– By Marc Sibbald –
Using their sponsorship of Qudos Bank Arena to launch the all new Venue smaller SUV to Fleet Managers was a great idea. We got the VIP experience at Sydney’s main indoor entertainment venue. And it was an exclusive preview before the official launch to dealers.
I said ‘smaller’ SUV because the Hyundai Venue sits in its own unique segment. The Kona was previously the small SUV in the range. The Venue is one size below the Kona which creates a new emerging SUV segment for metro fleet drivers chasing those small parking spots.
We didn’t get to drive it at the launch though listening to the presentation from the Hyundai trainer, I got the impression that the ride and build quality won’t make it feel like a ‘smaller’ SUV. And the proof is in the specifications.
The base model Venue Go includes Hyundai Smart Sense. This is a significant investment in a small SUV and a great thing for fleets. Being able to buy a car at this price with the latest safety technology is a real bonus. And it comes at a time when Fleet Managers are trying to squeeze sales representatives into smaller vehicles to reduce fleet costs even further.
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Fleet drivers may not resist the downgrade in size because the Venue doesn’t translate to low quality; built to a price; micro car. It’s bold muscular styling, improvements in design to reduce noise, harshness and vibrations should combine well with the local suspension tuning the Hyundai Australia team are famous for. And the interior has been designed to give a feeling of space.
A fun fact from the presentation was – One tonne of Australian iron ore is used in every Hyundai vehicle. This point was used to highlight the extensive application of high-tensile steel (46% Advanced High Strength Steel, in addition to 16% High Strength Steel), along with a specifically designed chassis structure to optimise load paths in the event of a collision.
Aerodynamics was also mentioned several times during the presentation. This is because the Venue incorporates a series of clever features designed to reduce aerodynamic drag, to maximise fuel efficiency and high-speed driving stability, while also reducing wind noise. These include functional front air-curtains that reduce air turbulence generated by the rotating wheels, and underbody covers designed to smooth airflow beneath the car.
It will be interesting to see if this new segment becomes a fleet favourite. The Venue is not a small car to look at. So with a Manufacturers List Price of $21,990 for the entry model Go in automatic, fleets may transfer drivers from a medium or small car into the newest on-trend segment.
Here’s some of the questions that were asked by Fleet Managers after the Hyundai presentation.
Q. Is the satellite navigation available in the base model?
Q. What’s the fuel consumption?
Q. If I order a two-tone roof, what’s the delivery time?
Q. Is there a full size spare?
Q. What’s the service internal?
Q. Is the Venue included in the capped price service program?
For the answers, click here to contact your Hyundai Fleet team representative.
