnite does offer a lot for the buck!

Which one to pick?

If you are someone who would like to be pampered with a lot of comforts and conveniences in the cabin and don’t necessarily mind spending big, then it is the Hyundai Venue, which will offer you a wide variety of engine and transmission to choose from and the best-in-class features. But if you are someone who loves value for money deals and want a feature-rich car with a decent mileage under Rs. 9 lacs, then the Nissan Magnite makes complete sense.