Hyundai Creta 1.6 SX Plus Auto Petrol First Drive Review

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.

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.

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.

You eventually learn to go flat on the throttle in order to get the box to downshift in the upper reaches of the powerband where this motor starts coming in its own. Here there’s much more power and enthusiasm on hand as the Creta sheds its lethargic nature and gathers momentum smartly. The engine does get a bit noisy when the car is driven in this manner but at least you are not lacking in performance. Other than the engine getting noisy when worked hard, this motor is quite refined and driving the Creta is a soothing experience thanks to its great sound insulation. But its in the manual mode the Creta petrol feels the best. This allows you to be in the right gear at the right time. We tested the Creta petrol A/T and found it covered the 0-100kmph in 13.04seconds. Even the slow in-gear times of 7.38 seconds for 20-80kmph and 9.93 for 40-100kmph are a reflection of the motor’s weak mid-range.

But where the Creta impresses the most is in terms of its ride. Over any surface, at speed, the Creta remains unfazed and the refined suspension simply goes about its job, keeping you isolated from the biggest of potholes. It’s only at low speeds that you feel some stiffness and the sharp bumps do jarr you a bit. But here too we are being picky rather than critical. You can enjoy the Creta over a winding road too -- thanks to loads of grip from the wide 215 section tyres, accurate steering, well-tuned suspension and minimal body roll. The only deterrent being the way the steering weighs up. It feels too heavy around the straight ahead position and it lacks the consistency that rivals like the Renault Duster offers. The brakes pedal feel a bit wooden and a more linear feel would have been welcomed.

The Creta is a great all-rounder. It has that all-important pseudo SUV look, on the inside it offers a spacious and comfortable cabin, quality levels are best in class, it rides and handles well and now the petrol motor equipped with an automatic gearbox makes it a great city runabout too. The combination of this engine and automatic gearbox may not be the best pairing ever and more performance would be welcome. But for your average daily drive there is more than enough oomph and thanks to the engine’s refined nature, it makes for a soothing companion
The Hyundai Creta petrol A/T is only in the SX Plus trim, and costs Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Although on the expensive side, the Creta has a lot to offer and makes for a great urban commuter.

Photography by Kapil Angane

Click here to read the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza First Drive Review

The Hyundai Creta in this petrol automatic guise has only the Honda BRV petrol CVT to compete with. Although the BRV is cheaper and has two extra seats, the Creta offers lot more standard features and it quality levels are much higher too.