The Creta has been a great success story for the Hyundai brand in India. Not only does it sell in big numbers, but it has made Hyundai successful at a price point, where even the might of Maruti has struggled ( getting stingy Indians to spend upwards of Rs 15 lakh on what is basically a budget brand) . With so many strong players in our market to compete with, you have to hand it to Hyundai for doing its research and, more often than not, delivering a really attractive product which the buyers really want.
The Creta, unlike some of its rivals, looks like a proper SUV thanks to its long bonnet and upright stance. With the styling, Hyundai seems to have hit the sweet spot and this alone gets Hyundai thousands of buyers.
But Hyundai is not resting on its laurels and they have launched the petrol automatic version of the Creta. This is quite timely, as this compact SUV becomes the only rival to the recently launched Honda BR-V, which also comes with a petrol automatic option. This also makes the Creta the only car in its segment to offer four engine options, automatic gearboxes on both petrol and diesel versions and as many as 11 variants to choose from.
How is it on the inside?
The Creta’s interiors reflect the exterior’s impressive design. The multi-layered two-tone dash blends in well with the sculpted door pads. The leather wrapped steering wheel looks and feels premium and the large analogue instruments are clear and easy to read. Fit and finish is really good, and this means the cabin more than justifies the hefty price Hyundai is asking for. Thanks to the large dimensions, there’s lots of space on the inside. There’s plenty of legroom both at the front and rear and the large seats offer good support. The wide rear seat and the near-flat floor also means three people sit in decent comfort. The front seats are supportive and wide, making even long journeys comfortable. The boot at 402 litres is well shaped and the 40: 60 folding rear bench adds to its practicality.
While the Creta in this automatic trim is only available in the lower SX Plus trim yet is quite well equipped. It gets a touchscreen system with satellite navigation, and there’s Bluetooth, USB, aux and a CD player for the audio system. There are also rear parking sensors with camera, ABS with brake assist and two airbags.
How does it drive?
The petrol Creta automatic is powered by a 1591cc naturally aspirated petrol motor which is good for 122bhp and 154Nm of torque. The big news is the automatic gearbox though, it is the same six-speed torque converter as the one found on the diesel version. While driving in the city in ‘D’ mode, the automatic gearbox upshifts early, maintaining a relatively low engine speed in a bid to improve fuel economy. A dab on the throttle gets it moving quite nicely, and when driven like this, it is quite adept at mixing in with other traffic. Ask for a bit more acceleration however and the engine’s lack of oomph in the mid-range comes through. The throttle response is blunt and this is where the gearbox also tends to get confused and fails to make full use of the power on tap.
