In 2024, the new Creta seems to have had a firm grip on the compact SUV crown but not only that as it is currently the third largest selling car and also the best selling 4m plus SUV. In fact it has reached 1 lakh sales in just 6 months while selling an average of more than 550 units a day. So, why is it so popular? We have one for a long term test and this is the fully loaded turbo petrol costing Rs 20 lakh plus.

 

The Creta starts from 11 lakh while having a wide range of variants including diesel- which still accounts for a fair chunk of sales plus the 1.5l naturally aspirated petrol. Our test car is the new 1.5l turbo petrol which brings more power at 160bhp while only getting a 7-speed DCT while the Creta N-Line gets the manual option. For starters, we think the new Creta looks better and that is the key to its appeal with the quad beam LEDs plus the flashier grille while not being as radical as the earlier one. It looks wider and more universally appealing. 




Our test car has the Emerald Pearl shade which looks very nice but again most prefer white. The interiors too are less plasticky than rivals with a lighter colour scheme adding to the premium bit. There are no soft touch bits but there is no faulting with the twin screens joined or even the way the touchscreen works. It is intuitive and easy to use while things like the 360 degree camera to dual zone climate control are much appreciated plus cooled seats along with a powered handbrake.



A powered driver seat is there but dual powered ones would have been nice. A massie panoramic sunroof, enough storage spaces means there isn't a glaring area where the Creta lacks. The same goes for the rear seat where it gets a sun blind plus even soft cushions! Comfort is very good and so is the legroom/headroom- even for tall folks. That said, a middle headrest is missing!


Other things we like include the infotainment system being available in multiple languages, a crisp Bose 8-speaker audio system, air purifier plus even an in-built music app.

 


 

We will get to the driving bit. The Creta is more of an SUV that tries to do different things in being more fun to drive while still being a comfortable family SUV. The Turbo Creta is surely for performance lovers with its smooth power and the DCT. There are drive modes but it is linear and the DCT is now much better in terms of smoothness while spirited driving will require you reaching for the paddle shifters.



For the daily grind,it is smooth if a bit hesitant at low speeds. The light steering and compact size makes it easy to park too. Unlike the N-Line, this Creta rides better with smaller wheels at 17 inches which means the ride is softer and it is less firm. There is a bit of roll but it is stable and performs as you would expect at highway speeds. Some ADAS features which we like are the blind view monitor, the adaptive stop and go while it is not too sensitive for our roads.

Efficiency in the turbo is a mixed bag as the 1.5 NA is one to get if you want efficiency as the turbo will mostly give 8-9 kmpl in the city but careful driving increases it to 12kmpl.


The Turbo Creta is the one to get if you want more power and yes, it is the most expensive Creta but the performance is worth it. Compared to the older one, the new gen looks better, is comfier, has better interiors and ticks more boxes. hence why it sells in large numbers but we recommend the turbo if you like driving and do not mind the less efficiency. 




What we like- Looks, quality, features, space, performance


What we do not- efficiency, no middle headrest at the rear, no soft touch materials 

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