Hyundai Creta

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

Hyundai’s subcompact crossover SUV, the Creta, went on sale in India in July 2015. The vehicle was named after Greece's Crete island. The name is also meant to evoke associations with the term "creative." This made-in-India SUV has been the highest-selling in the country since its launch in the country. The brand debuted the facelift model of the Creta in February 2020. The 2020 Creta is completely different from the previous version in every way, from design and features to performance. With the massive increase in the SUV segment in recent years, the Hyundai Creta India has achieved a more important position in the automobile industry.

Hyundai Creta Design and Style

The new Hyundai Creta boasts a more substantial appearance. Beginning with the front fascia, the Hyundai Creta has the brand's modern design language, which includes a massive cascading grille. A new set of LED headlight units flanks the grille on either side. The SUV's LED DRLs are arranged in a C configuration around the headlights. The front bumper has a central air inlet and fog lights on either end.

Turning to the side profile, there are strong character lines on the front fenders, and 17-inch alloy wheels give the SUV a muscular appearance. The rear profile has C-shaped tail lights, which are identical to the SUV's headlight units. The new Hyundai Creta also has a roof-mounted spoiler and integrated brake lights. In terms of body dimensions, the Creta is 4300mm long, 1790mm wide, and 1635mm tall (with roof rails) and has a wheelbase of 2610mm.

Hyundai Creta Engine and Gearbox

Hyundai Creta SUV is available with three powertrain options called 1.5-L MPi petrol, 1.4-L Kappa turbo GDi petrol and 1.5-L U2 CRDi diesel. The 1.5-L, 1497cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, petrol engine uses a multi-point injection (MPi) fuel system and churns out 115 HP at 6300 rpm and 144 Nm at 4500 rpm when coupled to a 6-speed manual or IVT.

The second one is a 1.4-L, 1353cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, Kappa turbo petrol engine that uses a gasoline direct injection(GDI) fuel system and is paired with a 7-speed DCT. This engine is capable of producing 140 HP at 6000 rpm and 242 Nm at 1500-3200 rpm.

Last on the list is a 1.5-L U2, 1493cc, 4-cylinder, 16-valve, DOHC, diesel engine that uses a common rail direct injection (CRDi) fuel system and produces 115 HP at 4000 rpm and 250 Nm at 1500-2750 rpm when paired to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai Creta Interior, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

The Hyundai Creta's cabin is of typical Hyundai quality. The fit and finish are excellent, and the feature list is extensive. The interior is given a greige colour scheme. The SUV gets comfy upholstery, and the driver's seat is electrically adjustable, while the rear seats are manually adjustable. The steering wheel can be tilted, but the telescopic adjustment would have been nice as well.

There is ample legroom space in the rear, but headroom space is affected due to the sunroof. The instrumentation includes an analogue rev counter and a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel with dial colours that change based on the drive mode. The doors contain huge bottle holders, and there are several storage areas in the centre console and under the front armrest. The 433-litre boot space is enough to carry a good amount of luggage.

Hyundai Creta Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

As for braking duties in the Hyundai Creta, these are done by disc brakes at the front and rear in SX Executive, SX, SX(O) variants while in the E, EX, S variants braking is done by disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. Suspension responsibilities in the SUV are handled by McPherson Strut with Coil Spring at the front and Couple Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Spring at the rear.

The SUV rides on 16-inch steel, 16-inch styled or 17-inch alloy wheels depending on the variant. The 16-inch steel wheels are clothed in 205 / 65 size tubeless tyres in the E and EX variants. The 16-inch style wheels are offered in the S variant and are shod in 205 / 65 size tubeless tyres. While the 17-inch alloy wheels are offered in SX Executive, SX, SX(O) variants and are wrapped in 215 / 60 size tubeless tyres.

Key Features of Hyundai Creta

Speaking of the key features offered in the Hyundai Creta, the SUV comprises a signature cascading grille, LED headlamps with LED DRLs, LED taillamps, twin-tip exhaust(turbo only), driver rear view mirror, front row ventilated seats, auto healthy air purifier, blue ambient lighting, electric parking brake with auto hold, paddle shifters, puddle lamp with welcome function, Bose premium sound system (8 speakers), wireless charger, 26.03cm (10.25") HD infotainment with Bluelink, USB charger, Keyless entry, traction control modes, smart panoramic sunroof and rear parcel tray to name a few.

In consideration of passenger safety, the car comes loaded with numerous features like six airbags(driver, passenger, side & curtain), a child seat anchor, Vehicle stability management (VSM), Electronic stability control (ESC), ABS with EBD, a rear camera with steering adaptive parking guidelines, a speed alert system, a rear defogger with timer, ESS, impact sensing auto door unlock, speed sensing auto door lock, Hill-start assist control (HAC) and many more.

Top Speed, Acceleration & Mileage of Hyundai Creta

The Creta accelerates from 0-100 kmph within 9.7 seconds and can reach up to a top speed of 195 kmph. According to Hyundai, the SUV's fuel efficiency ranges from 15kmpl to 21kmpl depending on the fuel type and gearbox options used. However, real fuel efficiency estimates vary depending on a variety of external conditions.

Colour Options & Variants of Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta comes in a total of six vibrant colours called Typhoon Silver, Polar White, Red Mulberry, Phantom Black, Titan Grey, and Polar White with a Phantom Black Roof (turbo variant). As far as variants are concerned, there are a total of six variants are on offer named E, EX, S, SX Executive, SX and SX(O).

Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

The ex-showroom price for the SUV starts at Rs 10.28 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 17.99 lakh for the top-end variant. Understanding the distinction between ex-showroom and on-road pricing, the ex-showroom price of an automobile is the sticker price that excludes the costs of road tax, insurance, and registration. The on-road pricing, on the other hand, covers the above-stated charges as well as the prices of Insurance, RC, one-time road tax, extended warranty, and any car accessories. It is worth noting that in our country, on-road price varies widely from state to state.

Hyundai Creta Competitors

In the Indian car market in its segment, the Hyundai Creta goes against the Kia Seltos, Nissan Magnite, Renault Duster, Skoda. Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and the Honda WR-V.

Verdict - Should You Buy Hyundai Creta or not?

The Hyundai Creta is an impressive car with tons of features and great comfort. In addition, the engines offer good performance. However, there are a few drawbacks, including a less stylish design as well as a lack of a central headrest at the rear. Also, the budget can be an issue for people who want to spend their hard-earned money on a feature-loaded top variant because it is really pricey. If money isn't an issue, opting for the top variations makes sense because the SUV has the ability to justify the high price.