When it was launched in 2015, the Hyundai Creta ushered in a new era in the then growing compact SUV segment. It was a massive success for the company and offered premium looks and interiors. The looks were aided by a set of motors that delivered beyond expectation. Since then the C-SUV segment has come a long way and it was time for Creta to re-enter the arena in a new and improved avatar.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF 2018 HYUNDAI CRETA FACELIFT
Engine
1.6L Dual VTVT, 4-cylinder, Petrol
Power
121.3hp@6400rpm
Torque
151Nm@4850rpm
Transmission
6-speed Manual
Dimensions (L x W x H)
4270mm x 1780mm x 1630mm
Wheelbase
2590mm
Suspension
Front
Rear
McPherson Strut with Coil Spring
Coupled Torsion Beam with Coil Spring
Brakes
Disc
Drum
Tyres
215/60 R17 Tubeless
Fuel Tank Capacity
55 Litres
Price – SX(O)
(ex-showroom)
Rs. 13,59,848
EXTERIOR DESIGN AND STYLING OF 2018 HYUNDAI CRETA
The original Creta was a massive and bold looking SUV with impressive design cues. Now with the facelift, Hyundai has just got better with the Creta. You will notice the bulk of changes on the front of the car which has Hyundai’s new cascade grille. The new grille houses slimmer slats and gets chrome on the edges giving it a cleaner and smarter look. The LED DRLs have been shifted from the headlamp cluster and now border the fog lamps below.
The new design for the DRLs is much appreciated and lends the Creta a distinctive look. The 17-inch wheels get treated with newly designed diamond cut alloys that look smarter and sharper when compared to the outgoing model. The silver skid plates on both the front and the rear have been beefed up as well. Apart from this, not much has changed on the side and rear. Hyundai is also offering the new Creta with a dual tone and two new colour options. We had the new orange colour which seems to be in vogue but I like the blue colour better.
The subtle changes made on the exterior do affect the car in a positive manner and it is one of the best looking compact SUVs in the market still. However, Hyundai missed out on using LED units for the headlamp and/or the tail lamp. The LED lights would really have been a welcome addition.
INTERIOR DESIGN AND FEATURES OF 2018 HYUNDAI CRETA
The interiors of the new Hyundai Creta have received some additions. You get a functional touchscreen infotainment system complete with navigation and smartphone connectivity via Android Auto and Apple Car Play. While the touch response itself is not the smoothest, it does get the job done. New additions include 6-way power adjustable driver seat, wireless charging pad and electrically operated sunroof. The new Creta also gets a smartwatch that acts as a key for the car and the smartwatch can also track your health metrics such as steps taken, distance covered on foot, calories burnt and more through an app that you can download on your phone.
The seats are comfortable and give you enough cushioning no matter which one you choose and you can also get them in a dual tone shade. There is enough space for the occupants and the 2nd row passengers get dedicated AC vents. The Creta comes with dual airbags as standard and you get 6 airbags in the top spec variant. Interestingly, the automatic transmission option is not available in the top end model. So should you opt for the automatic variant, you will miss out on the sunroof, wireless charging, smart watch and more importantly the 6 airbags.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE OF 2018 HYUNDAI CRETA
The new Creta is available in three engine options including a 1.4L diesel, a 1.6L diesel and 1.6L petrol. The 1.6L engines come mated to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission while the 1.4L gets only a manual. We had the 1.6L petrol manual for our testing. The power and torque outputs haven’t changed much which means that the Creta continues to provide a similar driving experience as before, which is nothing short of great.
The petrol motor felt really smooth going through the city roads and the manual transmission was no hassle either. Not for a single moment did I wish for the automatic transmission. While the 121hp of power and 260Nm of torque come high up in the rpm range, there is plenty of power available in the lower ranges as well. This means that the Creta behaves nicely when you are travelling at 40-50kmph but sprints gracefully when let loose on highways. This is a driver’s car and handles nicely thanks to the suspension tuning and the steering wheel which allows for accurate input all the while being not too heavy. You get disc brakes on the front wheel and features like ABS, EBD and ESC are standard but there are times that you do wish that a pair of disc brakes on the rear wheels would have made the braking perfect.
VERDICT
If you loved the original Creta then this won’t disappoint you either. However things are not as simple as they were 3 years ago. In my closing words I would say that if you want a premium compact SUV that keeps your budget in and around the Rs 15 lakh mark, then the Creta is still a great choice.
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