Hyundai Creta SUV Road Test Review

The Creta follows Hyundai’s 2.0 Fluidic design philosophy and looks like a full bred SUV. While many comparisons have been made to the likes of the Santa Fe and the Evoque, I feel this SUV has an aura of its own. You have a very aggressive looking facade which features angular headlamps with LED positioning lamps and cornering lamps. You also get a three slat chrome grill among other generously garnished chrome accents. The hood of the Creta looks as if it has been chiselled off the Chest of Hercules and has a very muscular feel to it.  The Vertical fog lamps are a unique offering in this segment and add to the premium feel of this SUV. The Creta also features silver painted skid plates in the front and rear. The side profile of the Creta gives it an urban SUV look with a rising belt line from front to rear and a roofline with the right slope. The black cladding on the lower edges of the Creta run seamlessly from front to back and the rear features a broad chrome strip on the boot lid. The wrap around tail lamps looks smart and compliments the design language of this compact SUV. The exterior of the Creta has many chrome trims and the ORVMs also feature LED turn indicators.

When we look at the competitors, the Creta has already cornered them on fronts they don’t score so well on. The real test begins when we analyse build quality, engine performance, drive and handling. At the heart of the Creta is a 1.6L CRDi VGT diesel mill which produces 126.3bhp@4000rpm and 260Nm of torque from 1900 to 2750rpm. The Creta is also available with a 1.4L CRDi diesel mill and a 1.6L Dual VTVT petrol motor. The 1.6L diesel which we drove is mated to a 6-Speed manual transmission and is also available with a 6-Speed auto box as well. The 1.6L diesel is one of the most powerful engines in the segment. The flow of power is smooth thanks to the improved VGT and the turbo kicks in anywhere north of 1800rpm. While driving on highways the Creta has long legs and really loves to stretch. You can overdrive in the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th gears which provide the option of a higher gear ratio than a direct drive and engine speeds are reduced at higher speeds to improve fuel efficiency and enable further acceleration. For city driving you will have to work the gears a bit more if you fall below the 1800rpm mark. In terms of fuel efficiency the Creta’s 1.6L diesel mill returns 19.67km to the litre which may not be the best in segment but is certainly not bad.

Hyundai has also ensured the Creta maintains low NVH (Noise, Vibrations, Harshness) levels. Most of the noise and vibrations which filter in from the engine bay have been subdued and the ride is quite silent and peaceful. The Creta has a sturdy build and is not rattled easily even while driving off road. We took the Creta to almost 140kmph on an open stretch and to be honest I was surprised. While most of Hyundai’s offerings with the same 1.6L diesel start floating this vehicle was planted to the road. Even when cornering at high speeds the Creta was stable thanks to the ABS with EBD, VSM (Vehicle Stability Management) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control). The Creta also has a Hill Start Assist control which applies brakes when you begin to accelerate on an incline to prevent rolling back. The steering is a bit on the heavier side but weighs up well as you gain speed and is quite precise to driver inputs. The Creta sits on 215/ 60 R17 tubeless tyres which provide ample of grip on tarmac and give the SUV a decent stance. In terms of ride comfort bumps and potholes are almost non-existent thanks to an efficient combination of a McPherson Strut with Coil Spring (Front) and a Coupled Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Spring (Rear) Suspension which also facilitate a highly controlled drive. The front disc and rear drum brake combination are progressive but do not leave a hint of doubt.

After driving the Creta for over 140kms I was sure that this was a force to reckon with. It was definitely one of the better looking offerings in the segment, it has the most powerful engine as well and the list of features will surely keep you content. It all boils down to the price then. Yes it is a tad bit expensive but not at all out of place or undeserved. The Creta is available in showrooms across Delhi for an ex-showroom starting price of Rs. 8,59,558 which goes all the way up to Rs. 13,60,156 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the SX(O) variant which we reviewed. So if you have that kind of cash lying around and are looking to buy an urban compact SUV look no further because this is the best option available to date.   Like they say, So far Soo Good!