KIA Picanto vs Hyundai Venue Cargo

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

KIA Picanto in South Africa

KIA Picanto

1.2 EX+ Auto Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 325,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 121 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai Venue Cargo in South Africa

Hyundai Venue Cargo

1.2 Premium Cargo MT Petrol Current
ZAR 309,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 15.4 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

KIA Picanto vs Hyundai Venue Cargo: the short answer

Picanto and Venue Cargo are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Picanto starts ZAR 72,905 cheaper Picanto from ZAR 236,995 · Venue Cargo from ZAR 309,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Picanto Venue Cargo
Maximum Power Picanto61 kW @ 6000 rpm Venue Cargo61 kW
Maximum Torque Picanto121 Nm @ 4000 rpm Venue Cargo114 Nm
Engine Size Picanto1248 cc Venue Cargo1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Picanto15.9 km/l Venue Cargo15.4 km/l
Ground Clearance Picanto155 mm Venue Cargo190 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

KIA Picanto

1.2 EX+ Auto

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Hyundai Venue Cargo

1.2 Premium Cargo MT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Picanto

Strengths
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Venue Cargo

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Picanto

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Venue Cargo

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Picanto Venue Cargo
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 4-Speed Automatic Manual
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Gears 4 Not Applicable
Clutch Type Torque Converter Automatic Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Final Drive Ratio 4.058:1 Not Applicable
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive Front-wheel drive
Drivetrain FWD — Front Wheel Drive Front-wheel drive
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 2.8 -
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Floor-Mounted Selector Manual
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Gearbox Type 4-Speed Automatic Manual
Transmission Speeds 4 Not Applicable
Axle Layout FWD Front-wheel drive
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not Available Not Available
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Not Available Not Available
Differential Type Rear Not Available Not Available
Spec Picanto Venue Cargo
Variable Valve Timing CVVT on Intake Camshaft -
Fuel Octane Requirement 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
CO2 Emissions 145 g/km Not Applicable
Start Stop System No -
Noise Level 68 dB -
Hybrid System Type Not Applicable Not Available
Particulate Filter GPF Fitted Not Available
Euro Emission Standard Euro 5 -
Green NCAP Rating Not Independently NCAP Green Rated -
Idle CO2 Output Within Euro 5 Emission Limits -
Fuel Evaporation Control Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) -
CO2 Emissions G Km 145 -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Picanto and Venue Cargo comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Picanto 28 vs Venue Cargo 30.

Efficiency index: Picanto 61 vs Venue Cargo 61.

Safety-equipment index: Picanto 89 vs Venue Cargo 89.

Practicality index: Picanto 53 vs Venue Cargo 66.

Ownership-cover index: Picanto 77 vs Venue Cargo 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Venue Cargo leads by 1 points

Picanto and Venue Cargo are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 61 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 70% source coverage
61
#1 Evidence leader

Venue Cargo

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 61
Safety 89
Practicality 66
Ownership 65
Leads by 1 points
60
#2

Picanto

92% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 28
Performance 28
Efficiency 61
Safety 89
Practicality 53
Ownership 77
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Venue Cargo +2 Efficiency Level Safety Level Practicality Venue Cargo +13 Ownership Picanto +12

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Venue Cargo

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 65/100

Picanto

Performance 28/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 53/100
Ownership 77/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Venue Cargo leads the specification evidence index with 61 pts vs 60 pts for Picanto

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Venue Cargo leads. However, Picanto may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Picanto vs Venue Cargo questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.