Why I chose the Creta N-Line over the Taigun GT & Kushaq

The build quality is much better than previous Hyundais. The doors feel heavy.

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My unexpected purchase story of the Creta NLine and why I chose the Hyundai over the VAG twins ... again.

My Verna celebrated its 10th birthday this February and has been in excellent condition, having completed a 1500 km round trip last year without any issues. However, shortly after reaching this milestone, the ECM failed unexpectedly. The local garage where I had it repaired couldn't provide much reassurance, mentioning that the longevity of the fix would be a matter of chance. Coincidentally, I've been experiencing some lower-back issues lately, which had already prompted me to consider switching to an automatic transmission. The ECM problem simply accelerated my decision-making process.

Still a looker

I wanted a proper upgrade in terms of power, safety, and features. Back in 2014, my Verna cost around 12 lakhs on-road. Starting my search with a budget double or even triple that amount, I initially aimed for a used premium German sedan. However, within my timeframe, finding a decent, single-owner vehicle less than five years old proved challenging, particularly considering the inflated used car prices in Bangalore. Even well-known platforms like Spinny left much to be desired.

I explored the VAG 2.0 cars. While these cars drove well, the evident cost-cutting was a concern. Earlier this year, I rented a Rapid and Kushaq of similar vintage from the same company. Surprisingly, the Rapid felt better assembled despite having more miles. Even the salesman who sold me the Verna a decade ago, now working for VW, didn't endorse the newer VW models.

Although the new Verna checked most boxes and drove well, I wasn't inclined towards another one, disliking its polarizing design. Previously, I chose the Verna over Vento/Rapid due to its driving position and slightly better seat comfort. However, this time, the Virtus/Taigun fell short in comparison, except perhaps in engine performance.

The Compass is priced steeply, even its base variant exceeding 30 lakhs. It didn't strike me as value for money, and I wasn't fond of its driving experience or ergonomics. I ruled out MG and Citroen due to their limited service networks, and Tata due to its reputation for subpar service. KIA was also excluded since I am used to the Hyundai service and vehicles are more or less the same.

XUV 700 and Hycross seemed too large for my needs; I might have considered them had I not found alternatives.

Initially disregarding the Creta, my opinion shifted after test driving the NLine variant. The cabin layout, delightful steering and the electrical under-thigh adjustment won me over. The car felt solidly built, with the ventilated seats and all-black interiors adding to its appeal. Impulsively, I opted for the black color which was immediately available, despite initially considering gray.

Presenting my Black garage

Booking and delivery experience

Having purchased and serviced my Verna from Advaith Hyundai previously, they were the first choice when I wanted another Hyundai. However, in recent interactions, their enthusiasm seemed to wane, leaving me feeling less than satisfied. The level of attention and follow-up was lacking, with even test drives feeling somewhat disorganized.

Visited Trident KR Puram on the recommendation of a friend and what a difference it made. From the outset, Mr. Sharath, my sales advisor, demonstrated remarkable proactiveness. He kept me informed about the new NLine launch and promptly arranged a test drive upon its arrival. While the TD was short I had a chance to explore the display model at my own pace, cementing my decision to proceed with the purchase.

Although the official waiting period was quoted at 8-10 weeks, the SA hinted at the possibility of expedited processing if I finalized my booking before March 31st. Skeptical of mere sales tactics, I decided to take the chance. Shortly after transferring the booking amount, I was presented with an unexpected opportunity—a black or white single-tone variant was available for immediate delivery. I opted for the black variant and was pleasantly surprised by the even rapid progression of events. From loan processing to PDI to registration, everything went like clockwork and I took delivery of the new car on the 6th of April, just 10 days after transferring the booking amount.

What impressed me the most was that the SA diligently handled all groundwork, sparing me unnecessary trips to the showroom except for the PDI and delivery. There was no pressure to purchase additional accessories, and they readily accommodated my request to remove the bundled accessory set worth 15k. Moreover, they matched the outside insurance quotes and facilitated the application of NCB transfer from the older car.

The car came with cheap JK Tyres of size 215/55/18. Straight away went to Madhus and replaced them with a set of Vredestein Ultrac Vorti in 225/55/18.

I also went ahead and got PPF for the entire car. This is my first vehicle to get PPF. Hope the decision pays off.

Also, made a surprise discovery while trying to install 3d mats that the N-Line doesn't share the floor pan with the regular Creta. No idea why the floor design needs to change. I went to the 3d mats importer directly and he scanned my car to manufacture new mats for the NLine.

1000 km update

I wanted to hold the initial impression till I at least put some miles. However, the initial 1000 km took more time than expected due to some personal commitments. So here is how I feel

Likes

• The build quality is much better than previous Hyundais. The doors feel heavy.
• Handling and high-speed stability is very good. Triple-digit speeds are well-masked and the car holds the lane without any drama when taking high-speed corners. Something, I didn't expect from a high GC vehicle.
• The AC is very effective and chills the cabin fast.
• The driver's seat has endless adjustments and one can find a sweet spot easily.
• The steering wheel is a delight to hold and is weighted well. You feel connected to the road at high speeds.
• The passenger comfort is also very good and my mom had no complaints after a 150km drive.
• I am getting an FE of 13.xx on the MID with a mix of 25-75 city-highway split, which I feel is decent. The max I saw till now was 15.

Dislikes

• Headlights are pathetic. Need to find an upgrade or say goodbye to night drives.
• Cost-cutting in a car worth 25+ lakhs. Only the driver-side window button gets a backlight. There is no vanity mirror for the driver. The glove box is not illuminated, etc.
• Wireless Android auto is a definite miss considering the previous gen Creta had it even in the mid-level trims.
• The paddle shifters are not as responsive as the one I had on my Polo 1.2 GT TSI. There is a noticeable lag.
• The boot is not that great for a vehicle of this size and there are no luggage tie-down hooks. Have to play Tetris for airport trips.

The neutral bits

• Might be a DSG trait but the car needs a push to get moving. Feels as if it doesn't like to crawl. I would pick a TC gearbox for bumper-to-bumper traffic.
• The driver aids, things like rear collision prevention need some getting used to. The braking is sudden and hard. Same for the adaptive cruise control. It brakes hard when some vehicle in the front moves into your lane.
• The speed warning beep appears to be designed by an ex-Airbus employee. It sounds like the cabin crew call button sound. The random beeps give the feeling of being inside a plane
• There doesn't seem to be a true manual mode or I haven't found it. One can override the current gear using paddles but the car goes back to the previous drive mode after a short period.

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