The Hyundai Venue wowed the crowd when it hit Nepali roads. The response it received was admirable and the car is still among the best selling in the segment. However, the Venue iMT was one of the most talked-about small SUVs in the Indian market, mainly because it came with an all-new transmission option that was unheard of. But as the Venue iMT generated great feedback from the Indian crowd, it took a good while to arrive here. Well, it is here now and we have had a chance to spin the Hyundai Venue iMT SX trim.

Let’s start by talking about the most important part of the new Venue iMT which is the iMT behind its name. So what is iMT? The iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) system is basically a clutch pedal-free drive but with manual gear shift control. It features a Transmission Gear Shift (TGS) Lever with Intention Sensor, Hydraulic Actuator, and Transmission Control Unit (TCU).

With that out of the way, the main question is, how will this gearbox drive the car? Ummm… Just like any other manual car to be honest, but without the clutch pedal. The Venue iMT promises the control, confidence, and costs of a manual while taking out the pain of operating the clutch pedal. Which sounds cool, but how much of that is true?

Thankfully… a lot. Soon as you get into the Venue iMT you are bound to feel weird because on your left you will see a gear lever with R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 imprinted on them. And then down on your right, you will see that the pedal array is missing the clutch pedal and you can’t help but thinking how will you drive away.

Here’s how, crank up the engine, slot the gear lever in neutral, plant your foot on the brake, and turn the key. Now, for a move on, shift the stick in first gear, lift your foot off the brake, and the creep function will propel you forward much like an automatic. Prod the throttle and you’re on your way. The credit for that goes to an electronic intention sensor that tracks the movement of the gear stick, which, in turn, signals the hydraulic actuators to engage/disengage the clutch accordingly.

It is the same while shifting gears… you build your speed, take your foot off the gas and shift up… or apply brakes and shift down. Think of it like exactly driving a conventional manual gearbox but the car is pressing the clutch for you. And the best part about it is there’s no perceivable head nod or lag in gear shifts unless you are way off from where you want to shift or have your gas pressed down.  The gear changes feel as smooth as well-engineered and more expensive automatics. And, it is even smoother and easier than driving a manual.

But yes, this iMT will get some getting used to, especially if the owner is coming from a manual gearbox. You need to re-train your left leg from pressing down and looking for the clutch pedal. When you get used to the missing clutch, you forget to slot the gear stick. At first, when you accelerate, you end up waiting for gear changes to happen on their own. When they don’t, you remember that you need to do it. Also, when coming to a halt, you end up being in higher gears and forget to shift to neutral. But all these are teething peculiarities that take an hour or so to get used to.

Another great part about the iMT is engine stalling… or lack thereof. You will not stall the Venue iMT. If you reach a dead stop in fourth gear and forget to stick it in neutral, the Venue will not stall. Firstly, the system will display an audio alert accompanied by a message on the MID prompting you to downshift. For maximum convenience, starting off is possible in the first or second gear while on a flat surface.

When you are trudging up an incline, the system is intelligent enough to change its strategy and will warn you even when trying to start in a second. Also, if you go too slowly in higher gears, for instance, if you drop below 15 kmph in third gear, the audio and visual alert will go off. If you don’t pay heed and try prodding the throttle pedal, the clutch disengages and revs stop climbing until you downshift to a lower gear. Once you’ve downshifted, things return to normal to get you back on track.

Driving up an incline is an easier affair in the iMT than a manual variant. It’s equipped with a hill-hold assist that gives you enough leeway to stop and then make your way back up without rolling backward. The need for pulling up the handbrake is done away with. As you drive you can’t help becoming totally impressed with this transmission.

The Venue iMT is powered by a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that delivers 118.35 bhp at 6000 RPM and a peak torque of 171.6 Nm between 1500-4000 RPM, and apart from the genius transmission, performance is peppy. City slicking feels quick and responsive and highway driving feels planted and confident.

Let’s finally talk about the rest. This Venue iMT is still a handsome looker. However, on the exterior, there isn’t any giveaway that lets you know that it’s an iMT, not at least on the SX trim. The overall design remains the same as the now-familiar Hyundai Venue. You get a dark chrome front grille with a bold mesh pattern. The cube-shaped projector LEDs are fully surrounded by DRLs.

All else remains the same, so you’re greeted with a sumptuous cabin that boasts of key features like an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sunroof, push-button start/stop, air purifier, wireless phone charger, and cruise control. Safety goods are the same with the highlights being six airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking camera, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX mounts.

Overall the Hyundai Venue iMT brings the same appeal, features, performance, safety, and value that the conventional Venue brought along with it but also adds a layer of convenience. The Venue iMT is for those people who love driving a manual but get tired of working their left leg during hectic rush hour 10 to 20 kmph crawl to the workplace. The iMT is also for people who like the convenience of an automatic but don’t want to surrender the manual control of the car’s gearbox. To that, we say that the Venue iMT is the best of both worlds…. Bring you the utmost convenience of an automatic and the thrill of shifting gears of a manual.

Laxmi Intercontinental Pvt. Ltd offers eight Hyundai models in the country. These models include the Santro hatchback, Grand i10 Nios hatchback, Aura compact sedan, Verna sedan, Venue sub-compact SUV, All-New Creta compact SUV, Ioniq Electric, and Kona Electric.

Latest price of Hyundai cars in Nepal: