Hyundai Creta

 The Hyundai Creta has been a huge success for the Korean car maker. It feels solidly built, has great quality levels, is very refined and despite being compact, it looks butch and has loads of presence. Not resting on its success, Hyundai has launched yet another variant of the Creta. This new variant is for those who would be moving an inch at a time in city traffic and also who want a practical car for the occasional weekend trip. The financial math doesn’t warrant a diesel with such limited running. This is why the new Creta petrol automatic makes so much sense. It combines the stress-free nature of driving an automatic with a refined petrol motor and a price which is nearly two lakh lesser than the diesel automatic version.

The Hyundai Creta looks its part as an SUV. Though it is based on the Elite i20 platform, the Creta is more SUV than a crossover hatchback and that is evident with the 190mm ground clearance. The front fascia is dominated by the hexagonal grille, signature Fluidic 2.0. The angular swept backheadlamps look modern and they are equipped with projector beam with LED day-time running lamps.

The profile looks butch thanks to the 17-inch alloy wheels filling up the flared wheel arches, the strong shoulder line and the black cladding that wraps around the car. The tail design has a European touch with the high mounted wraparound tail lamps and the blacked out lower portion of the bumper helping it hide some of the visual mass. The roof rails and the integrated rear spoiler adds to the styling quotient of this impressive looking compact SUV.

The cabin is a pleasant mix of grey with brushed aluminium accents and a bronze-ish shade fabric. The dashboard is nicely laid out and the layered design makes it look modern. You sit high up in the Creta and the slim A-pillars and low window-line offers an unhindered view out upfront. The large touchscreen screen dominates proceedings and the cabin feels modern. The chunky leather wrapped steering wheel feels great to hold and is placed at an ideal height. The large front seats are well contoured and feel comfortable over long journeys too. At the rear too there is good amount of kneeroom and the long seat squab provides good under thigh support. The backrest angle is just right and like the front seats, the rear seats have the right amount of firmness, making them comfortable even over long hauls.The flat floor and the wide cabin makes it ideal for three passengers too.  The boot at 402litres is well shaped and the 60:40 split folding rear seat adds to its practicality. Another commendable aspect of the Creta is the sound insulation which is best in class and makes it a soothing companion.

 The equipment list starts with push-button start, tilt-adjustable steering column and a driver adjustable driver seat. The Creta comes with cruise-control, electrically adjustable and retractable wing mirrors and auto-dimming internal mirror. The touch-screen infotainment system plays video only when you are stationary and gets USB, auxillary as well as Bluetooth connectivity. The touch-screen interface is intuitive and needs a firm poke for operation. GPS navigation is standard. The front windshield wipers also get a variable intermittent function which is handy especially during rain.

 The Creta SX+ automatic gets the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that has been performing its duties in the Verna. The 1591cc four-cylinder mill churns out 122bhp of power at 6400rpm and 154Nm of torque at 4850rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed torque converter automatic gearbox that drives the front wheels. The four valve-per-cylinder engine runs variable valve timing to optimise fuel economy as well as the power output.

 The Creta has good city manners especially in stop-and-go traffic. The engine responds well at low revs and the torque converter lag is minimal. When the traffic eases out, the Creta builds speed gradually. But if you are lugging around at city speeds and need to overtake someone quickly, the Creta will downshift and whine and not go until you step on more gas. And that is because the power output of this engine is all packed at the top. Even max torque comes in at 4850rpm, a little too far up. The gearbox, hence, has to downshift every time you step on the throttle to gain some speed. The gearbox on the other hand is nice and shifts quickly. But in pursuit of saving the engine, the gearbox doesn’t downshift near the redline and shifting gears manually don’t help matters either. Although it has more than adequate power, the Creta feels much slower than what the power figure of 122bhp suggests.

 The ride and handling, though, is the surprise element of the Creta. Hyundai has got the suspension damping right on the Creta and at high speeds, unlike previous Hyundais, it rides with well controlled body movements. The composure of the setup is evident even for uneven low speed bumps. The insulation keeps the thuds and bangs away from the cabin giving the Creta a silent and plush ride. The steering is precise and but there is a bit of inconsistency in the way it weighs up. The body roll around corners is minimal for its size and it feels safe and secured even when pushed hard. The brakes on the Creta have good bite but a more linear feel would have been welcomed.

 At an on-road price of close to Rs 15 lakh, the Creta petrol auto does justice to the money it demands. It feels big and stylish, the cabin is well laid out and comes loaded with features. The ride is silent and composed and will not tire you, even after a full day of driving. There is enough space for five occupants and their luggage as well. The fit and finish and interior quality is class-leading which makes it feel premium too. The engine and gearbox work well in tandem and are good for everyday driving unless you are after outright performance. By adding the automatic petrol variant in the Creta’s portfolio, Hyundai has given an option for people seeking a stress-free, premium, urban compact SUV.

Photo Courtesy By : Kapil Angane

In our last month's long-term review report of the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic we spoke about the features and driving mannerisms of the SUV within the city. This month, we let the vehicle stretch its game legs beyond the confines of the city and took it out on a long drive over northern Maharashtra, all the way up to the Madhya Pradesh border.

Firstly, let's talk about the driver and passenger comfort. As explained earlier, the dashboard is set high but you still sit relatively low unlike in traditional SUVs. Despite this, the view of the road ahead is good. The rear windows are not very large and the shoulder line is high too. However, the generous head room in the second row ensures that rear passengers don't feel claustrophobic. We had three average-sized occupants occupying the rear seat, and nobody complained - thanks to the sufficient leg room. A rear AC blower with twin vents circulating the fresh chilled air kept everybody cool as cucumbers.

In terms of features, this SX automatic is generously packed with equipment. The projector headlamps and DRLs give the car a premium character. However, it’s the cornering lights that add more practicality. These corner illuminators get separate halogen units which illuminate with the movement of the steering. This helped extensively while negotiating the Ghats at night. My biggest grouse, however, is the absence of an extensive digital trip computer in the instrument cluster. I wish it could also show details of distance-to-empty and average fuel efficiency.

On the bright side, there's no shortage of storage spaces inside the cabin. We could keep big water bottles in the slots on all four doors with sufficiently large door map pockets as well. There is enough space ahead of the gear-shifter stick, where the USB/Aux-in and a 12V power socket is located. My wallet, parking pass, mobile phone and USB cords easily fitted in there. And even if that doesn't suffice for your needs, there is plenty of space below the front arm rest, enough to accommodate a small water bottle inside. The touch screen music system kept us entertained on our long road trip. We made use of the Bluetooth tethering, USB and radio option quite a bit, but avoided the sat-nav as Google maps are more detailed and friendly to use.

Now, despite five people on board we didn't have to worry about luggage storage for so many people. Baggage of all shapes and sizes are easily contained inside the huge boot space. There is an option for a split seat and once I even folded down the entire rear seat into a flat bed. This allowed me to carry a full-sized bicycle without having to make any adjustments to the 16-inch spare wheel tucked neatly below.

Now let's talk about the engine, ride and the handling. The quiet and refined 122bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine becomes audible only post 3000rpm. It still remains smooth and doesn’t make for any unwanted vibrations or irritating noise inside the cabin. There was not much need to hold the revs high as the car drives reasonably well at low revs. The only time the motor required slight caning was when we needed to build up speeds quickly. Otherwise, if you are a patient driver and are content with its linear power delivery, you won’t complain about the lack of power boost. Sane driving, with revs below the 2,500rpm mark, will also help you get fuel economy figures of up to 12-14kmpl on the highway. I managed to get nearly 600km on a 50-litre full tank, which is remarkable considering that the vehicle was packed with five passengers and a lot of luggage.

The automatic transmission changes gears without much delay. Having said that, manual shifting still gave me way more control and confidence. As a result, overtaking other vehicles quickly was not a difficult task once I depressed the pedal firmly. The steering weighs up nicely at high speeds and doesn’t feel vague even during quick lane changes. However this is where the body roll is perceptible. Otherwise it is well-contained around long and wide corners. The ride is supple and the suspension does an excellent job of absorbing undulations on the highway. The 17-inch large wheels with low profile tyres complement the overall set-up too.

The Creta doesn’t look like a proper off-roader despite the high ground clearance, large wheels, faux skid plates and the height of the vehicle. But these features definitely give the Creta an advantage over regular cars. It felt very capable and reassuring as the big SUV easily traversed the many rough patches, diversions and dug up roads enroute without any hiccup. And all of this was done with minimal jolting to the passengers.

Now that we have extensively used the Creta in the city and on the highways, we are in a good position to point out the pros and cons. And our next long-term review wrap-up report will point out just that. We will tell you all there is to know about the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic before you decide to buy it.

This month, the Hyundai Creta was mostly used within the city. And when it's doing rounds of the busy roads of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, that alone gives you a fair idea of the amount of traffic the SUV has faced this time. A lot!

Every morning I looked forward to sit behind the wheel of the Creta more than any other car. And there are many reasons why I never hesitated, the first one being good driving comfort. Since my commute to work involves a lot of traffic during peak hours, a comfortable driving position was very important to me. I could sit nice and low and also be able to set the seat to a higher position to see the bonnet (important while parking). Also, the silent engine and good cabin insulation made for a quiet drive. The broken patches and big bumps on the Mankhurd road were no bother thanks to the 190mm ground clearance and pleasant ride. However, I still feel that a little more feedback from the brakes would have gone a long way in boosting confidence while braking.

Another reason I get much driving pleasure from the Creta is because of its automatic gearbox. The fact that my left leg feels at ease due to the absence of the clutch is very reassuring. And then this six-speed torque-converter transmission mated to the 1.6-litre petrol mill does its job very well. It has been tuned to deliver good fuel efficiency and the early gear shifts clearly point this out. Apart from these gentle throttle inputs, the gearbox is sensitive and shifts to a lower gear with a harder tap on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle does take a while to catch up speed and cannot be called a brisk mover due to lack of mid-range. At times, I had to use the manual mode to make quick sprints. Nevertheless, this doesn't become a point of complaint as it still provides a relaxing drive within the city. The petrol SUV also delivers a fuel economy of 9.85kmpl, which is impressive considering the drive time and bumper-to-bumper traffic jams it has negotiated.

The 7-inch touch screen AVN system is one of my favourite pieces of equipment in this car with its Bluetooth feature being used the most. My phone was always connected and with music being buffered continuously through the internet I never had to use the USB mode. I still used the FM radio at times as it plays channels without a fuss. It is easy to tune and select different radio stations which can be stored with upto 10 presets. Sadly, if Google Maps had not introduced the live feature on our phones, the Creta's sat-nav system wouldn't have been my second choice. It is powered by Map My India and is a smart system to provide driving directions. It magnifies every turn or main junction on half of the screen making it an innovative and useful feature.

Adding to the delight is the keyless entry function. I never had to take out the small key fob from my pocket as the car unlocked and locked itself with the press of a button on the door handle. And once inside, the automatic cooling kept the cabin cool even in the soaring temperatures in Mumbai. This is the SX trim and unlike the SX (O), there is no speed-sensing door lock. Thankfully there is a still a manual button. But, since it's not illuminated it did become a task to find it in the dark, while the mall security waited for me to unlock the boot for checking. However, I didn't require their help in guiding me to park as the reversing camera with guidelines does a superb job in helping one park in the most cramped spaces.

In the coming month the Creta will be put through its paces to see how it fares on the highway. Our next report will focus on how useful it can be for those inter-city trips.

Pictures by Kapil Angane

The Hyundai Creta petrol automatic joined our long term fleet earlier this month. After being through the hands of few of my colleagues, I recently got to use it for some shoots. Then, I was overwhelmed when to know that I will be using it as a long termer. My liking for SUVs is surely one reason, but what made me happier was the automatic gearbox that was going to ease my daily driving efforts.

Most of my daily driving route involves a lot of traffic and now the clutchless gearshifts mean rest for my left leg. The 1.6-litre petrol engine produces 122bhp of power, which seems good enough for my daily driving. Let's hope it isn't a petrol guzzler as most petrol automatic cars are perceived to be. Otherwise, the Creta is a big car unlike some pseudo compact SUVs. Despite its large footprint, it feels easy-to-drive and makes a statement wherever it goes. This silver colour isn't too catchy, but it looks nice and premium.

On the inside too, the mix and match of colours are pleasant to the eye. The materials used in the interior feel good and justify the price tag of Rs 12.94 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). However, I would have loved it if Hyundai would have provided the features from the top-end SX (O). Now, this petrol automatic Creta is offered only as the SX Plus variant, which means it misses out on leather seats, auto-door lock, auto-dimming IRVM and gets two airbags instead of six airbags. I would have loved to have the cruise control feature for this automatic. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to many features that are going to be useful to me. This includes the touch screen infotainment system, height adjustable seat, automatic climate control, rear AC vents and much more.

I will be using the car over the coming months within the city and for weekend getaways as well. Watch this space for more on this automatic vehicle as our upcoming reports will further assess this car on various driving conditions.

Pictures by Kapil Angane