Nissan NP300 Hardbody vs Hyundai Venue

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Nissan NP300 Hardbody in South Africa

Nissan NP300 Hardbody

2.5 TDi Double Cab Hi-Rider 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 98 kW 🔧 304 Nm ⛽ 11.4 km/l
VS
Hyundai Venue in South Africa

Hyundai Venue

1.0T DCT Executive Petrol Automatic
ZAR 414,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance NP300 Hardbody
Fuel Economy NP300 Hardbody
🛡 Safety Venue
📦 Practicality Venue
🔑 Ownership Venue
Venue starts ZAR 349900 cheaper NP300 Hardbody from ZAR 349,900 · Venue from ZAR 343,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec NP300 Hardbody Venue
Engine Power 98 88
Torque 304 172
Engine Size 2488 998
Claimed Mileage 11.4 16.4
Ground Clearance 215 188
Boot Space Not Applicable 355
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight 1395 1180
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Venue

58
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

NP300 Hardbody

49
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Venue has a slight advantage, but NP300 Hardbody remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance NP300 Hardbody +2 pts
Efficiency NP300 Hardbody +7 pts
Safety Venue +6 pts
Practicality Venue +4 pts
Ownership Venue +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Venue

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

NP300 Hardbody

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

NP300 Hardbody

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Venue

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

NP300 Hardbody

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Venue

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec NP300 Hardbody Venue
Ground Clearance 215 188
Wheelbase 2500 2520
Length 4875 4040
Width 1760 1770
Height 1655 1619
Kerb Weight 1395 1180
Gross Vehicle Weight 2400 1670
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Applicable 355
Towing Capacity 2500 800 kg (Unbraked)
Front Track Width 1495 1499 mm
Rear Track Width 1490 1495 mm
Turning Radius 5.8 5.1 m
Load Bed Length 1907 Not Applicable
Load Bed Width 1454 Not Applicable
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1106
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec NP300 Hardbody Venue
Engine 2.5L Turbocharged Diesel 1.0 T-GDI Turbo
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Displacement 2488 998
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 98 88
Power @ RPM 3600 rpm 5500
Torque 304 172
Torque @ RPM 1750-2500 rpm 1500
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Turbocharger Single Turbo Yes
Top Speed 168 178
0-100 km/h 12.5 10.8
Compression Ratio 17.5:1 9.9:1
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Front
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard Available
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Inline
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Venue wins with 58 pts vs 49 pts for NP300 Hardbody

In structured scoring, Venue emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP300 Hardbody may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Venue edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: NP300 Hardbody 7 vs Venue 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: NP300 Hardbody 12, Venue 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: NP300 Hardbody 12, Venue 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: NP300 Hardbody 8, Venue 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: NP300 Hardbody 10, Venue 8. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Venue edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Venue scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between NP300 Hardbody and Venue in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: NP300 Hardbody scores 10 vs 8.

Efficiency: NP300 Hardbody scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: NP300 Hardbody scores 12 vs 18.

Practicality: NP300 Hardbody scores 8 vs 12.

Ownership: NP300 Hardbody scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Venue the advantage in this comparison.