Hyundai Venue CNG - Low Probability Of Launch But Not Impossible - Opinion | V3Cars

08 April 2023
By Mahesh Yadav
0

At the launch of the Venue facelift in 2022, Hyundai officials categorically denied the launch of Venue CNG for the “foreseeable future.” However, we have seen the Sonet CNG and Carens CNG testing on public roads multiple times. Kia also officially confirmed to journalists at the 2023 Auto Expo that they aren’t working on the Sonet CNG. However, the launch of the Brezza CNG gives it a strong likelihood that the Venue CNG and Sonet CNG could materialise in the future.

For too long, CNG bi-fuel cars were looked down upon as the vehicles of choice for people who wanted “cheap” transportation. But Maruti Suzuki and Toyota are changing that perception as they introduced the factory CNG option in the Grand Vitara, Hyryder and Brezza. Maruti Suzuki officials have also said in the past that the demand for their CNG cars is strong across the board.

Moreover, the lack of diesel engine in most affordable cars makes CNG a viable option for buyers who want a car for high mileage usage. The cars that have the diesel fuel option cost a whole lot more than the comparable petrol variants and make it difficult to justify the upgrade to the diesel powertrain. Hence, CNG comes across as a suitable option for such buyers.

Punch CNG USP

The Punch CNG, which is in the pipeline, is also going to normalise CNG cars as it brings a usable boot to the equation. So far, CNG car buyers have had to compromise on boot space if they bought CNG cars. It had such an effect on the market that Maruti Suzuki dropped the price difference between their CNG and petrol cars from Rs. 95,000 to Rs. 90,000 for hatchbacks. With their sedans and SUVs, Maruti Suzuki still maintain a Rs. 95,000 price premium for the CNG powertrain.

Also Read: Tata Punch CNG - Soon Only CNG Option In Affordable SUV Segment

Maruti CNG Cars Now Cost Only 90k More; Is Tata Punch CNG The Reason?

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Venue CNG, Sonet CNG USP

The top USP Venue CNG and Sonet CNG could offer is the convenience of auto-clutch transmission. It’s a strange thing that so far, none of the CNG cars have addressed this particular issue.

We know for a fact that CNG car buyers drive their cars a lot. That’s why they’re buying a CNG car in the first place. They also mostly drive in the city. Because the CNG availability is limited outside of the cities. For city use, a car without the clutch pedal would make it extremely convenient to drive. Moreover, something with a good bottom end torque is also a must-have for city driving to improve the driving experience.

So far, no one has managed to put 2 and 2 together and offer a turbo-CNG car or a CNG car without a clutch pedal. The Sonet and Venue turbo have the auto-clutch manual transmission (ACMT). If they offer a CNG option, they will automatically become the most suitable cars for city driving. This is a big USP in my opinion and it will make it very easy for me to recommend these cars to prospective buyers with matching buying criteria.

We sincerely hope Kia and Hyundai bring the CNG bi-fuel option with their small SUVs. Offering a CNG with the Venue in 2023 will keep the car fresh while Kia could make it a notable point for the Sonet facelift, which is also in their launch pipeline.

Also Read: Hyundai’s Nexa Fronx, Tata Punch Rival Coming Soon - Teased

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