Cars are emotional buys as well along with being judged with rational parameters like fuel efficiency or space. Hence, for our 'fun to drive' car of the year, the contenders were judged on crucial areas reflecting performance and driving experience. Amongst all of the cars that fit the bill, the Venue N Line from Hyundai rose to the top for subscribing to the ethos of what a fun-to-drive car should be like.
The N Line brand of Hyundai made its debut last year with the i20 N Line while with the Venue N Line, they have shown that an SUV can be fun to drive as well. The Venue N Line gets various updates over the regular version including sportier styling while there are other changes that go beyond the aesthetics.
First of all, the Venue N Line gets a retuned suspension set-up which adds better grip in cornering while the steering has a noticeable heft in the way it operates. As a result, keen drivers will like the heavier steering of the Venue N Line as it gives more confidence while body control has improved too. While better cornering is welcome, the N Line version has all-round disc brakes which boost braking performance and adds a safety element.
In terms of engines, the Venue N Line gets a turbocharged petrol engine that makes 120bhp, and standard it gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic with added drive modes that can be selected via a knob. The drive modes are calibrated for each driving condition with sport adding a sense of urgency to the throttle response and performance.
The ideal fun-to-drive car should also have a more immersive driving experience and we liked the tuned exhaust noise which further helps make the driving experience stand out. The overall driving experience then adds a crucial fun element with its enhanced handling, engine soundtrack, and looks but it is the overall experience that ultimately makes it a clear winner.
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