Sub-compact SUVs (sub-four metre SUVs) are in great acceptance today and pricing and value proposition have had great roles in shaping their the same. In today’s market, we can also see bigger products playing it smart with prices. You can now buy bigger, more powerful petrol SUVs at roughly the same price as a Hyundai Venue. Here are five such examples.
Before we begin, here’s some background. The second-generation Venue is priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 15.51 lakh, ex-showroom. It is 3995 mm long and is best seen as a feature-rich urban SUV. The vehicles in this list are all much larger and more powerful than the Venue, but have their lower variants priced in the same ballpark. Road presence, interior space and engine performance are the rewards for people opting for these. What they would miss out on, are features.
People who are looking for a large, rugged SUV that can go anywhere, the Thar ROXX would be a good option. It has a utilitarian design and a large cabin. It is 4428 mm long, 1870 mm wide and measures 1923 mm in height. Powering the lower variants is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 160 hp and 330 Nm. The base petrol variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 12.39 lakh.
Priced from Rs 12.89 lakh, ex-showroom, the petrol-powered Tata Harrier is a compelling alternative to the Venue. It is much bigger, measuring 4605 mm in length, 1,922 mm in width, and 1,718 mm in height. The cabin is much more spacious as well.
Previously, it was only available with a diesel engine. Early this year, the carmaker introduced a petrol engine on the Harrier and Safari. The five-seater SUV gets Tata’s newly developed 1.5L direct injection turbocharged petrol engine (Hyperion). It makes 168hp and 280Nm on the Harrier. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available. The base-spec Smart variant, however, comes only with a manual gearbox. People who seek road presence and cabin space will find this option interesting.
A seven-seater turbo-petrol SUV for the price of a Hyundai Venue- that’s the Tata Safari petrol. The ‘Smart’ variant has a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 13.29 lakh. It measures 4668 mm in length and is significantly bigger than the Venue in other dimensions as well. It is a three-row SUV that offers ample space and comfort in the third row.
Like the Harrier, the Safari petrol is also powered by the 1.5L direct injection turbocharged petrol engine (Hyperion). Here too, it makes 168hp and 280Nm. This model was also introduced alongside the petrol-powered Harrier in early 2026.
The Scorpio-N continues to attract strong demand. The base petrol variant costs Rs 13.49 lakh, ex-showroom and comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 198hp and 370 Nm of torque. You’re getting a big, body-on-frame SUV with strong performance credentials for the price of a Venue. The Scorpio-N is a large vehicle, measuring 4662 mm in length, 1917 mm in width and 1857 mm in height.
And finally on this list is the Mahindra XUV 7XO. Mahindra launched the XUV 700 facelift earlier this year, calling it the XUV 7XO. It comes with the 2.0L mStallion turbo-petrol engine making 198hp and 380Nm, and the base petrol variant has an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 13.66 lakh. Even at that price, you are getting a much bigger car with better suspension than the Venue. It is 4695 mm long, 1890 mm wide and 1755 mm tall.
In short, while the larger SUVs deliver more cabin room and road presence, a Venue variant at the same price would be better kitted. The ultimate decision here, depends on the buyer's priorities and needs.