2020 might be a year the auto industry would want to forget but there’s no arguing that we have seen some quite significant cars been established and possibly the most important one of all is that the new Hyundai Creta. At the Car, Expo crowds thronged to find the car and the presence of a particular Bollywood celebrity only stoked the flame further. But with the small easing of this lockdown, we eventually had the keys to it and that also with no Bollywood celebrity or crowds insight. Thus it’s time to tell if the new Hyundai Creta is worth your cash or not. We have the range-topping DCT Turbo petrol on test here.

Hyundai Creta 2020 Engine Performance

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The older Creta has been an in-offensive appeal-to-all rather car which clarified its huge success and that has its own merits but the new one takes that design brief and chucks it in the bin. The new Creta isn’t here to blend in and if you like or not, you will get an opinion on it. Conventionally pretty it ain’t but it sure turned a couple of heads if we drove it.

Creta 2020 Engine Performance

Creta 2020 Engine Performance

The front is the most polarizing bit with that complex three-part headlamp structure and that enormous gaping grille while there is a great deal of sculpting and plenty of lines draped throughout the car to hold your focus because you turn your gaze around. It is a busy design but I enjoy it in this spec. The turbo petrol gets the black bunch and to my eyes looks a lot better using its different blackened elements such as the door mirrors, roof, etc while even the (not imitation ) twin exhausts are a fantastic touch. A white colored non-turbo spec with various wheels seems bulbous but with the right color/trim and wheels, the Creta seems edgy and aggressive-something you couldn’t have said regarding its predecessor.

The inside is, to my eyes even larger achievement since the earlier Creta inside, in its later years looked a bit dated. The brand new one sees a larger leap in quality and the total sense of occasion- important when you’re spending Rs 18 lakh on a vehicle. There is plenty for your eyes to take in at first glance here also but the Turbo variant only looks so much better with its black cabin (peppered with red contrast components over) compared to the dull beige at the other trims.

Hyundai Creta 2020 Interior

The rather interesting looking steering wheel is experts in our books plus even the instrument cluster using all the 7 inch MID gives crystal clear info whilst analog bits alongside it works well too. The center console is neatly stacked with buttons and a sizable 10.25-inch touchscreen that does not stand out (more about this later). Ergonomically the Creta scores with decent-sized door pockets and sufficient storage places.

Hyundai creta interior

creta interior

The major news is the rear seat. The earlier Creta as a result of the high window line created sitting at the trunk a bit claustrophobic but that has been changed here. There are more width and legroom is much better. Three can sit easily and while it ain’t as palatial as a Hector it is so much better than the previous Creta and one of the top tier currently in terms of space/comfort. Even the boot at 433 liters is bigger and loading a lot of bags is not an issue.

Hyundai has not comepleted idea but the whole house here and we are not joking. We will add that the touchscreen is slick and massive to use but you will find enough physical buttons too while saying’Hello Blue Link’ you can control the majority of the features by speaking to the car including the sunroof and chair ventilation. Of course, you can even remotely start the car, which is a staple feature of the Blue hyperlink technician.

Amongst the 3 engine choices involving two petrol and one petrol, we’ve got the range-topping 1.4 turbo petrol using all the 140 bhp and 242Nm here. There’s not any manual but the 7-speed DCT causes you to not miss one. First impressions suggest that this engine is right on the money with being refined and the gearbox eloquent in dealing with low-speed progress. The driving position is not as SUV like from the preceding Creta though but the meaty steering is nice to hold (adjusts for rake not attain though).

Up the rate and for that there’s the choice to put in Sport mode also but I found that a comfortable manner to be the best. It is fairly responsive and gives you enough energy if you would like. The turbo petrol has a thick electricity band which means that you don’t need to rev it. However, if you’re in the mood, then you can put it into Sport, use the paddle-shifters and the engine gets louder and you can hang on the gears. The Creta, however, is not an out and out enthusiasts car but for an SUV, it’s a damn good plus compared to the previous-gen Creta, it is day and night. The steering feels more direct and body roll is controlled using even the brakes giving you the confidence to push. We’ll add that driving the car gets you 8-9 km but ordinary city driving and use of the Eco mode provides 11-12 kmpl. The Creta also gets manners such as Mud and Sand but, to be honest, that the Creta is best suited to on the road and not off it.

We not only drove the Creta but brought in its arch-rival, the Kia Seltos for an exclusive short compare also. Off the mark, both look different while the Seltos is handsome the Creta is increasingly more extrovert. The Altos is slightly wider and longer compared to the Creta is taller. Inside both offer tons of attributes and have quality with the Seltos with some features not there in the Creta while the Creta additionally using some features not there from the Altos. Both are priced almost in the same range and it depends on which styling you want though we will state that the Seltos is much more enthusiast centric and sportier while the Creta is the greater all-rounder with marginally more of the desirable attributes.