Hyundai Creta 2020 Review - Prices, Specs, Variants, Features and Mileage

In how many variants is the best-selling SUV from Hyundai available in?

2020 Hyundai Creta is available in a lot of variants which, if you are not attentive, will lose track of! But the availability of such variety helps it cater to a much wider and diverse audience, thus improving the product sampling. This, in turn, racks in more numbers of which we think Maruti Suzuki should be an itsy bitsy worried about.

It is offered in three engine and four gearbox options, yes four! The old 1.6L petrol motor has been replaced with a compact and powerful 1.5L motor which is coupled to a  6-Speed manual or a CVT, which Hyundai calls it as IVT(Intelligent Variable Transmission). The more powerful 1.4L turbo petrol is coupled to a 7-Speed DCT which makes it ever so thrilling to drive. It is also offered in a 1.5L diesel engine that is coupled to either a 6-Speed Manual or 6-Speed Automatic.

Hyundai didn't leave any room for error in the feature listing and has lavishly loaded its variants with top of the line create comfort and safety features. There are many first-timers including a panoramic roof, audio system by Bose, electronic parking brake, driving modes and an integrated air purifier unit to name a few.

Which variant to choose from this impressive lot?

This is a tough one as all of the variants are aptly priced which bodily highlights its value for money proposition. But we would want you to go for the powerful one of the bunch that is coupled to the slick-shifting 7-Speed DCT. It is on the pricey side but is well worth it with its impressive driving dynamics and driver involvement. It is also high on features which makes it worthy of every rupee you invest in it. But if you are on a tight budget then the 1.5L NA petrol engine equipped SX variant will suffice which is almost Rs. 3 lakh cheaper but doesn't cut out on the features.

Hyundai Creta April 2020 Offers and Pricing

There are currently no discount offers on the 2020 Creta but due to the ongoing lockdown automakers have been given a grace period to sell off their BS4 stock. You can get the previous generation Creta for mouth-watering deals. We would recommend you to go for it if modernization is not in your agenda.

Also Read,

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How similar is the Creta to its cousin, the Kia Seltos?

What does Jeep have in store for Hyundai Creta?

How flexible is the powerplant of Hyundai Creta?

The 2020 Creta is not merely a mid-facelift nor a touch-up job. Hyundai has thoroughly revamped the car as a whole and a part of it is evident from the new and improved powertrains on offer. The naturally aspirated 1.6L petrol engine is now replaced by a more compact and efficient 1.5L petrol unit pumping out 115 bhp and 144 Nm, which is also shared with the Kia Seltos. This engine is coupled to either a 6-Speed manual or a CVT which Hyundai likes to call as IVT( Intelligent Variable Transmission).

The thrill-seekers are in for a treat as a 1.4L turbo petrol is also available which pumps out 138 bhp and 242 Nm. This pumped-up motor is coupled to a slick-shifting 7-Speed DCT which, you guessed it right, is shared with the Seltos as well!

The diesel engine on offer is a 1,5L unit that pumps out 113 bhp and 250Nm. This engine can be had with either a 6-Speed manual or a 6-Speed manual. Both combinations showcase similar mileage figures and so you have the privilege to go for what your heart wants. 

All three engines have been tuned to work effortlessly on either ends of the Indian spectrum. There is enough low-end grunt to pull in ever gears and tight traffic conditions will not be an issue. Even on the open roads, peak power and torque are concentrated close to the mid-range and so the Creta can cruise with ease in all of these powertrains.

From the above comparison, you might have stumbled upon the fact that its sister shares the same powertrain setup. Kia Seltos had earlier entered the Indian market and shot up in fame like no other automaker. It shares the same platform as well and so it will be interesting to see how these two differ. Jeep Compass remains the one to dethrone here as it provides for the best price to performance quota here. MG Hector is aggressive here with its pricing and bumped up performance.

How quickly can the Hyundai Creta accelerate from 0-100 KMPH?

The Creta is, basically a heavily reworked premium iteration of Kia Seltos. This gives it a lot of similarities both in driving character and performance. It accelerated swiftly to 100 KMPH in under 12 seconds for the toned-down naturally aspirated unit. The turbocharged petrol unit does it under 10 seconds. The impressive part is how the gearbox syncs well with the performance characteristics of the engine.

The manual gearbox is slick shifting and is close-knitted to provide for a lag-free experience. The 7-Speed DCT is highly flexible when it comes to performance as it can instantly change from "lousy" to "give me more!" in a fraction of seconds. Low-end torque helps these powertrain setups achieve impressive sprint runs and for the asking price, is a performance bargain.

The slight difference in sprint numbers between the Creta and Seltos is because of difference in kerb weight. Jeep is in a league of its own as its added performance keeps it at an edge and MG Hector stays neutral with its balanced powertrain character. The curious case here is that despite having a larger engine setup, the Hector is still short of performance when compared to the Compass.

How does the Hyundai Creta handle Indian roads?

The addition of drive and traction modes has added to the flexible driving dynamics of the already competent Creta. The previous iteration had a calm and composed character which always had your back. We are happy to say that it carries forward in this one as well. In addition to it, the different driving and traction modes help you fine-tune the vehicle according to your needs.

The steering is well-weighted and changes its density as per the driving scenario. Suspension setup is balanced and much more firmer than the outgoing iteration. and easily gulps in imperfections on our roads. An interesting detail is the changing of instrument cluster colour according to the three drives modes, namely Eco, Sport and Comfort which adds to the immersive experience. The traction modes as depicted below helps change the way power is delivered to facilitate for better control and dynamics.

When compared to the very similar Kia Seltos, Creta is the matured one of the two and takes things in a more calm and calculated manner. You can say that Creta is Batman and Seltos fits into Robin's shoes. It's good to see features like driving modes trickling down to the compact budget segments and it shows how much the Indian automobile market has evolved. 

How sure-footed are the brakes on Hyundai Creta from 100-0 KMPH?

The braking setup is a disc-drum duo which is the norm in this segment. This setup is opted to cut costs without cutting down on the braking performance. Hyundai provides the SX and SX(O) variants only with disc brakes all around whereas other variants get drums at the rear.

Many new additional safety features work in conjunction with the brakes. A noteworthy one is the Vehicle Stability Management(VSM) which makes use of the brakes in balanced lateral forces on sudden braking or acceleration in corners. It also comes with an emergency braking light at the rear which strobes when brakes are applied suddenly, to warn trailing motorists.

The official kerb weight figures are not our for the new Creta but with the intimate relationship it has with Kia, we suspect it to have similar figures or somewhat less, pertaining to its compact form factor even if it's marginal. All of the competitors are equipped with discs from base up.

How fuel-efficient is Hyundai Creta?

Mileage figures have improved considerably as compared to the last generation. This is due to the swapping of engines with more efficient ones along with the addition of driving and traction modes. The base petrol variant coupled with the 6-Speed manual gives an impressive 16.8 km to the litre. Mileage figure stands at 16.9 kmpl for the CVT equipped one.

But the impressive bit is the 1.4L turbo petrol coupled with the 7-Speed DCT chucking out the same mileage as the base petrol unit at 16.8 kmpl. This is due to the intervention of driving modes which gives leverage for the powertrain to act prepared. The diesel duo is way ahead with mileage figures of 21,4 kmpl for the manual transmission and 18.5 kmpl for the automatic.

MG Hector and Jeep Compass despite having lesser mileage figures manage to travel more without a pitstop due to larger fuel tank capacities at 60 litres each. Kia Seltos shares the same mileage figures with the Creta despite being on the heavier side.

How SUV-ish does the 2020 Creta look?

Hyundai has gone for a more bold and quirky approach with the second-gen Creta. It is now noticeably longer and wider than the previous generation and follows Hyundai's latest design language called "Parametric Dynamic". The most prominent and on the face change is its large cascade grille which takes up most of the frontal area. Another polarising design element is the new C-shaped split headlight setup which has DRLs on the inner borders.

Coming to the side, it gets a new grey design element over the C-pillar which extends forward till the A-pillar. SIde view is the only section which shows a vague resemblance to its predecessor. We can live with the frontal design language as it is not as suspicious as the rear! There is a lot going on in the rear with its split trapezoidal LED taillight set up and a third brake light integrated in lin with the upper LED strips. All these features are vividly visible in the darker shades, especially black. 

The new Creta is available in 10 vibrant colours with two of them being dual tones to bring out the sportiness of this compact crossover. The shoulder lines are muscular and the integrated roof rails adds to its pseudo SUV look well. Kia Seltos might be similar mechanically but both these crossovers are polar when it comes to the design language. MG Hector is the elephant in this room and Jeep Compass is the conservative yet brawny one.

Exterior Features

• R17 Diamond cut Alloys 
• Twin-tip exhaust
• Projector and full ELD headlamps as per the variants
• Integrated roof rails
• Rear Spoiler
• Signature cascade grille
• Lightning arc C-pillar

How spacious is Hyundai Creta on the inside?

Hyundai has updated the cabin of its 2020 Creta to be the one to beat in this segment. It is one of the most feature-packed and cleanly laid out cabin which we have come across for the first time in this segment. Infact, there is no other car in this bunch that has a huge 10.25-inch infotainment display. The display takes up most of the central dashboard with air-con controls laid out in a strip below it.  The steering wheel is uniquely designed which Hyundai calls it the D-cut steering wheel.

Apart from the above showcased full black interior with adonized red accents, the Creta is also available in a beige-black dual-tone layout which makes it feel even more airy. The top variants get a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster which changes its layout as per the driving modes. 2020 Creta is also the first offering in this segment to come with a panoramic sunroof.

Seating comfort is well catered for in the Creta and there are segment firsts in this area as well. The front row seats are cooled which are a necessity in a tropical climate like ours. The driver gets an 8-way electronic seat and both the rows are well padded to provide for impressive under-thigh and lumbar support. The second-row headrests gets one of the most comfortable headrest cushions which is sure to put you to sleep.

Apart from all of these impressive bits, there is a cooled centre storage space, wireless charging at the front along with an additional USB charging port and a central armrest with cup-holders for the rear. Hyundai also provides for an inbuilt air purifier unit for the betterment of the occupants.

Creature comfort features:

• Ambient lighting
• Perforated leather seats
• Rear seat headrest cushion
• D-cut steering wheel
• Panoramic sunroof
• 8-way power driver seat
• Cooled glove box
• Cooled front row seats
• Inbuilt air purifier
• Electrochromic overhead rearview mirror

What are the various infotainment and connectivity options on offer?

The infotainment system is the most impressive addition on the inside which is a 10.25-inch utterly intuitive unit. Its landscape layout helps it to showcase three different applications at the same time which adds to its intuitiveness. The UI is smooth and touch response is spot on. Colours are crisp and you won't feel the need to change viewing angles even in harsh sunlight.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay amplifies the infotainment experience and Hyundai's inhouse BlueLink connectivity is a cumulative interface for added features like remote engine start, vehicle immobilization in case of theft, geofence alert to scout your vehicle in case you lose sight of it. The features are listed below.

Infotainment Features

• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display(8-inch touch screen for lower variants)
• BlueLink connectivity
  • Engine remote start/stop
  • Remote air purification
  • Stolen vehicle tracking notification
  • Monthly health report
  • Smartwatch app
  • Voice operated sunroof
• 8-Speaker Bose audio system
• Steering mounted audio control
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Arkamys sound mood
• Smartphone wireless charger
  
  

How spacious is the boot space in Hyundai Creta?

Cargo space has also considerably increased as compared to the last generation and this is owing to its added length and width. Smart cabin space management has helped Hyundai manage adds an extra 33 litres and now stands at 433 litres. It now has the same cargo volume as its cousin, Kia Seltos.

The opening is now wider and lower which makes loading and unloading much simpler. The cabin floor is laid out flat with a soft-touch material to protect your luggage from damage. A full-sized spare tyre along with emergency toolkit is neatly tucked away under the cargo floor, thus optimising the available space. The rear seats can, moreover, be folded down flat in a 60:40 split giving you the flexibility to transport cargo of varying shapes and size.

MG Hector is undoubtedly the leader in terms of cargo volume. Its platform can easily gulp in three rows of seats, and when you omit the third row you get is a queen-sized cargo space! Jeep Compass has the least owing to its compact form factor and chunky interior setup.

How Safe is the Hyundai Creta?

Safety has been given a modern touch in the new Creta as it is the trend now. You get 6 airbags as standard in all variants and an array of driving assistance features helps you keep the Creta under control at all time. It includes vehicle stability control for the stable corners and Electronic stability control to nullify understeer and oversteer.

The first generation Creta scored a strong 4-Star in overall safety and Hyundai has stated that the new shell is bound for more. For your reference, the Kia Seltos scores a perfect 5-Star which will mostly be the case of the Creta as they have a lot in common. Another impressive bunch of safety vault is the BlueLink bundle which comes with anti-theft and remote control for ignition and air-con. The impressive safety bundle is listed below.

Safety Features on offer

• HIVE Body Structure 
• 6 Airbags as standard
• Side & Curtain 
• ABS with EBD 
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 
• Vehicle Stability Management control (VSM) 
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Parking Assist
• Electrochromic mirror (ECM)
• Height Adjustable Front Seatbelts- Driver & Passenger with pre-tensioners
• Driver & Passenger Seatbelt Reminder 
• Speed Alert System
• Lane Change Indicator
• Lane Change Flash Adjustment
• Speed Sensing Auto Door lock
• Engine Immobilizer

How does Hyundai Creta stand up against its modern competitors?

Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos

Here we have the Kia Seltos which took India by storm, as it was a proposition unlike anything before. No other automaker had pampered any of its cars in this segment with so much love and lavishness. So it obvious to start a revolution and so it did. Within just one year of its launch, the Seltos bagged a position in top ten cars sold in the price bracket. We would go for the sharp and aggressive one among the twins as the Seltos never fails to make a statement. Hyundai Creta is equally potent but we were personally let down by its polarising design language.

Hyundai Creta vs MG Hector

The smart car of this lot, MG Hector also managed to create quite a commotion just like Kia Seltos. The buzzing feature of this car is its "Internet Inside" badge that is a smart acronym for voice assist features and the provision for e-SIM support. It managed to turn heads as there was no other automaker with this tech at hand an so the Hector sprouted well despite having mediocre engine configurations. But Hyundai has caught up with this trend and offers all of these features in its BlueLink bundle. And being compact and dynamically more flexible, we don't see the reason to choose the elephant of this quirky Hyundai.

Hyundai Creta vs Jeep Compass

Jeep Compass has been the resurrector of FCA in India after it was going down the line with trailing sales and dull products. Compass was the most powerful crossover in this segment back during its launch and that with its impressive build quality managed to chuck in impressive numbers for Jeep. It has been a unique proposition for a long time and there wasn't any worthy competition up until the much more advanced Kia Seltos and MG Hector came in like a storm. As the 2020 Creta is based off the Seltos, it too upholds the "modern" tag well. Jeep needs to adapt here and bring out a modern update to its strong standing Compass, but till then it is the Creta for us.

Is Hyundai Creta still the go-to car?

The first-Gen Creta was Hyundai's bold success statement and its incredible package consisting of a commendable performance, well-stacked features and a strong after-sales support makes it the default choice for many. With the second generation Creta, Hyundai is reinstating its best selling crossover to its former fame which has been taken over by the newcomers- Kia Seltos and MG Hector. The styling is polarising for sure, but the impressive overall package it offers makes us see through the exterior styling into what an amazing value for money car it is. Its cousin is the only one that stands in way due to the amount of apportion between them. Looks can be subjective and so both the Creta and Seltos are winners here.