MOTORBUZZ

Ease of Automatic with the manual gearbox.

Hyundai Motors in India did well in Compact SUV segment with Hyundai Creta but now Hyundai launched its new sub 4 meter compact SUV Hyundai Venue with BS6 norms and the new IMT transmission. Now you can drive car with manual transmission without having a clutch pedal.

Exteriors –

The Venue has a traditional boxy SUV shape with quirkier styling thanks to its huge front grill and low profile headlamps. These things will attract young buyers. The backside of the Venue is also has quirkier styling thanks to its unique square shaped tailights. Shortly , this car has good looks and they wil attract young buyers.

Interors –

Interiors are nice and will please you as soon as you enter the car. The dash is nicely configured with soft touch materials and hard plastics. The 8 inch infotainment system on dashboard grabs your attention when you enter in the car. The 8 inch infotainment system offers great functionality and UI is also smooth. The square shaped AC vents and sqaure shaped door unlock handles give you premium feel. The storage spaces are smartly utilized and it is the segment first car which comes with wireless charger. The instrumental cluster is also nice. Front seats are good and offer good comfort. Let’s see how good it is in the back seat.

The back seat is nice , offers good legroom , decent kneeroom but the under thigh support can disappoint a taller person. As it offers rear AC vents the person who os sitting in middle of the two persons might feel disappointing. The windows are good enough to provide the roomy and airy environment. But when you come to the roomy and airy environment the Venue has a electric sunroof. It offers a premium feel and the cabin roomy and airy. Overall feel is good and a nice place to be in for two persons. It also offers a boot space of 350L which is good for the car of its size.

Safety –

The Venue takes care of you and offers peace of mind by offering  2 airbags and safety features like ABS , EBD as standard. The features like HAC (hill assist control) , VSP(vehicle stability program) and much more are offered in higher variants.

Performance , Ride and handling –

The Hyundai Venue cones with 1.2L petrol engine offered in lower variants and mated with manual transmission and also has option of automatic transmission. It produces 83hp and 115nm of torque and also gives the fuel economy of 17.5 kmpl. The 1.5L diesel engine doesn’t have automatic transmission but it has DCT which is nice and give you a good feedback while driving. It also offered with manual transmission. It produces 100hp and 240nm of torque and gives good fuel economy of 23 kmpl. The 1.0L Turbo petrol engine is offerd in DCT and IMT transmission options. It produces 120hp and 172nm of torque and offers fuel economy of 18 kmpl. The IMT is offered in SX and higher variants. The upcoming Kia Sonet will also have this IMT. Let’s talk about ride and handling.

Ride is good. Suspension is on stiffer side but it is good when you’re going through a bad road. The steering is light and gives you good feedback. The body roll is felt in this car which might let you down in terms of confidence. But it offers 15inch tyres which offers good amount of grip. The special thing about this car is the IMT which is first in a segment and gives you a good experience but it doesn’t have the sporty , rugged feel that manual transmission offers. But the technology which is used here is really nice and also works smartly. It can’t replace the manuals but it can offer the ease of automatic transmission with a manual gearbox. This system is totally computerized and gives good results but can’t offer the punch that manual offers. It is useful for the people having trouble while shifting gears manually and pressing the clutch everytime. It is too good in terms of usage if you have patience.

Pros –

1. Quirkier styling.

2. Wireless charger

3. Intelligent Manual Transmission (IMT)

Cons –

1. Use of hard plastics.

2. Shortage of space for third person on the back seat.

3. Tyres feel so small.

How friendly to the pocket?

The Venue has ex showroom price of 6.7lakhs to 11.58 lakhs.

Conclusion –

If you are looking for a car which has fun to drive nature and offers great features. Then you should go for Hyundai Venue.

Competition-

Venue competes with Tata Nexon, Vitara Brezza, Mahindra XUV3OO, Kia Sonnet and Ford Ecosport.

Creta vs Seltos

War of Siblings.

Siblings are known for the bond of love and affection between them. But how we can miss the moments when they compete with each other. The spirit while competing with each other is just incredible and that makes the thing unforgettable. The same thing happens here. Two korean siblings are competing with each other , Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta. Kia is the second largest automobile  manufacturer in Korean Auto market after the Hyundai. Minority of stake from Kia Motors is owned by Hyundai Motors. Both the cars have pros and cons with them and due them this competition became very great. Let’s talk about which one should you pick ?

Exteriors-

Both the cars have nice exteriors. The Kia has slim LED headlamps with LED DRL’S , split front grill and the chrome inserts which make this car look good and appealing. The Creta’s exteriors will grab your attention , thanks to its huge cascade grill which looks better and make this car look bolder while the headlamp setup and the placement of LED DRL’S make this car look smarter. Creta’ exteriors are bolder while Seltos exteriors are appealing and pleasing.

Interiors-

The Kia Seltos really shines when it comes to the interiors , thanks to its soft touch materials which make the experience more premium and rich. Hard plastics in Creta doesn’t offer the richness you get in Seltos. But there are some features where Creta shines and these features are storage spaces , wireless charger and electric parking brake. While the Seltos offers segment first HUD(heads up display) , 360 degree camera , blind spot detector and much more. The 10.25inch infotainment system is seen in both and it is associated with bose speakers in both cars. Infotainment system offers good functionality too. Speedometer dials are digital in Creta while Seltos has the traditional analog dials but they are also good. The rear seat comfort is the place where the Creta takes a lead and that is because of good amount of legroom , decent kneeroom and the roomy and airyness due to huge panoramic sunroof(offered in SX variant and higher) The sunroof offers a premium and rich feel. The Seltos doesn’t get a  panoramic sunroof but it has a sunroof (offered in HTX variant and higher) which is good enough but the premium and rich feel you get because of panoramic sunroof in Creta is unmatched and can’t be compared with the sunroof that Seltos offers. But it also has the premium feature that Creta doesn’t has and that is ambient mood lighting. It gives rich and premium feel. Both cars have a common problem which is shortage of space for a person who is sitting in middle.  Because both the cars have rear AC vents and air filter and due to them the middle person might feel disappointing in terms of comfort. Both the cars have nearly about 430 litres of boot space. Both the cars have 60:40 split seats option and that is needed when you need more room for extra luggage. 

Safety –

Both the cars have 6 airbags and offer good safety features too. The features like ABS , EBD are offered as standard while features like Hill hold assist , ECM are offered in higher variants.

Performance , Ride and Handling

As I mentioned , both the cars are like siblings. They are based on same platform , have same engine and so many common features too. Both the cars are offered with 1.4L turbocharged petrol engine , 1.5 litre diesel engine and 1.5 litre normal petrol engine. The 1.4L turbocharged petrol engine produces 140hp and 242nm of torque. 1.5L petrol engine produces 115hp and 144nm of torque while 1.5L diesel engine offers 115hp and 250nm of torque. All the engines have automatic gearbox option. 1.4L turbo petrol offered with DCT gearbox while rest of the two are mated with 6 speed AT gearbox. Both the cars have good handling while Creta feels nice and premium when it comes to ride quality while the Seltos shines when it comes to performance and steering feedback. The body roll is felt in Creta while Seltos takes every corner as a piece of cake. Both the cars have 17 inch wheels which offers good grip and let’s you conquer any corner with confidence. Creta still has its strength as it offers mileage of 16.8 kmpl the Seltos offers 16.5 kmpl. But there’s not much difference I feel personally but for Indian buyers that can be a deal maker for Hyundai Creta.

Pros and cons–

Who is more pocket friendly-

Creta has ex showroom price of RS17.20 lakh while the Seltos has price RS17.29 lakh. Both the prices are for top-end variants.

Conclusion

Both the cars are nice. Both are powerful and sturdy but each of them have their own strengths. The Seltos does well when it comes to performance and steering feedback. Steering feels more weighted and connected to the road while Creta offers great ride quality and comfort.

If you’re looking for a car which drives good and more enthusiastically and offers all the features you expect from the car then you should go for Kia Seltos while if you want a car which is good at ride quality and comfort the Hyundai Creta will be a worthy pick for you.

Competes with SUVs but its a crossover

The S Cross was launched in Indian automarket back in 2015. After that , car received 2 facelifts. One of them is received in 2020. This facelifted version fulfils BSVI emission norms. Let’s talk about how good is it.

Exteriors –

The exteriors of this cars are good and look premium. The lights are full LED which are bright and also comes with DRL’s. The grill gets a chrome treatment and Suzuki’s logo at the center. Silver skid plates and chrome treatment on the front gives a sporty look. Definitely these things put smile on your face. Side profile is not also much changed. The black wheel arches(cladding) retains the SUVness of this car. Not much to talk about the rear.

Interors –

The car really shines when it comes to the interiors. Quality of materials used in it is much nice and that makes the interiors feel more premium. Use of Hard plastics , soft touch materials and leather treatment done very smartly and gives you premium feel. MID is analog and still manages to tell about DTE , temperature and all that stuff. The infotainment system to which Suzuki calls smartplay studio is 7.0 inch and you might feel it smaller as compared to newer cars. Cupholders are placed well and the place below the front armrest is noot much good but still it is okay. The glove box is okay in terms of space. The rear seat is so good in terms of legroom but it lacks rear ac vents and rear charging point too. Isn’t it surprising? The third person won’t feel good as there is no any headrest on offer. The windows are big and due to them cabin feels airy and roomy. When it comes to roomy and airy cabin you might feel the lack of sunroof. Being a flagship car from market leader , buyer could expect these things. The boot is 360litres which is good and if you want more room , fold the seats and you’ll get plenty of space. 60:40 split is offered by seats. Let’s talk about safety , ride and handling.

Safety –

The S Cross does well in safety department. It scores 4 stars in Global NCAP. You might feel disappointing as it comes with only 2 airbags. Being a flagship car I expect 6 airbags. The features like ABS , EBD are offered as standard while ESP , Hill hold assists are offered in higher variants.

Ride and Handling –

Now the car comes with BSVI emissions , the engine is changed and now it comes 1.5L petrol engine which Suzuki calls K15 engine which produces 105hp and 138nm of torque which is not sufficient for a car of its size I feel personally. The refinement is so nice and now it has became more smoother. The power delivery is nice , good throttle response and fuel economy of 18.5 kmpl for manual and 18.4 kmpl for auto which is good. Thanks to its SHVS (Smart Hybrid Behivle by Suzuki) system which helps you to get good mileage and power. SHVS does its job nicely which is brake energy regeneration. The steering is light but you might not feel good when it comes to feedback. The clutch is not heavy which lets you drive in heavy traffic easily. But one thing you’ll miss and that is the punch that the diesel engine used to offer. The diesel engine was more puchier and had more torque than this one. Still it manages to give all the performance you need while a quick overtake. The suspension is on stiffer side. That stiff suspension makes this car more stable at high speeds. When it comes to transmission , ot offers both 5 speed manual and 4 speed AT torque converter gearbox. 4 speed AT feels more old school especially when the cars are getting 10 speed AT the S Cross is still stucked with its old school gearbox. The engine is not turbocharged. If we talk about Venue with whom it doesn’t compete is offerd with 1L turbocharged engine. That offeres more power and toque as compared to this car. But the power you get from this vehicle is not also too bad. The overall driving experience is good and the features like Auto headlamps and rain sensing wipers and cruise control give more premium experience. You’ll not feel that you are driving the SUV(crossover). It feels like a hatchback while driving and these things give you confidence and the 16 inch wheels and all disc brakes lets you lead the way with confidence.

How friendly it is with pocket –

Price of S Cross ranges between 8 lakhs to 14 lakhs and the features it offers makes it a value for money package.

Pros –

1. Good Exteriors

2. Premium Interiors.

3. SHVS technology

Cons –

1. 7 inch infotainment system might feel small.

2. Lack of headrest for the person at middle.

3. Lack of rear AC vents and 12V charging socket.

4. Lack of 6 airbags and Sunroof.

Competition-

The S Cross compares with Hyundai Creta , Kia Seltos , Tata Nexon , Mahindra XUV300.

If you want a car which does good at features , drive and value for money then S Cross will be a great pick for you. If you are looking for a car which is good at performance and comfort then you should prefer one of the remaining cars.

Kia Seltos

Overall Good

Introduction –Second largest car manufacturer in South Korea has entered in India auto market with its SUV , Kia Seltos. They call it as a badass SUV.

Exterior – Kia Seltos is a complete package of features which you are expecting from a car. It looks good thanks to the Kia’s signature Tiger Nose grill which adds charm in the exterior. Stylish design , stylish alloys and overall looks of the car makes the people turn around. While the features and the ride puts a smile on your face. This is all about exterior let’s see how it is from interiors. Kia’s interiors are good and feel premium in some aspects. Its huge infotainment system and the use of soft touch materials gives the feel of premiumness while it gives the sporty feel with its ‘Flat – Bottomes steering wheel’ and some red inserts. Bose sound system and ambient mood lighting adds charm to the rich feel of the car

Interiors. – The front seats are good in case of comfort while the rear seats may disappoint you in legroom and under thigh support. Also the rear AC vents which are in middle makes the third person feel uncomfortable sometimes while it can be fixed by giving those vents at the B-pillar(near the rear door). The Air Purifier which is first in segment which makes the air clean every time for your clean breathe.

Safety –
The Kia Seltos is made by using high strength steel. Equipped with 6 airbags and also give safety features like ABS , EBD , ESC , HAC , etc. It also scores 5 star rating in ANCAP(Australian new car assessment program)

The Boot Space –The boot space is good not the best in its class it feels sufficient for a SUV of its size. Still you are feeling shortage of space then just fold the seats and it will offer you plenty of space for your luggage. Seats have 60:40 split. That was all about its appearance and feel let’s talk about how does it drive ?

Ride Quality – The Seltos offered with 1.5 litre (115hp) which is offered in lower variants and 1.4 (138hp) turbocharged petrol engine while diesel is offered with 1.5litre engine which produces 113hp. Both the engines are mated with automatic transmissions and both have 6 speed manual transmission too. But still the ride quality it isn’t great. The steering doesn’t feel much responsive which lets you down in confidence. Still it focuses to the auto enthusiast people to buy it. The Creta gives you much better ride quality than Seltos but if you’re are a person who likes to enjoy the thrill of driving with your loved ones this might be a better option for you.

Pros –

1. Sporty Design

2. Good features

3. Air Purifier

Cons. 

1. Steering response would have been better

2. Lack of under thigh support at the rear seat

3. Third person in rear might feel uncomfortable.

Summary –Kia Seltos is a good package of sporty design and caring features with good ride quality.

Competition – Hyundai Creta , Tata Harrier , MG Hector. Among these Hyundai Creta is best because it offers good ride quality , plush interiors , pleasing features and space too. If you want buy a car which offers many features from Seltos and Creta and which is bigger in size then you should prefer Tata Harrier. The ride quality of MG Hector might feel disappointing.