Introduction
2024 has started with a bang with the update of one of the most popular models in the Indian car industry. Yes, of course, it is the Creta facelift. Now, yes, this is just a facelift. Still, it has been significantly changed on the outside, some bits on the inside, and a new engine. Of course, this has been at the top of the segment in the past. Can it do the same, by the looks of it?
Exterior design
Likely with the facelift Hyundai has given the cret a look that will be appealing to a wider audience up front there’s an angular theme with block-like elements for the LED drls and also the grill the drls up top also get sequential turn indicators and are connected at the front something you also see on the new Verna low down the multi-beam LED headlamps are a bit more squarish than before and the bumpers have been redesigned as well the silver accent is beefed up now and gives the front a rugged look there has been no change to the width but the angular design results in a wide look over to the side it has a lot in common with the previous version with the broad wheel arches and a silver trim that thickens towards the c-pillar the Alloys get a slightly different design but are still 17in on the top spec trims and the wheel BTE and ground clearance are the same as before too at the rear it does resemble the venue primarily because of the connecting LED tail lamp and here to it gets sequential turn indicators and a refresh bumper with four metal accents on the whole the design is a lot more palatable than the.
Interior
Older car which will reel in a lot more buyers on the inside what’s new with this CA facelift is the dashboard it has been redesigned you get two screens as standard now a digital screen for the instrument cluster as well and of course your digital touchcreen both 10.25 in units now the touchcreen is really nice responsive slick and it’s a typical hyai screen it is crammed with features however strangely it still doesn’t get wireless carplay or Android auto and that’s a bit of a Miss because cars two segments Below have started to get this that could have been a great addition however the digital cluster looks a lot more modern and even though a lot of it was seen on the alaza like the customizable dials the Adas screens is exclusive to the creta other bit low down is the plethora of buttons that you have we always complain physical buttons are a Miss nowadays thankfully Hyundai has not done that they have given actual physical buttons for all your basic controls climate control media and some setups of the screen as well you also now get dual zone climate control as part of the package and there is a 360° camera as well however while the availability of buttons is convenient fit finish is not up to Hyundai standards the buttons on the panels feel wavy and not firmly set in further down on this turbo DCT variant you obviously get Drive modes and traction modes so the toggle for that is right here then you have an electronic parking brake ventilated seats just as before and you get a dedicated button to switch on the 360° camera the seats also the same as before nice and firm and quite supportive as well however the piping you see is slightly different it’s in that bronze copper color that you also see on the inserts around the screen then you have the steering wheel again a typical hyai steering wheel all your controls for the media or to the left and on the right you have the Adas controls because the.
ADAS
Ca facelift now gets level two AAS as well. The level two AAS system gets Radars at the front and rear, a front-facing camera for pedestrian detection, and even cyclists and Junctions. Apart from that, there’s also adaptive cruise control. Lan keeps assisting a smart cruise control with stop and go, which is a big help in traffic blind spot monitoring, rare cross-traffic alerts, and collision warning with automatic braking, which brings the car to a complete halt. The seats also get electric adjusted for the driver. You have a panoramic sunroof and, of course, a Bose sound system, so in terms of features, a typical Hyundai is packed to the brim.
Features
In the rear seat, space remains unchanged. So there is good head and leg room and enough.
Rear seat
Header and legroom are enough for three adults. You now get two type-c ports, sunblinds, and neck pillows. However, it still lacks an adjustable headdress for the middle passenger. Hence, an interior that has been modernized and, as always, gets everything and more, but what about the new engine?
New turbo-petrol engine
So the engine that hyai has introduced with this update is the 1.5 L turbo petrol unit 160 horsepower 253 NM, and we are quite familiar with this engine because it also does duties in the Hyundai Verna the Hundai alcazar the Kia SOS and the Kia Karen so pretty familiar territory and in the K it feels no different, and the first thing that jumps at you is the refinement it’s smooth it’s quiet and even at high RPM you only have a bit of thrum, and that’s pretty much it there are no vibrations to speak of and it is a very well sorted engine in terms of power delivery it is linear like we’ve seen on the other models as well so you don’t have that punch immediately as you press on the accelerator, but it picks up speed really well, and once it does that it is very comfortable around 100 120 no problem this engine has a lot of pokes Now power delivery is linear, to begin with, but as you get to the mid-range there is a bit of surge in pow Er so overtaking if you’re in the right RPM range is not a problem .
7-Speed DCT
Speaking of the RPM range, what helps this engine is, of course, the gearbox. The 7-speed DCD transmission is the sole offering of this engine. It might not be the quickest by DCD standards, but it is still very responsive. What’s nice is that you have a decent amount of control over the paddle shifters. Of course, you also get drive mode in this trim, so you can choose between Eco comfort and Sport, Sport being the most responsive one. You can also put the gearbox in the sports slot the lever into, along with the sports mode. It also has a Tiptronic function, so you can select the gears using the lever; however, the paddle shifters are more engaging. They work well. A neat trick with the gearbox is that it rev matches so you can tour along the pedal reduction. You have that nice rev-matching sound from those who don’t have much use of All That Power from the turbo petrol engine. There is a diesel on offer as well.
Diesel engine
Along with the turbo petrol engine, the Creta still gets diesel; it is one of only two cars in the segment that get it. This, along with its cousin, the Kia SOS, has the same engine as before the 1.5 L 116 Hors turbo diesel engine made it to a six-speed manual and a six-speed to converter automatic, which is what I have here and in terms of performance it is very very good effortless in terms of cruising. It is just perfect for those long Highway runs in terms of refinement. It is very, very good. The vibrations are very well contained, but you hear a fair bit of that typical diesel drone and clatter.
6-speed automatic
Especially once the engine crosses 2 and 1 12,000 RPM apart from that the six-speed to converter automatic is very smooth and in fact compared to the DCT the shifts are slightly smoother as well yes it’s not as quick but it definitely picks up pace and it is nice and even you also get paddle shifters which are decently responsive and there’s also a Tiptronic function for this gear lever as well so you just slot it into s that increases the response but that also increases that engine drone because the engine is now a lot more responsive as well it goes into sports mode and then you can just choose to shift using the lever which is a nice touch now like on the petrol this also gets Drive modes and terrain modes those are reserved only for the automatics you do not get them on the manual version and in terms of functionality they do the job well in Eco the engine is relaxed the steering is light and the gearbox is sedate while normal offers a good balance and Sport offers the most response and heft in the steering
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6-speed manual
However, there is an option for those who want that control of a manual gearbox. Now, the six-speed manual is nice for using light. It slots in easily. The clutch pedal is a problem because it’s too far behind, which means a good workout for your left leg, especially in traffic. It is light, but you still have to work it quite a bit, so the automatic would be the perfect choice with this diesel. In the past, the powertrain with the most sales was the 1.5 L naturally aspirated petrol Engine with the CVD transmission, and in the new.
Powertrain options
Crater continues to promote the city’s easygoing nature, and with the expected price of the Turbo and diesel variants, the value proposition is likely to continue.
Ride comfort
Well, since there has been no big mechanical change to the suspension, especially ride Comfort, it is unchanged, so you have that same flat, composed ride on the Highway that feels stable and planted. Still, when you get to the city. The roads go bad, it turns. It becomes nice and soft and supple as well. Yes, there is a bit of firmness over sharp bumps at really low speeds, but it is a well-rounded suspension apart from that.
Steering and handling
Setup, and then you have the steering and handling again. Nothing changed. Have the same setup; the weight is the same as well. Of course, if you change the drive modes, the steering weight changes in Eco. It is light in Sport; it has a bit of heft, and around the corners, it feels exactly like its predecessor, not too much different, so yes, there is a hint of body roll if you push it too hard. Still, apart from that, it is a very well-controlled cabin, and overall, to drive this K is really.
Price
Nice, and here are the prices for the all-new Creta with this facelift; Hyundai has only strengthened what was already there.
Safety
Strong and well-packaged midsize SUV. The controversial areas, like the design, have now been fixed with a new look that is much more approachable along the interior and uplifted into a modern look for 2024. The new Kata will also go through that snap testing soon, and Hyundai has enhanced the use of ultra-high Sten Ste and reinforced the body, resulting in a 50 kg weight addition; however, the strong points are feature-packed.
verdict
The highlights will continue to be the cabin’s safety addition with level two Adas and the continuation of various power trains. This will ensure the crown stays firmly on the ket’s head. Thank you so much.
