Hyundai Creta small SUV to get India-specific changes

Hyundai's new small SUV to get a different name, dual-tone interiors and two-diesel engine options.

Published on May 07, 2015 03:37:00 PM

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Higher trims of the Hyundai small SUV will get a large touchscreen system.

Update

Watch our Hyundai Creta first look video

Hyundai has been aggressively testing its new small SUV all over India. This new SUV (Codename: GS) will hit our shores around August this year. Although launched in some international markets as the ix25, it's expected to be known by a different name here.

Featured here are the first spy photos of the new SUV in right-hand drive format, equipped with a manual gearbox with black and beige dual-tone interiors.

New name aside, Hyundai is in the process of tweaking this SUV to suit Indian tastes, in terms of interior fitments. Hyundai is expected to bring it in different interior shades as well. Our source tells us that Hyundai will bring in this new SUV with as many as three interior shade options, the base trims are likely to get an all black theme while the middle and high variants will get dual-tone shades in the form of either black-beige or black with blue or orange, like offered on the Hyundai i20 Active.

The spy pictures, sent by our reader Rishabh Neb clearly show that like all modern-day Hyundais, the new SUV’s interior follows a futuristic and premium theme with prominent use of contrast shades and a brushed aluminium trim. You can also see that a lot of equipment such as the steering wheel, control stalks, climate control buttons and gear knob are the same ones on other Hyundai offerings. Hyundai will also equip the higher variants of this SUV with a large touchscreen-infotainment system, placed at the very centre of the dash. This system will act as a display for the reverse camera and also serve functions such as navigation, along with features for audio such as Bluetooth, USB and aux.

Hyundai recently conducted multiple customer clinics in India and has taken feedback from prospective Indian buyers. Based on this, the variants with dual tone interiors will now get a contrasting lighter shade only the dashboard while the door panels and handles are likely to retain the darker shade. The prospective buyers stated that the lighter shade gets dirty easily, especially if used on the door pads.

The new Hyundai Small SUV gets dark coloured door pads but contrasting shade on the dash.

The new Hyundai SUV (GS) is expected to come with a Verna-sourced 1.6-litre petrol or a diesel motor of similar displacement mated to the same manual and automatic gearboxes as the sedan. Apparently, the carmaker is also readying a 1.4-litre diesel-equipped version of this SUV. This motor is the same unit that does duty in the i20 diesel hatchback and the Verna 1.4 sedan. Being 4.27 metres long, this SUV will miss the benefits extended to the small car category. The smaller-capacity engine should allow the carmaker to price the SUV attractively, as a diesel engine under 1.5-litre capacity attracts lower taxes.

The Hyundai small SUV’s styling, however, is similar to the larger ix35, with wrap-around headlight clusters and prominent, lower air intakes housing the front fog lights. The model also sports a different, more prominent grille design than its larger sibling. It is expected to come to India with 17-inch alloy wheels too. However, there will be no seven-seat option and it will be sold only as a five-seater here.

New Hyundai SUV will be 4.27 meters long.

Hyundai will be targeting the Renault Duster and the yet-to-be-launched Suzuki S-Cross (ACross)with this SUV. According to company sources, a sales target of around 4,000 units a month has been set. To achieve such high numbers, the GS will have to be competitively priced, and a range of Rs. 11-15 lakh (ex-showroom) across variants can be expected.

Hyundai Creta small SUV to get India-specific changes

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