Hyundai’s flagship compact SUV Creta looks mature and well built in all angles. It may not have too many curves like members of fluidic range but the look suits its masculine image well. Good amount of thought has gone into designing the front grill, fog lamps, headlamp assembly- all of which come together beautifully. Side and rear profiles are pretty standard- nothing to complain but nothing to cheer about either.
Images Courtesy : Shrinidhi Hande
A proper foot rest and roof rack could have given Creta a bigger SUV like look-these can be added later if required. Some variants are available in dual colour option- red body with black roof- which might be appealing to many. (Seems inspired by Range Rover Evoque)
The Drive
Creta is available in 1.6 petrol, 1.4 diesel and 1.6 litre diesel engines, giving you different combination of power, fuel economy and driving experience. Top of the line 1.6 Diesel Creta has best power in its class- about 125 PS, that is way higher than what Baleno, Ecosport or Duster can offer. It even comes close to doubly priced Mercedes GLA in terms of power (GLA diesel gets about 134 PS, just marginally more than Creta). Creta is fun to drive on highways due to this strong supply of power. There is no four wheel drive option in Creta yet (Many SUVs in 15 lakh range offer 4×4 in some variants to cater to adventure junkies)
The interiors
Higher end variants come with push button start, auto transmission and more cool features. The warning message on touch-screen- that requires us to read and accept the risks of looking at the display while driving- is pretty irritating- because we need to click accept each and every time car is started.
- Push button start is supposed to be convenient, but you need two legs and an arm to start the car- you should press the brake and well as clutch and then press the push button.
- Audio was defaulting to a high volume level each time car was started, even when I had reduced the volume earlier. Creta should remember user’s last used volume level and should resume from there.
- Reverse camera and navigation are cool. The way door handle integrates with dash is also very innovative.
- Creta is pretty spacious for 5 people and their bags. Second row passengers get AC vent and charging points.
- Instrument Cluster feels standard. Nothing extra ordinary or stylish about it. Distance to Empty indicator is mysteriously missing in Creta- even 5 lakh rupee cars get that these days.
- Expect a realistic fuel economy of about 13kmpl in Creta Diesel.
Should I buy one?
Creta is priced from 9 lakhs to 14 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. On road price in your city may range between 11- 19 lakhs. Be careful while selecting the variant suits your needs and budget – cheapest variant will only be half as good as top end variant often reviewed or advertised. Spending 15-16 lakhs on a car will warrant about 1 lakh rupees in insurance premium alone- every year. Unless you have lots of disposable income or serious need for premium SUV, maintenance expense can sometime make you regret your purchase.
Hyundai Creta is selling in large numbers and is definitely a success. In Feb 2016, Creta was second bestselling car among all Hyundai cars- just after elite i20. So its high price is certainly not deterring most of prospective buyers. Hyundai Creta has severely impacted sales of Renault Duster, Maruti S Cross and Ford Ecosport. Creta is spacious, well powered, has lots of features, available in several variants to suit various budget needs. It does have a few months of waiting period and is a five seater. If carrying more people or a offroad usage is your primary objective then you should consider proper SUVs in 14-20 lakh range- Scorpio, XUV500, Tata Safari Storme are serious off roaders with 7 seat option. Suzuki Vitara Brezza is the new competitor in town- priced much lower and Ecosport has also received a price cut. Do check out these two before finalizing your decision to buy Creta.
