Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon

by IndianAuto Team | 22/04/2019
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We pit the recently-unveiled Hyundai Venue against all its competitors, in order to find out who wins the Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon comparison

With the unveiling of the new Hyundai Venue, the South Korean automaker has not made its first foray into the sub-4 metre SUV segment but also become a pioneer of sorts for truly connected vehicles in India. Now, as you might know, the formula for a winning car model in India is really quite simple. We want everything. Give us the best of features, inside and out, along with a fuel efficient engine and an affordable price tag. The leading car makers of our country know this and in no other segment are these criteria more important than the ruthless, cut-throat class of sub-4 metre SUVs. These ‘Jacks-of-all-trade’ of the automobile world pack in the most they can while demanding the least they can. So, with this much competition, can the new Hyundai Venue, with its high-tech and first-in-class-features, gain an edge over its competition? We find out in this feature comparison between all the market leading compact SUVs in the market. This includes the newly-launched Mahindra XUV 300, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and the segment-lead Maruti Brezza. Let's find out how the new model stacks up against its main rivals in our Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon comparison post. 

Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon - Design Comparison

The overall design of the new Venue follows closely to the new design language of the latest Hyundai models out in international markets. It even a spitting image of the new-generation Creta which broke cover recently and is slated for launch in India by 2020. However, in terms of exterior feature, the Venue doesn’t quite bring the edge over its rival. While all the SUVs we’re looking at brings projector headlamps with daytime-running LED lights to the mix, the Ford EcoSport is the only one in this comparison to features HID lights instead of regular halogens.

Looking at the size of the alloy wheels that these cars offer, the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon stick to 16-inch rims. On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV 300 and Ford EcoSport, both offer larger, sportier 17-inch alloys. One of the most popular novelty items in cars coming to the Indian markets today is the sunroof. While the Hyundai Venue does offer this feature, so does the Mahindra XUV 300 and Ford EcoSport. If you had to pick out a true first-in-segment feature amongst these cars in this criteria, it would have to be the heated ORVMs which the XUV 300 offers. Perfect for the frostbitten mornings of our chilly winter season.

Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon - Comfort and Convenience Comparison

Step inside and you’ll notice that where the Venue gains an edge back in the competition is with its Blue Link connectivity technology. The connected and convenience features that it offers to include 33 services including navigation, security, location, emergency alert and remote operations. While all compacts SUVs on our list of comparison features keyless entry, push-button start/ stop and auto climate control, the new Venue (albeit only in its top-end DCT version) will be able to control these functions remotely from their smartphones before they even decide to start walking towards the car.

However, while all the players on this list only get the benefit of a single zone air conditioning, the XUV300, on the other, is the only one to get the convenience of a dual-zone air conditioner. However, what the new Hyundai Venue and Tata Nexon add to the mix is dedicated AC vents for its rear passengers. Another high tech feature that is standard across all the models on our list is the fitment of cruise control, which seems to be given a miss on the Tata Nexon though. Another feature which is becoming increasingly common on mass-produced cars is the inclusion of a drive mode selector. In this regard, while the Mahindra XUV 300 gets different driving modes for steering feel and Tata Nexon for its engine power output, the new Hyundai Venue doesn’t receive this feature altogether. If you had to pick out a true first-in-segment feature amongst these cars in this criteria, it would have to be the mild-hybrid system that the Tata Nexon offers on its diesel variants.

Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon - Touchscreen Infotainment Unit Comparison

Where the new Hyundai Venue has the ability to claw back points is with its feature-packed infotainment system. However, features like Bluetooth, steering-mounted controls, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation and voice recognition are available as standard across all models on our list. Both, Hyundai’s Blue Link and Ford’s Sync3 systems get the largest touchscreens in the class with 8.0-inch displays, the XUV300 and Vitara Brezza come with smaller 7.0-inch touchscreen systems, while the 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment unit on the Tata Nexon is the smallest unit in this comparison. If you had to pick out a true first-in-segment feature amongst these cars in this criteria, it would have to be the wireless phone charger that the all-new Hyundai Venue offers.

Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon - Safety Comparison

While all the compact SUVs on our list may not be equally feature-loaded in other criteria on our list, all of them are required by law to be equally generous when it comes to safety feature, Due to the upcoming safety regulations in India, the most basic safety kit that these compact SUVs are required to offer are dual airbags (driver and front passenger), ABS, EBD and rear parking sensors as standard across every single variant of these sub-4 metre SUVs. However, going above the rest, the Mahindra XUV 300 also comes with front parking sensors too.

While the Venue, XUV300 and EcoSport offer much more in terms of safety in their top-end variants, they are the more expensive options in our comparison as well. However, these extras include six airbags (the XUV 300 offers seven airbags in this regard), brake-assist feature, ESC and hill start assist. Other fittings which are available as standard across all these models are the inclusion of Isofix child seat mounts and a reversing camera. When it comes to international safety rating tests, the Tata Nexon is the first Indian car to have scored a perfect 5-star GNCAP (Global New Car Assessment Program) rating, while the Maruti Brezza is not far behind with a 4-star rating in the same test.

Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon - Price Comparison

The Hyundai Venue has a lot to offer in terms of features, safety and bang-for-buck but unfortunately for it, other manufacturers have figured out the formula to the Indian hearts as well. The official launch of the Venue is slated for May 21 and expect prices to start from the INR 8 lakh mark and go up to INR 12 lakh. Similarly, the equally well decked out Mahindra XUV 300 gets a price tag starting at INR 7.90 lakh and goes up to INR 11.99 lakh. Next comes the EcoSport, price between the INR 7.84 lakh to INR 11.89 lakh mark and followed by the diesel-only Maruti Brezza with a price tag between the INR 7.67 - INR 10.64 lakh. With the lowest starting price out of all these models in our comparison list, the Tata Nexon comes out as the most affordable choice with a price tag starting at INR 6.36 lakh for the base petrol variant and going up to INR 10.80 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom) for the top-end diesel version.

So, what do you think of our Hyundai Venue vs Mahindra XUV300 vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Tata Nexon comparison? Do you think the new baby-Creta has what it takes to become the new segment leader? Let us know by commenting below. 

Read more car compare articles from IndiaAuto.com

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