The fast growing small SUV/crossover segment has just got hotter! Thanks to the advent of the new Creta – the much awaited Hyundai compact SUV for India, the Indian subsidiary of the Korean carmaker giant has finally updated its arsenal to take on the likes of the Renault Duster and the Ford EcoSport. The Hyundai Creta, as the ix25 has been christened for its Indian innings, has already garnered several thousand bookings and from the looks of it, the latest Hyundai offering is all set to pen down another success story for its manufacturer. In terms of price positioning, the Creta finds itself slotted between the Verna and the Elantra in the carmaker’s product portfolio. We drove the Creta in varied road conditions and have come up with a detailed test drive review of the new model to provide our impressions on the hottest new Hyundai in the town. Here’s our Hyundai Creta review to give you a sneak peek at the newest ‘big’ small SUV from Hyundai India –
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta SUV Launch Report[/box]
Video Review
Design
Must admit, the Hyundai Creta looks a lot more aggressive in flesh than in pics. The design of the Creta is based on the manufacturer’s much famed Fludic Sculpture 2.0, and the new kid on the block fits in perfectly among the likes of rather strikingly designed Elite i20 and the Verna. The talking point of the new car is its front-end, which, at first glance, is slightly reminiscent of the bigger (and pricier) Santa Fe. The front-end of the Creta is characterized by swept-back headlamps that feature LED fixtures and a projector setup each. Other highlights here include sharp-looking fog lamps, a faux skid plate and a mean-looking front grille that has three horizontal chrome-plated slats. When viewed front on, the Creta looks adequately aggressive, and the upcoming Hyundai compact SUV should have enough road presence.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta vs Rivals: Duster, EcoSport, Scorpio, S-Cross[/box]
In side profile, the designers of the Creta have gone easy with the creases and the surface treatments. That said, the Creta does have a clearly defined shoulder line, but in no way is the overall effect as flamboyant as that of the Elantra. Other highlights include well-defined wheel arches, blackened-out A- and B-pillars for the ‘floating roof’ effect, silver-painted roof rails and a roofline that slopes ever so slightly towards the rear. The car boasts of 200 mm of ground clearance.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See- Hyundai Creta vs Maruti S-Cross[/box]
The rear-end is where the design fails to leave us impressed. We feel that the rear-end is a bit too busy, and the designers of this compact SUV seem to have lost the plot over here. Don’t get us wrong though, for in no way do we say that the Creta’s posterior looks ungainly. However, we do assert that this car’s rear-end lacks the sleekness and the slightly ‘European touch’ of the i20 duo.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta – All You Need to Know![/box]
The design theme of the Creta’s interior mimics that of the i20 twins. Also, the materials used, and the overall fit and finish hardly leaves more to be desired. Overall, the cabin of this car is a pleasant place to be in.
Features
Much like every other Hyundai car on sale in the country, the Creta comes loaded to its gills and will boast of some segment-leading features. The Creta will go on sale in four trims – Base, S, SX and SX(O). Highlight of the Creta’s features list include-
- Projector headlamps with LED Positioning lamp
- 17” ‘Diamond Cut’ Alloys
- 7” AVN with 6 speakers
- Smart key with Push button Start
- 6 Airbags (includes Sides & Curtains)
Engine & Transmission
Hyundai Creta has gone on sale with as many as three engine options –
- 1.6 Dual VTVT Petrol
- U2 1.4 CRDi Diesel
- U2 1.6 CRDi VGT Diesel
All the three engine options are available with a 6-speed Manual transmission while the 1.6 CRDi VGT Diesel also gets a 6-speed Automatic gearbox. The automatic transmission for the 1.6-litre Diesel variant is being promoted as a ‘first-in-segment’ offering. While the 1.6-litre Dual VTVT petrol motor churns out a maximum power of 123 PS, the 1.6 CRDi VGT oil burner churns out a peak power of 128 PS.
We drove the 1.6-litre CRDi Diesel variant and spent a reasonably good amount of time with both the transmission options. Hence, we would restrict ourselves to writing about the more powerful Diesel variant in this Hyundai Creta review. As with most Hyundai CRDi engines, this turbocharged diesel engine is sufficiently potent and impresses with adequate performance levels and almost stellar fuel economy. The motor boasts of high refinement levels and revs pretty freely for a diesel motor. The turbo-lag is also well controlled and the engine starts approaching its sweet spot at around 1700 rpm. The gear ratios are well matched, and it is easy to trot rather effortlessly at 50 kmph, in fifth gear, with the tacho needle hovering around a leisurely 1,100 rpm. The Creta D M/T hits 100 km/h from standstill in around 11.5 seconds, which is pretty decent for a small SUV in this segment. The automatic transmission on offer isn’t a dual-clutch unit, and while the shifts aren’t lightening quick, they aren’t as slow as some of the other conventional autos we’ve experienced in recent times. The auto variant takes almost a second more than the petrol variant to hit 100 km/h.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Ford EcoSport[/box]
Ride, Handling and Braking
The Hyundai Creta offers a sufficiently comfortable ride, which is something we’ve come to expect from every Hyundai on sale today. Also, the NVH-levels are very well under check and road noise and wind noise doesn’t filter into the cabin. The steering of the Creta, while being a typical Electronic Power Steering unit, isn’t too light and never feels disconnected from the wheels. However, the body roll is easily felt while playing the lane splitter and understeer sets in even under moderately aggressive cornering. The high speed stability though is nothing short of impressive. The Creta gets ventilated disc brakes at front and drums at the rear. The brakes have sufficient bite to haul down this car from high speeds, and offer decent levels of feedback.
Video Review 2
Verdict
The Hyundai Creta looks sufficiently rugged, has a set of powerful motors, comes with a long list of featues and offers a good balance between ride quality and handling prowess. Our first impression is that the carmaker has got it really right with its upcoming compact SUV and don’t be surprised to have another best seller from Hyundai India.
Pics
Here are some pics of the new Hyundai Creta.
Stay tuned to Car Blog India for a comprehensive Hyundai Creta review. Also, do share your views on the upcoming Compact SUV in our comments section below, and don’t forget to provide us feedback on our quick Hyundai Creta review.
