THE BEST OF both worlds. How
often have we heard that phrase? Most often, it is used with reference to a
house in the country close to the highway, or, recently, even the combination
of a pizza and a burger. What it implies in the true sense and in the real
world is a crossover of benefits. Large vehicles have always been, secretly or
not, desired by everyone from little children to mothers with many little
children. Road presence? Safety? Big feel? Yes, they had that, but they also
had a lot of bulk and were plagued by the worst handling money could buy. Show
it a muddy corner and, like a big dog. It would want to roll over in it, worse,
taking said mother and little children along for the ride.
What's changed? Vehicles can be
large, yet still handle like cars. Not everyone needs a two-and-a-half tonne
4x4 to take on a wet road and a puddle or three, no. They could simply do with
high ground clearance, wide enough tyres, more predictable car-like handling, and
while they're at it, more space and a Cabin feels airy and spacious. Quality is
good and the automatic transmission is a blessing when dealing with chaotic
city traffic big car feel too. Enter the crossover. No more ladder-onframe,
three-row, knees-in-your-face seating nonsense, it was time for a change. With
a larger monocoque to work with, there can be a big car with all the creature
comforts and space for passengers and cargo, just like the massive SUV. Except,
this one is more comfortable, doesn't guzzle fuel to the tune of single-figure
km/litre and is actually drivable in all weather conditions.
Hyundai have created the new
Creta, which takes several of its 'Fluidic' design cues from its larger
sibling, the Santa Fe. The exterior proportions look generous, and they are.
The threeslat chromed front grille is flanked by a projector combination
headlamp cluster. The rising shoulder-line makes is look far more angular and
sharp than the Santa Fe as well as the old Tucson; the only compact SUV
offering from Hyundai India in the past. Flared wheel-arches are joined by 16"
wheels and 205/65 rubber. Braking duties are handled by a set of discs at the
front and drums at the rear. Don't bother looking for a rear differential,
there isn't one. The CRETA is purely front-wheel drive.
Inside, the greatest thing the CRETA
has going for it is the space on offer. It's wide enough to accommodate four
passengers with ease, as well as a fifth, should the situation so demand. The
front seats offer good support and are very comfortable to be in indeed. They
are, however, manually adjustable. At the rear, the head-room is good too and
the seats, although a bench, offer enough knee-room: lack of space is not going
to be an issue, although the thigh support at the rear is not as good as it is
at the front. The centre arm-rest is also there to make rear occupants more
comfortable when travelling in a group of four. Adjustable headrests, front and
rear, are a highly appreciated inclusion too.
The boot space is also generous
and will easily hold the luggage for said family all set for a long weekend.
The AT model also exclusively gets a 60:40 split-folding rear seat-back. Other
crucial elements include generous cubbyholes and other storage spaces,
Bluetooth, as well as a USB port and Aux connectivity. The interior, as
expected from Hyundai, is well laid-out and equally well finished. The black
plastic components don't feel cheap to touch and there is nothing lacklustre
about their finish. The steering wheel is positioned at quite an angle, but the
driving position isn't really awkward. A reverse parking camera rounds off the
equipment list nicely.
On the safety front, Hyundai have
been busy, with the "HIVE body structure' chassis having reinforced the
front end, A- and B-pillars and underbody. ABS is standard on all variants, as
are dual front airbags.
Under the bonnet, the familiar1.6-litre
four-pot turbo-diesel, from the Verna and Elantra, makes 128 PS and 260 Nm. The
automatic transmission on offer, however, is from the latter: a six-speed unit,
and shifts up quickly in the interest of efficiency. This helps keep the cabin sound
level appreciably low. Power delivery is progressive and makes the CRETA a
convenient city offering, while also ensuring it won't run out of breath on the
highway. It dismisses 100 km/h in just over 12seconds and hits a true 160 km/h.
Under braking from 80 km/h. it behaved itself and felt sure-footed.
The all-important fuel-efficiency
figure we achieved was as high as 14.5 km/1 on the highway. Don't fret, because
even in the city, the CRETA CRDi AT delivered a double-digit figure. Now it
comes down to the price, the CRETA is available from Rs 8.6 lakh, but this 1.6
automatic diesel we've driven here is priced at Rs 13.58 lakh, all prices
ex-showroom, Delhi. Value for money it is, then, and it's already got a lot of
competitors shaking in their boots.
Published by: Car India
Words by: Jim Gorde
