Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic Review
Car Tested: Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic; Road Test No. 735
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 15.58 lakhs
The Hyundai Creta petrol automatic is refined and smooth, with good performance to boot
We told you earlier too that Hyundai has got a chartbuster on their hands with the Creta. The compact SUV, which was launched in 2015, has literally shaken its segment and has taken competition by storm. The Creta is selling in really good numbers and is also the highest selling vehicle in its class. The diesel variants got the option of an automatic gearbox right from its launch. Now, owing to customer demand, the Korean automaker has launched a petrol automatic trim and here’s how it is.
Motor Quest: Hyundai is nailing it with its cars these days and almost all of them are best-sellers in their respective segments. The Creta is selling like hot cakes because it offers a very posh feel and comes loaded with tons of gadgets too. Customers have always been asking for a petrol automatic trim and hence Hyundai launched that too.
There are no changes on the outside except a small Auto badge
Exteriors – On the outside, there are no changes to the cosmetics and the petrol automatic trim looks exactly the same as other variants. The petrol automatic option is offered only on the SX+ trim but the car does come with 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels which are also offered on the diesel automatic now. Apart from this, the only other differentiating factor in the petrol automatic is the Auto badge that is fixed on the boot lid. The petrol trim doesn’t even come with the VTVT badging.
Interiors are similar too, some features are exclusive to automatic trims
Interiors – The interiors are similar as the other variants too. The design is nice and appealing and there is hard to find a flaw. Since this is the SX+ variant, it misses out on a lot of features like side and curtain airbags, ESC, height adjustable seatbelts, speed sensing auto door locks and leather upholstery on the armrest and seats. However, there are some features that are exclusive to the automatic variants and these are 60:40 split rear seats, hooks on the grab handles, ISOFIX mounts and 3 adjustable headrests at the rear. The SX+ comes with a basic MID that is different than the one offered on the higher variants. You do get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever though, with the upper part of the lever getting a piano black finish.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine is a good performer, power delivery is linear
Performance – The Hyundai Creta petrol automatic is powered by the same Dual VTVT 1.6-litre engine that whips out 121 HP of power at 6400 RPM and 151 Nm at 4850 RPM. The engine is super refined. At low speeds, the engine has good grunt to keep the car running smoothly and the Creta feels like a relaxed car to drive. As the RPMs gather, you can make out that the mid-range is a bit off but then the engine again starts gathering punch as the revs increase. Apart from the slight cut off near the mid-range, power delivery feels very linear right up to the redline. The engine tends to get a bit noisy at the higher band of the RPMs though.
6-speed gearbox is best suited for relaxed driving
This engine-gearbox combo is a safe bet & the Creta doesn’t feels out of steam
The 6-speed torque convertor unit is far better than the 4-speed unit offered on the Verna. It does its job of shifting cogs very smoothly. Under normal throttle inputs, gear shifts happen at approximately 1900 RPM. If you keep your leg pinned on the throttle, the gear shifts happen late, at the redline. However, the gearbox isn’t suited for aggressive driving and there are times when we could feel that it was confused for a few seconds, especially in kick-down mode. There is no S mode either but you do get a manual mode which is better suited when you want to do quick overtaking manoeuvres on the highway. 100 km/hr comes up at 2200 RPM in 6th gear. This engine + gearbox combo isn’t as fuel efficient as the diesel automatic and thus you can expect figures of around 8 km/l in the city and around 10 km/l on the highways.
Ride is comfy while handling is pretty neutral
Driving Dynamics – The Hyundai Creta has a very cushioned ride and the suspension feels pretty silent too. It absorbs most potholes and sharp surfaces easily without losing composure. The steering isn’t the most precise and feedback could have been slightly better too. However, it is super light at city speeds and weighs up nicely on the highways, which is a nice thing. The Creta is easy to drive around even in tight spaces thanks to the excellent visibility and the light steering that it offers. Brakes have good stopping power under normal conditions but if you’re driving fast, you might feel that Hyundai could’ve done with a slightly sharper bite.
Dual front airbags and ABS offered on the petrol automatic
Safety and After Sales Service – Hyundai has a good after-sales network across India and their service quality levels have generally been good too. On the safety front, the petrol automatic comes with dual front airbags and ABS. Other features like side and curtain airbags, ESC, etc. are missing in this trim.
The Creta 1.6 SX+ AT is a good buy if you have less running
Verdict – The Hyundai Creta petrol automatic is priced almost Rs. 2 lakhs cheaper than the equivalent diesel trim which makes it a good buy if your running is less and you don’t mind a petrol car. However, do keep in mind that the car is still a bit pricey for what it offers and you’ll miss out on a few vital features. It’s really nice that Hyundai decided to not plonk in the 4-speed gearbox and instead got this one, which makes the Creta petrol automatic one of the most smooth and refined cars in its segment.
We wish Hyundai offered the AT in a higher trim too
What’s Cool
* Refined engine which also has good punch
* 6-speed gearbox is smooth in its operations
* Easy to drive thanks to the light steering and good visibility
What’s Not So Cool
* No SX(O) trim, misses out on a lot of features
* Single figure fuel efficiency
Alternatives: Renault Duster, Mahindra XUV500, Nissan Terrano
Further Reading –
Hyundai Creta Review
Hyundai Creta Video Review
Mahindra XUV500 vs Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster – Video
Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Mahindra XUV500