New 2020 Hyundai Creta Petrol Review

We not only drove the Creta but brought in its arch rival, the Kia Seltos for an exclusive short comparo also. Off the mark both look different while the Seltos is conventionally handsome the Creta is edgier and more extrovert. The Seltos is slightly longer and wider while the Creta is taller. Inside both offer tons of features and have quality with the Seltos having some features not there in the Creta while the Creta also having some features not there in the Seltos. To drive the Seltos is firmer and edgier while the Creta is more rounded plus has the smoother gearbox. Both are priced nearly in the same range and it depends on which styling you prefer though we will say that the Seltos is more enthusiast centric and sportier while the Creta is the better all-rounder with slightly more of the desirable features.

Up the speed and for that there is the option to put in Sport mode too but I found the Comfort mode to be the best. It's fairly responsive and gives you enough power when you want. The turbo petrol has a thick power band and that means you do not need to rev it. However if you are in the mood, you can put it in Sport, use the paddle-shifters and the engine gets louder plus you can hang onto the gears. The Creta however is not an out and out enthusiasts car but for an SUV, it's damn good plus compared to the last gen Creta, its night and day. The steering feels more direct and body roll is controlled with even the brakes giving you confidence to push. We will add that pushing the car gets you 8-9 kmpl but normal city driving and use of the Eco mode will give 11-12 kmpl. The Creta also gets modes like Mud and Sand but to be honest the Creta is best suited for on the road and not off it.

Amongst the three engine options including two petrol's and one diesel, we have the range-topping 1.4 turbo petrol with the 140 bhp and 242Nm here. There is no manual but the 7-speed DCT makes you not miss one. First impressions suggest that this engine is right on the money with being refined and the gearbox smooth in dealing with low-speed progress. The steering is also light and despite the ample size, the Creta feels like a Venue from behind the wheel. The driving position is less SUV like from the previous Creta though but the meaty steering is nice to hold (adjusts for rake not reach though).

Hyundai has not just thrown the kitchen sink but the whole house here and we are not joking. The feature list beats luxury cars costing twice as much! Amongst the things you come to expect from a new Hyundai like powered driver's seat, wireless charging, auto climate control, rear ac vents, push button start etc all are there but I will mention the things which set it apart from others and that includes a massive panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, electronic parking brake, Blue Link connectivity features, Bose audio system... the list goes on. We will add that the touchscreen is massive and slick to use but there are enough physical buttons too while saying ‘Hello Blue Link’ you can control most of the features by talking to the car including the sunroof and seat ventilation. Of course you can even remote start the car, which is a staple feature of the Blue Link tech.

The interior is, to my eyes, an even bigger achievement since the earlier Creta interior, in its later years looked a bit dated. The new one sees a bigger jump in quality and in the overall sense of occasion- important when your spending Rs 18 lakh on a car. There is plenty for your eyes to take in at first glance here also but again the Turbo variant just looks so much better with its all black cabin (peppered with red contrast elements over) than the boring beige in the other trims.

The big news is the rear seat. The earlier Creta thanks to its high window line made sitting at the rear a bit claustrophobic but that has been changed here. There is more width and legroom is much better. Three can sit easily and while it ain't as palatial as a Hector it's so much better than the previous Creta and amongst the top tier now in terms of space/comfort. Even the boot at 433 litres is bigger and loading lots of luggage is not an issue.

The rather interesting looking steering wheel is aces in our books plus even the instrument cluster with the 7 inch MID gives crystal clear info while analogue bits alongside it works well too. The centre console is neatly stacked with buttons and a large 10.25 inch touchscreen that does not stick out (more on this later). Ergonomically the Creta scores with decent sized door pockets and enough storage places.

The front is the most polarizing bit with that complex three-part headlamp structure and that huge gaping grille while there is a lot of sculpting and plenty of lines draped all over the car to hold your attention as you turn your gaze around. It's a busy design but I like it in this spec. The turbo petrol gets the black pack and that to my eyes looks a lot better with its various blackened elements like the door mirrors, roof etc while even the (not fake) twin exhausts are a neat touch. A white coloured non-turbo spec with different wheels looks bulbous but with the right colour/trim and wheels, the Creta looks edgy and aggressive-something you could not have said regarding its predecessor.

The old Creta was an in-offensive appeal-to-all kinda car which explained its huge success and that indeed has its merits but the new one takes that design brief and chucks it in the bin. The new Creta is not here to blend in and whether you like or not, you will have an opinion on it. Its bigger, wider and lower than the previous Creta and it grabs your attention. Conventionally pretty it ain't but it sure turned a few heads when we drove it.

2020 might be a year that the auto industry would want to forget but there is no arguing that already we have seen some very important cars been launched and perhaps the most important one of all is the new Hyundai Creta. At the Auto Expo crowds thronged to see the car and the presence of a certain Bollywood star only stoked the flame further. However with the slight easing of the lockdown, we finally had the keys to it and that too with no Bollywood superstar or crowds in sight. Thus it is time to tell whether the new Hyundai Creta is worth your money or not. We have the range topping DCT Turbo petrol on test here.