When choosing a new car in 2025, many Indian buyers narrow their options down to the Hyundai Venue and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. While the Venue is a sub-4m compact SUV and the Baleno is a premium hatchback, both compete for attention thanks to their affordability, features, and reliability. If you’re wondering which offers better value, here’s a detailed breakdown of their price, features, and overall package.
Price Comparison
The Hyundai Venue is priced between ₹7.26 lakh and ₹12.46 lakh (ex-showroom), depending on variant and powertrain.
The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is more affordable, starting at ₹5.99 lakh and going up to around ₹9.10 lakh (ex-showroom).
If budget is the key factor, the Baleno clearly wins. However, the Venue justifies its premium with SUV stance, more powerful engine options, and advanced safety features.
Exterior Design and Appeal
The Hyundai Venue offers a bold SUV look with a dark chrome grille, LED projector headlamps, connecting LED tail lamps, and R16 diamond-cut alloys. Special editions like the Knight Edition bring blacked-out styling, sporty accents, and brass highlights.
The Maruti Baleno, on the other hand, follows Maruti’s Crafted Futurism design language. It features a NEXWave grille with chrome finish, LED projector headlamps, NEXTre’ LED DRLs, and signature LED tail lamps. Its hatchback design is sleek and urban, appealing to younger buyers.
Venue appeals to those who want SUV presence, while Baleno fits buyers who prefer a stylish, city-friendly hatchback.
Interiors and Comfort
Inside, the Hyundai Venue offers a refined cabin with:
- 20.32 cm HD infotainment system with Bluelink (60+ connected features).
- Ambient lighting.
- Smart electric sunroof.
- Power driver’s seat adjustment.
- Rear AC vents with 2-step reclining rear seats.
- Air purifier and wireless phone charging.
The Baleno also raises the bar in its segment with:
- 9-inch SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment with Arkamys “Surround Sense” audio.
- Head-Up Display (HUD) – first in segment.
- 360-degree camera with Approaching Object Detection (AOD).
- Rear AC vents, rear fast-charging USB ports, and a sliding centre armrest.
- Dual-tone interiors with piano black inserts and a leather-wrapped steering wheel (Alpha trim).
Venue scores on versatility and comfort for families, while Baleno surprises with segment-first features like HUD and 360° camera, which make it feel more premium than its price tag.
Technology and Connectivity
The Venue features Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car suite, which includes:
- OTA updates.
- Alexa integration with home-to-car functions.
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
- 60+ connected features, covering safety, convenience, and entertainment.
The Baleno is equipped with Suzuki Connect, which offers:
- Remote vehicle functions.
- Trip analysis and driving behaviour reports.
- Compatibility with Alexa Skill and smartwatch integration.
- Over-the-air (OTA) updates for infotainment.
Venue offers a more extensive connected suite, but Baleno keeps up by blending affordability with advanced features like HUD and 360° camera.
Safety
The Hyundai Venue comes with 6 airbags as standard, ESC, VSM, hill-start assist, and Level-1 ADAS with features like forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, and driver attention warning.
The Baleno offers 6 airbags, ESP with hill-hold assist, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, and enhanced braking stability with its HEARTECT platform.
Venue edges ahead with ADAS, while Baleno remains one of the safest hatchbacks in its class.
Engines and Performance
The Hyundai Venue offers multiple choices:
- 1.2L petrol (83 PS, 113.8 Nm).
- 1.0L turbo-petrol (120 PS, 172 Nm).
- 1.5L diesel (116 PS, 250 Nm).Transmission options include MT, iMT, and DCT.
The Baleno runs on the 1.2L K-Series Dual Jet Dual VVT petrol engine (90 PS, 113 Nm) with 5-speed MT or AMT. A CNG variant offers 77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm with a manual transmission.
Venue delivers stronger performance and choice, while Baleno focuses on efficiency and affordability.
Space and Practicality
The Venue has a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and boot space of around 350 litres, with 60:40 split rear seats and reclining second row.
The Baleno is slightly longer, with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm and a boot capacity of 318 litres. It provides ample cabin space and smart features like a sliding centre armrest and rear fast-charging USB.
The Venue offers more versatility for road trips, while the Baleno gives spacious interiors in a hatchback package.
Value for Money
- Hyundai Venue: Higher price justified by SUV stance, multiple engine options, ADAS safety, and connected features.
- Maruti Suzuki Baleno: Lower price, fuel efficiency (22.35 km/l petrol, 30.61 km/kg CNG), and premium features rare for its class.
The Venue is ideal for buyers willing to spend more for SUV appeal and versatility. Baleno is unbeatable in terms of value at a lower budget.
Final Thoughts
Both the Hyundai Venue and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno offer excellent value, but for different buyer groups. The Venue appeals to families and professionals who want SUV presence, powertrain variety, and ADAS safety. The Baleno, meanwhile, caters to cost-conscious buyers who still want premium features, efficiency, and smart technology in a compact, affordable package.
