What the “N” !
Human senses are triggered with the varied audio and visual experiences we go through. Catering to the perception of enthusiasts in all the best visually appealing aspects, Hyundai has introduced the N-Line to one of their most successful products, the Venue. Hyundai has appealed to performance lovers’ auditory and optical senses before with the i20 N-line and now with tweaks on the Venue, the Venue N-Line is here to make it pop, bang and feel like a complete enthusiastic performance update.
Visual fantasy & an aural experience ?
Powered by the same engine as the regular 2022 Venue, the N-line produces 172 Nm torque and 120 bhp power from its 1L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine which is mated to a 7-speed DCT with similar drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport. There are noticeably minor updates on the Venue N-Line on the exterior. N-Line badging all across the car, along with red highlight lines in the form of stickers, add a visual flair to the overall N-line appearance. While the straight lines on the Venue 2022 make it look sophisticated, the redesigned bumpers on the Venue N-Line bring curves on the edges. Complimenting the overall design are the new skid plates at both front and rear.
The Venue N-Line also gets N-badged redesigned 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels which are distinctively prominent. Adding safety and better control is the inclusion of rear wheel disk brakes. Visual updates include a tailgate spoiler, red highlight strips across the car’s length and breadth, and a sharply redesigned front grille with X-shaped elements and generous use of dark chrome. A relatively stiffer suspension setup makes the car’s maneuverability a lot crispier than before. The Venue N-Line retains the best aspects of the Venue 2022 like the projector headlights with built-in cornering lamps. What stands apart are definitely the new dual-pipe exhaust mufflers which offer a grunty note; this is the audio sensory that will tickle most enthusiasts.
The interiors are equally sporty !
Hop in the Venue N-Line, and you are greeted with an all-black interior scheme with red N-Line highlights all around the car’s interiors. The red and black theme suits the performance appeal of the vehicle and adds a sense of visual drama. There are red accents on the AC vents, knobs, and switches. The seats now get N-Line imprints with red stitching and piping. The Venue N-Line looks similar yet different from the standard Venue line-up with an all black and red theme. Though the dark interiors do make the cabin feel small, plenty of room inside along with the sunroof doesn’t make it claustrophobic. Every feature is identical to the Venue 2022, all the way from an 8-inch touch infotainment system with BlueLink, Voice Assistant support, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4-way adjustable electric adjustments for the driver’s seat, coloured driver’s MID, wireless charger, USB A and C ports, electric sunroof and all the goodies of the Venue top-spec line-up.
Adding flair to the overall interior sportiness is the new N-Line gear knob with matching black leatherette and red elements. The foot pedals are also metal to add to the appeal. A significant change is perceived with a sportier N-Line three-spoke steering wheel which feels comparatively chunky to hold. It is functional with media controls on it and is finished in gloss black with sizable black paddle shifters tucked behind nicely. Hyundai has now added red ambient lighting which seems like a cherry on a well-baked cake. What is surprising is the absence of ventilated seats, but as performance demands weight reduction, maybe it was a calculated move. Compared to a regular Venue with ventilated seats, the power-to-weight ratio must be the reason for it. Another standard feature for the N-Line is the inclusion of a 1080p 30fps dash camera with front and rear cameras mounted beside the auto-dimming IRVM.
Does it handle well or just pops and crackles?
The Venue N-Line is a practical compact SUV making it a daily driver. The aural experience of the nicely tuned dual-pipe exhausts stuns, which sounds way sportier than the actual drive experience. Despite the city’s legal speed limits, each rev built-up sounds exciting and exhilarating. The exhaust note alone feels like they’ve added a sportier engine beneath the hood, although that’s not the case here.
Adding to the overall experience is a lightweight steering wheel coupled with a stiffer suspension setup and four disc brakes on all four tyres. The Venue N-Line has the exact power figures as the standard Venue with 7-Speed DCT, but the weight reduction in the form of regular seats compared to the ventilated seats on the Venue 2022 make the N-Line feel a tad bit snappier in the real world. The stiffer suspension setup keeps the car well planted on high-speed cornering while still being able to soak road undulations like any other mid-size SUV. This duality makes it feel more confidence inspiring than its formal-suited sibling..
The improved power-to-weight ratio is prominently evident while driving the Venue N-Line. The N-Line steering makes it a joyful experience to maneuver this car in the city traffic and equally fun out on the highways. Despite it being on any driving mode, this car sounds maddening fun when revved. The DCT performs excellently with the Turbo GDi configuration being smooth, but a slight lag in the initial power output can get a little frustrating as it wouldn’t perform as much as it sounds to be. In Sport mode, the 7-Speed DCT keeps the gears engaged right up to an invisible redline, but the most fun can be exploited from using the large paddle shifters while driving this car in sports mode. Thanks to the entire N-Line driving dynamics, it feels relatively light on its wheel yet surefooted. We dearly missed the rev counter on this car, and being digital; we hope Hyundai updates the MID in the future, at least on the N-line for that analog revving drama.
Should you consider this “N” ?
Starting at Rs. 12.16L ex-showroom, the Venue N-Line is a competitive vibe which is bound to be enjoyed by enthusiasts only. The relatively low body-to-weight ratio paired with N-Line light steering feedback, stiffer suspensions, N-Line design elements, and a nasty exhaust note makes the Venue N-Line feel sportier and sounds more invigorating than most cars of this segment on the block. If you’re out there looking for exclusivity while compromising on a few liters of petrol, the Venue N-line might just hit the right N-spot for you..
