Creta’s metamorphosis was inevitable. If the SUV was a loner in its space when it made its debut in 2014, it faces tough challenges from a range of rivals - from Jeep Compass to Maruti Vitara Brezza. Creta had to reinvent itself.
Creta is the largest-selling SUV in India. Creta has about 4 lakh customers worldwide. A large chunk of them are in India, while the other major markets are South America and Europe.
Creta, also known as IX25, is the latest SUV from the Hyundai stable. This is made for the younger generation. It is built on the i20 platform.
Though the vehicle is meant for city drives, it is also game for a bit of offroading.
Hive structure
Creta follows a design described by Hyundai as HIVE structure. The design stands for light weight without compromising on the strength of the body. The approach ensures top notch security and other attractions including fuel efficiency.
The SUV is not a noise maker. It is a smooth drive.
Creta is a smaller version of Santa Fe, Hyundai’s noted off-roader. In fact, Creta could be mistaken for Santa Fe when viewed from the front because it swears by the Fluidic design that has come to represent all Hyundai cars.
It is a scaled-down Santa Fe. No wonder Creta carries the image of a big vehicle. The new look grill gives it a fresh look. The other changes centre on the projector head lamp, daytime running lamp, diamond cut alloy, skid plate, tail lamp, side cladding, shark fin antenna and sun roof.
European finish
The interiors have an elegant finish that resembles the European cars. Black dominates the colour scheme and the beige lines on the dash board and the door trims give the car a special look.
The seats are designed in such a way that they are easy to get in to.
The SUV has standard ABS, ESP, airbags, A/C and power windows. The new additions include the electronically adjustable driver seat, cruise control, smart key band and wireless phone charger.
Apart from the 1.6 gamma dual VT petrol engine with a capacity of 123 PS and the CRDI diesel engine with a capacity of 128 PS, Creta comes with a 1.4 CRDI diesel engine.
We took the models carrying the 1.6 engines for a test drive. Creta is a pleasant drive, thanks to the engines that run silently and without trembling.
The six-speed gearbox and power make Creta a driver’s car. The automatic model is remarkable. It is an easy drive. Creta did not waver on the Hyundai test drive track at top speed and while cornering. The SUV offers comfort too.
The price tag has not gone up significantly with the new changes. The price starts at Rs 9.43 lakh in New Delhi.
For test drive, call +91 98957 90650
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