Used Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet: Which Second Hand Compact SUV to Buy

According to the new market trends, buyers are increasingly preferring compact SUVs over sedans. The Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are two of the best selling SUVs in India and share the same platform and engines. In case you are planning to buy a used compact SUV and are confused between the two, this guide should help you choose the right one. 

Hyundai launched the Venue in 2019 and gave it a facelift in 2022. The Kia Sonet came in later in 2020 and since then has undergone a facelift in 2024. Both compact SUVs have a lot in common but enough differences too to stand apart. 

Current Resale Value: Used Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet

While both compact hatchbacks have high resale values, the Kia Sonet has a higher average resale value of ₹ 8.69 lakh, as it is the more feature packed of the two and also commands a higher price when new. The Sonet also gets a diesel automatic powertrain variant which retails at a premium, thus affecting resale value.

Hyundai Venue:

A second hand Hyundai Venue has a lower average selling price at ₹ 7.39 lakh as the compact SUV has garnered a reputation for its quality and reliability. Compact SUVs are trending, leading to demand for the body type which helps the Venue’s resale value. Also, the Venue being launched in 2019 means used Hyundai Venue cars are fresh models, another major factor which enhances its resale value. 

Kia Sonet:

The Sonet is one of the most premium compact SUVs available in India, which makes the feature packed SUV highly sought after even in the used car market. The Sonet is also a newer model than the Venue, which means used Sonet SUVs are newer models and few in number, another factor which increases the compact SUV’s resale value. 

Note: The used car prices shown are calculated for vehicles MY 2014 and newer, and with mileage under 1 lakh (<1,00,000) kilometres. 

While the Hyundai Venue commands a high resale value, the Kia Sonet overshadows it on account of the compact SUV being a more premium offering. Also, unlike the Venue, the Sonet comes with a diesel automatic powertrain offering, which gives buyers more options. Many buyers prefer the Sonet thanks to its premium design and feature packed cabin, enhancing its resale value. 

Yearly Rate of Depreciation: Used Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet

Both the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet have a slow average rate of depreciation. The Venue has a higher average rate of depreciation than the Sonet. Here’s a quick look at the Year On Year depreciation of the two compact SUVs over the last five years:

Hyundai Venue:

Despite having a lower resale value than the Sonet, the Venue holds its value much better over five years. The Hyundai loses 26% of its resale value in the first year which is higher than the Sonet. However, the Venue exhibits a lower rate of depreciation for the next four years. Many buyers prefer the compact SUV for its reliability, build quality and choice of engines, making it highly sought after even in the used car market. 

Kia Sonet:

The Kia Sonet interestingly has a lower rate of depreciation than the Venue in the first year, at 25.6%. However, from there on the compact SUV depreciates faster than its rival. In the fifth year, it loses 47% of its resale value. The Sonet’s high buying cost is a deterrent and a major reason for its higher depreciation.

The Hyundai Venue depreciates slower than a used Kia Sonet primarily due to brand awareness.  Kia being a newer carmaker in India, is yet to establish itself as a reliable brand, unlike Hyundai which has been in India for close to three decades. Also, the Hyundai Venue’s competitive pricing makes it a more logical choice for used car buyers, which in turn makes it more sought after. 

Engine and Transmission Options: Used Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet

If you are looking for a newer diesel compact SUV, both the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet offer a diesel engine option. However, only the Sonet diesel comes with a torque converter automatic gearbox option, no automatic diesel option in the Venue. While Hyundai launched the Venue with a 1.4-litre diesel engine in 2019, in 2020 it was replaced with a cleaner 1.5-litre diesel engine. 

Hyundai Venue Engine and Transmission Options

• 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual
• 1.0-litre, turbo petrol - 6-speed manual / 7-speed DCT / 6-speed iMT
• 1.4-litre, diesel - 6-speed manual
• 1.5-litre, diesel - 6-speed manual

Kia Sonet Engine and Transmission Options

• 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual
• 1.0-litre, turbo petrol - 6-speed manual / 7-speed DCT
• 1.5-litre, diesel - 6-speed manual / 6-speed automatic

Both the Venue and Sonet share the same engines and powertrains. Both compact SUVs offer a choice between naturally aspirated petrol, turbo petrol and diesel engines. However, the Sonet goes a step further and offers a diesel with an automatic gearbox which makes it the winner here. Hyundai briefly offered an iMT gearbox with its turbo petrol engine but the carmaker discontinued it due to low demand. 

Maintenance Cost Comparison: Used Hyundai Venue vs Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue:

While the Hyundai Venue has earned a reputation for reliability, the compact SUVs’ maintenance costs are on the higher side. A scheduled service will cost you between ₹ 4,000 and ₹ 6,000 for the naturally aspirated petrol model and between ₹ 5,000 and 8,000 for the diesel variant. That said, there is very little that goes wrong with the Hyundai Venue. 

Kia Sonet:

Despite being a more premium offering than the Hyundai Venue, the second hand Kia Sonet features lower maintenance costs. A scheduled service costs between ₹ 3,000 and 5,500 for the naturally aspirated petrol model and ₹ 4,000 and 6,500 for the diesel variant. 

The Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet share the same platform, engine and gearboxes. They even have the same service schedules. However, despite being a more premium offering, the Kia Sonet impresses with its comparatively low maintenance costs. 

While Hyundai has a wider service network, Kia has a fast growing service network as well. Also, given the platform sharing, we can expect the Sonet to be as reliable as the Venue. In terms of maintenance costs, the Kia Sonet is the clear winner. 

Conclusion

The Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are both popular and their used car pricing reveals some interesting insights. Unlike other segments where resale value is primarily driven by low maintenance costs, in the case of the two compact SUVs, it is driven by features and a premium driving experience. 

Both Compact SUVs share the same platform and offer identical and reliable engines. However, the Kia Sonet carries a higher average value than the Hyundai Venue, despite a higher rate of depreciation. While the Venue loses its value slower, the Sonet holds its resale value better and offers lower running costs. The Venue offers proven reliability and better long-term value. However, a used Kia Sonet makes a better case if you prefer premium features and the convenience of a diesel automatic.

Both the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet offer a standard 3 years / unlimited kilometres warranty which is quite impressive. In addition, CARS24 offers a standard 30-day warranty on its used cars. Buyers can extend this coverage up to one year by paying a nominal fee.