Hey guys took a TD of the Creta SX(O) diesel yesterday. Took her through rather varying terrains to really stretch her limbs and I must say she didn't disappoint.
What I liked: 1.The way she rode over rough patches- Very well done Hyundai! Though a bit wavy when really pushed, she was in no way uncomfortable. The suspension did its job quietly. Body roll was well controlled.
2. Engine- The motor was torquey and offered sufficient punch for quick overtakes. I doubt whether it'll be a highway blazer owing to a car engine being placed in a pseudo SUV, but it gets the job done without much ado. She pulls better after the 1800 RPM mark. Motor can be heard faintly at low RPMs but quietens up nicely when up to speed. Power delivery is fairly linear.
3. Light controls!- Super light in fact. So much that it didn't feel any different from my petrol i20. Even my father loved how easy she was to operate for a big and tall vehicle. Feather light clutch and gears which were a breeze to operate.
4. Space- For the dimensions she's really spacious. Asking any more would be overkill. Nice boot too. Comfy yet firm seats.
5. Looks and quality- She looks strong yet elegant inside- out. Evenly spaced panel gaps, good fit and finish all over, decent material quality.
6.Got the basics covered- I mean you don't feel short changed. She rides and handles well, got a good engine, is very safe (Traction Control+6 airbags+ESP+ABS+EBD+Static Bending Lamps) etc. You feel that she's a well engineered and well thought out product. Hyundai did their job well this time.
What I didn't like 1.Missing something- Maybe I'm being too picky but the Creta didn't MAKE me or my father WANT it. It fits all our bills and needs AND at just over INR 15 lakhs OTR it doesn't blow your wallet either, but it doesn't tug at your heart strings the way a prospective new car should. It would be a good buy logically but maybe we need to snoop around more.
2. Lack of steering feedback- The steering was accurate but far from direct. It felt isolated from the road and was perhaps a bit too light for my taste. On the other hand it would result in fatigue free driving but the driving enthusiast in me yearned for a steering which talked (I miss our old Ikon).
3.Evident cost cutting- Come on even our decade old Ikon had backlit power window switches! I can live without auto wipers and the lot but not blandness. Also inside the cabin you feel all the design flavor is concentrated to the front fascia and as you look towards the rear end (door panels and rear air con vents) it looks like somebody turned out the lights. It's just BLACK everywhere- not even any interesting shapes or contours. Maybe the interior designers at Hyundai got bored. A sun roof would've been icing on the cake for an out doorsy looking vehicle like Creta- it would've added a lot more (aesthetic if not functional) value to the entire package.
Verdict- To me it's a no brainer among the existing cross overs below 20 lakhs. It is a well rounded package which might lack that extra flair but it's not so bad- the good sales speaks for itself. For us it is a possible buy- she's fast, efficient, spacious, good looking, comfortable and ticks all the essential boxes. I'm guessing the soft suspension and the light steering which MIGHT be a slight deterrent for us enthusiasts can be overlooked since it is a vehicle designed for the masses. Maybe they should've had a Creta R with stiffer suspensions and a wee bit more grunt
Anyways good job Hyundai.
And apparently Hyundai service personnel don't want us to keep our mouths in the cars prior to service. *look below*
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