Anything but compact!

Hyundai’s blockbuster compact sports utility vehicle Creta has had a great run during the last three years. In fact, this was the vehicle that really set the segment benchmark, after being one of the slightly late entrants compared to the likes of the Renault Duster and the Nissan Terrano. But, like those two shared-platform siblings, the Creta will soon have competition from Kia’s compact SUV, amongst others. Based on the SP2 concept, the 4.2-metre-plus SUV from Kia Motors is due out next year. MG Motors is also due to launch a compact SUV as part of its India entry strategy next year. The Creta was also due for a mid-cycle facelift. Earlier this month, folks at Hyundai Motor India unveiled the 2018 Creta, which is meant to deliver minor design modifications to the exterior and the addition of a few features that offer greater value to buyers. The variant line-up has also been rationalised to five from the previous seven, with more features now added across it.

Beefier looks

The design changes are mostly focussed on making the front of the Creta look beefier than before. The three-slatted black bonnet grille gets a curvy chrome surround and seems to cut deeper into the front fender. The headlamps are the same overall design, but lose the LED daytime running lights, which have now moved to, and curve around the fog lamps, delivering a new night time light signature. The faux skid plates wrapped below the front and rear fenders are chunkier and meant to boost the Creta’s muscular appearance. The tail-lamps also sport a new combination though there has been no change to LEDs for the brake lights.

One big change on the roof is the addition of a sunroof; I can see that the demand for this feature is increasing in Indian buyers, though I don’t understand why they would want to pay for a patch of sky they’ll rarely look up to. The 2018 Creta also gets a new batch of alloys with their own unique design. There is also the additional choice of two new body colours with one called Passion Orange that can also be chosen with a matching Tangerine-coloured cabin trim.

Cabin

Keeping up the class The Creta’s cabin continues to be one of the best in the segment. - SMURALIDHAR

 

 

 

The Creta’s cabin was the one with the most premium feel and finish. Hyundai is also leading the pack with features such as auto headlamps coming first into its vehicles even in the lower-priced categories. The early evolution of the Creta driven in part by the impending competition means that Hyundai needs it to take the next step up. Get behind the wheel of the refreshed Creta and the cabin looks nearly the same. The first new feature that caught my eye was the induction phone charger slot in the centre console. The sunroof was the other addition that is pretty significant in terms of impact; makes the cabin a bit more airy and lit too. The driver’s seat now gets six-way power adjustment, including for height, while the front passenger gets manual adjustments for fore-aft movement and backrest tilt. The seats themselves are clad in perforated, double-stitched faux leather. The rest of the cabin is pretty much the same as the previous model. An electrochromic rear-view mirror is another useful addition. Some changes to the cubby holes and storage options have also been done. Overall, the cabin still feels like one of the best in the segment with its choice of materials, and fit and finish quality.

Performance

My test mule was a Creta SX (O) trim variant sporting the 1.6-litre CRDi VGT Diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission. This is the most torque-y engine in the line-up and is very comfortable to use in city driving conditions. The variable geometry turbocharger boosts the inherently tractable nature of the engine and peak torque of 260 Nm is available from a low 1,500 rpm through to about 3,000 rpm. The engine delivers 128 PS of peak power. This is a refined mill, though there is a certain amount of the typical, gruff Diesel engine noise that I hear seeping through into the cabin during the initial acceleration cycle. Once the needle revs past 30-40 kmph speeds, the noise is much lesser.

The Creta continues to be offered with two other engine options — a 1.6-litre dual VTVT petrol engine delivering 123 PS of power and 150 Nm of torque, and a 1.4-litre CRDi diesel generating 90 PS of power and 220 Nm of torque. Both the 1.6-litre engines (petrol and diesel) are also offered with a six-speed automatic transmission option in addition to the manual. Overall, all these four-cylinder engines are very refined and a good match to the Creta’s profile. Hyundai claims that the powertrains have all gained from minor refinements to boost fuel efficiency by about 3 to 4 per cent.

The ride and handling quality of the Creta was always good and this continues to be so in the 2018 Creta. The suspension is consistent and the Creta rolls over bad roads with a firmness that still doesn’t feel jarring. Even on really bad patches and over potholes, it doesn’t thud through or leave occupants with a question mark in their heads.

Bottomline

The face-lifted Creta is now looking a lot more like the Tucson from the front; that certainly is a good change that many buyers will appreciate. The addition of the new features and the general increase in the amount of value that the Creta now delivers is, of course, also a welcome move. Prices for the 2018 Creta range from ₹9.44 lakh to ₹15.04 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi.

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