Hyundai Creta, a name everyone has heard so much about. The vehicle that single handedly changed the compact SUV segment. Known by most as the best vehicle in the segment, which can be justified by the overwhelming sales figure of the Creta. So how does one improve on a car many deemed to be perfect? Well the people of Hyundai know exactly what to do to make the Creta an even better vehicle. The Creta was a very well acclaimed vehicle when it was first introduced into the market and is still doing very well. Now with the competition slowly catching up Hyundai has brought the facelifted Creta into the Nepal market to keep a strong hold on the top step of its category. So how much has changed with this facelift and is it enough to keep the competition at bay? We look into this as we test drive the facelifted 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 Petrol SX (O).

EXTERIOR

The exterior is where most of the changes have taken place in the facelift, the front end more specifically. The design language of Hyundai has carried on to the Creta as well as it has with the rest of the Hyundai line up of vehicles. The LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) move down from the headlight to the fog lamp and in between the fog lamp is where the signature cascading grille has been placed. The sides have been left majorly unchanged except for the new diamond cut 17inch alloy wheel design. The five spoked dual tone fan shaped wheels give the sides a refreshed look. The taillights have been slightly revised as well getting a more modern look to it. With all the upgrades it feels more bold and elegant than its predecessor which is quite an accomplishment because the old model was a very good looking vehicle too. The fact that the top variant the SX (O) (the model that we tested) had an electronically operated sunroof made the vehicle more premium feeling. The bold new front and rear skid plates make the Creta look beefier.

INTERIOR

The main change in the interior has to be the airy feeling which comes due to the sunroof. The interior is lit up better which gives a more spacious feel despite the dimensions remaining unchanged. Apart from the sunroof the electronically adjustable driver seat also is a very useful addition to the Creta, it makes adjusting the seat position that much easier. You don’t have to rock the seat back and forth to find the perfect position, you can just slide the power seat adjuster forward and backward to set the position and similar for the back rest also. What’s new is the sliding armrest which makes long drives even more comfortable with a place to rest your elbow. Hyundai’s are known for well-built cabins and that is exactly what you will find in the new Creta, the black and beige interior looks good together and the quality of the materials are pretty good. The leather seats are comfortable and have a touch of premium feel in them with the door panel’s wrapped in leather too. The Electrochromic Mirror (ECM) senses light and when there is someone behind your vehicle with their high beam on the mirror will automatically dim itself to reduce the reflection. The infotainment system is very easy and intuitive to use, with android auto and apple car play as standard. If your phone has wireless charging capability than you won’t have to be fiddling around with cables since the SX (O) variant comes with a wireless charging pad for your devices that support it. Talking about wireless connectivity, the new Creta also gets a first in segment wireless connection with the car using an app to check the status of the vehicle and other valuable information. With the tech development on such a rapid pace we see new technology been introduced every now and then. The new Creta introduces a Smart Key Band that works as a wireless key and a Bluetooth watch to some extent. With the band on you can lock and unlock the car, this new feature is a segment first and could be a very attractive new feature. The Smart Key band also keeps track of your health by counting the total steps taken during the day, the amount of calories burned, monitor your sleep, work as an alarm, notify when you get a call, etc. It can handle a lot of things which makes it a very versatile feature.

PERFORMANCE

The performance however remains unchanged from before as it uses the same 1.6 petrol engine producing 121.3 BHP @ 6400 RPM and 151 Nm of torque @ 4850 RPM. There are also two diesel engine on offer, a 1.4 Liter unit producing 88.7 BHP @ 4000 RPM and 219.7 Nm torque @ 1500 – 2750 RPM and a 1.6 liter engine 126.2 BHP @ 4000 RPM and 259.87 Nm torque @ 1500 – 3000 RPM. The engine under the hood of our test vehicle was the most popular option being the 1.6 Liter petrol engine. The engine was a strong performer in the previous variant too and the fact that the same engine has been carried over to the facelift shows that there was little to no improvements required in the engine department. That being said we however wished if one of these compact SUVs would pack in a 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) drivetrain as well, if this were to happen then it would unlock the full potential of the vehicle which is being slightly limited by the Front Wheel Drive (FWD) drivetrain. The addition of safety features such as Hillstart Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Antilock Braking System (ABS), etc., make driving the new Creta safer. The HAC makes sure that the car doesn’t roll backwards when starting on a hill which is quite a common sight to see when the person driving the car is not very experienced. The ESC and the VSM make sure that the vehicle doesn’t lose traction and maintain stability for secure driving along with ABS to make sudden stops safer.

HANDLING AND COMFORT

The handling of the Creta is sorted out very well; it is focused more towards the ease of driving rather than performance driving. This means that the Creta is meant to be driven more in the city and the highway than high-speed runs through the canyons. This doesn’t mean the Creta is a slouch in that respect but it is intended for a different purpose. The vehicle feels planted and plush, the suspensions do the job well in filtering out the bumps and only the big bumps make it into the cabin. Comfort is as very good in the vehicle as it has ample of head and leg room with well-padded seats. We had the opportunity to go on a road trip to Chitwan on a Hyundai Creta and a Hyundai I20 Elite, while on that road trip we pushed the Creta to its limit and that is when we found out how well balanced the Creta was. It was very capable in the highway and very comfortable throughout the journey. With there being minimal changes to the new Creta on the handling and comfort we can tell that it will be a blast to drive on the highways with comfort and ease. With the use of cruise control the journey can be made easier.

VERDICT

The previous generation Creta was already a wellrounded package and the facelift fills in all the gaps that were left to make it an even better offering. With the new subtle changes and improvements the Creta definitely strengthens its grip on the top spot with the competition having to catch up to it. The Base 1.6 Liter Petrol version starts off from Rs. 42,96,000/- to Rs. 59,56,000/- for the top spec 1.6 liter Petrol SX (O). The Creta is one compact SUV that you can absolutely not miss if you are in the market for a vehicle of this category.