Hyundai Creta review, test drive

Feature-packed interiors are a Hyundai hallmark, and that’s quite evident in the Creta as well. The top-spec SX(O) is loaded with equipment that includes push-button start, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, navigation system, rear air-con vents, steering-mounted audio and telephony controls and leather upholstery. It's a shame, though, that this trim is exclusive to the Creta 1.6 diesel manual - if you want any other engine-gearbox combination, you have to settle for a lower-spec car with less equipment. For example, the automatic version is only available in the SX+ trim and it misses out on features like leather upholstery. Also, it gets smaller 16-inch rims instead of the 17-inchers on the top trim and only two airbags instead of the full six. The petrol car too has SX+ as its top trim, while the 1.4 diesel version doesn't go beyond the S+ trim. We hope Hyundai offers more options in the future.

What's it like to drive?

Hyundai's SUV is powered by a set of engines shared with the Verna - 1.4 and 1.6 diesels and a 1.6 petrol, all of which get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, though the bigger diesel gets the option of a six-speed auto as well. We managed to drive both the 1.6-litre motors - petrol and diesel - and came away quite impressed. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is smooth, silent and feels very punchy in its band of operation. While its high power output of 126bhp is important, even more important is the healthy torque figure of 26.5kgm; the latter helping with the additional weight of the SUV. There is a fair bit of turbo lag initially and the engine hits its stride only after 1,700rpm, so you do sometimes find yourself needing to shift to a lower gear at times in traffic. Performance after that, however, is strong and overtaking is just a flex of the right foot away. And the Creta is also well-suited to highway use, the punchy midrange and tall gearing working well on open highway roads to deliver plenty of useable performance. So what you want to do with the diesel is stay in the 2,000 to 4,000rpm powerband. What remains a strength of this motor, however, is refinement - it's smooth and silent at just about any RPM, and even the clutch action is super light.

The gearshifts on the six-speed manual 'box are positive, with precise and short throws. As for the six-speed automatic on the 1.6 diesel, in normal D mode with a relaxed driving style, it shifts up very early, so progress is relaxed but adequately rapid. Thanks to the torque converter masking the engine's initial turbo lag, the power delivery is quite linear, making this Hyundai SUV easy to drive. The gearshifts are smooth and remind you that refinement and comfort have been given more priority than ultimate performance. It does help that you can shift gears manually via the gear lever when you need that sudden acceleration for overtaking. Even in this mode, however, it will automatically upshift at the red line, and it's slow and reluctant to downshift manually. It's a very old-school slush-box, and for most this should be fine, but if you want to drive quickly, it's nowhere as good as something more modern - like VW's DSG dual-clutch unit.