Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta has been a top-selling compact SUV in India time and again, and for good reason. It’s one of the few models that offer a complete package, catering to the needs of different individuals with its well-sorted variants and multiple powertrain options, while keeping the core things such as space, comfort and features right. But with the segment evolving with the introduction of hybrids like the Maruti Grand Vitara and new bodystyles like SUV-coupes, does the Hyundai Creta still stand out?

In its previous avatar, the design of the Hyundai Creta was rather polarising, but the approach is much more conventional and modern this time around. Unlike before, the Creta immediately looks a lot more aggressive with its chunky grille, generous bumper cladding, and square-shaped headlights. At the same time, its connected LED lighting setup adds some premiumness to that aggressive styling.

The chrome-adorned grille makes up most of the nose and is flanked by the quad beam LED headlights. The creases on the bonnet and the chunky bumper design add to the dominating look at the front.

The side profile is of a typical compact SUV with roof rails, some cladding and big 17-inch alloy wheels, which are upgraded to 18-inch units in the sporty N Line version.

At the rear, the connected LED taillights attract attention almost immediately as they span the width of the tailgate. There’s a shark fin antenna and roof mounted spoiler for some sporty touches, but the design is still rather rugged with a chunky bumper styling that complements the front bumper.

I like how the Creta’s styling blends modern and rugged elements with squared-out styling cues and chunky cladding. There are no fit and finish inconsistencies in the exterior, and it just feels like a well designed family SUV, with just the right amount of muscle and suave.

If there was anything that could be better, it would be the light strip at the front. While it does get sequential turn indicators, there isn’t a LED light strip for the connected DRL, but a simple reflector, which works with just three lights turning on and off. If there was a proper LED strip here, it would’ve looked even more premium.

Colour options on the Hyundai Creta 2025 include: Abyss Black, Robust Emerald Pearl, Fiery Red, Ranger Khaki, Atlas White, Titan Grey, Titan Grey Matte And Starry Night. Only the white colour is offered with a dual-tone option, where it gets a black roof. In the ‘Knight’ edition, Hyundai offers a black finish on the grille, alloy wheels and emblems along with red front brake callipers, which look really sporty.

Overall, the Hyundai Creta offers a styling that should be liked by everyone in the family. The standard Creta looks a lot more conventional now, but if you want a sportier-looking Creta right from the factory, you have the option of the Creta N Line. 

It even gets sportier monotone exterior shades in the form of Titan Grey Matte, Abyss Black, and Atlas White. While the Titan Grey Matte and Atlas White colours can be had with a dual tone black roof, there is also a Thunder blue colour that is available with the black roof

Design and Quality

The Hyundai Creta’s cabin design feels premium, welcoming and ergonomic right from the get go. The dual tone theme uses light shades, which add to the sense of space, while piano black elements and silver inserts add a nice contrast to the colour scheme. 

The fit and finish is as you’d expect from a Rs 20 lakh compact SUV and the quality of materials used inside make the experience premium enough to be the segment benchmark. There’s a smooth rubber-like finish on the top half of the dashboard, while there's soft-touch materials on the door and central armrest along with leatherette seat upholstery.

Everything feels nice to interact with, but the heavy use of piano black elements means a constant need to maintain those panels, as they attract dust and scratches super easily. Even the seats are easy to spoil with kids and pets in the family. 

Front seats

Getting in and out of the Hyundai Creta is fairly simple, and your elderly parents won’t require any extra effort to do so.

Once inside, the front seats offer great comfort and support. In fact, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment along with a height adjustable driver’s seat is offered as standard, which helps finding a comfortable driving position super easy, irrespective of your height and shape. A front central armrest and movable headrests add to the comfort factor.

There’s enough space in all parameters, and the pedal box has enough room for you to rest your left foot in comfort. The visibility on offer is good, and new drivers are likely to get comfortable behind the wheel easily.

Rear Seat

While the front seats might be a comfortable place, the rear seat is where the Hyundai Creta truly shines with its space, comfort and convenience features.

Space in all parameters, including knee, foot and headroom is plenty for an average-sized adult with a height of around 5’8”. Only occupants above 6ft will find the headroom to be restricted, but it is still manageable.

Three average sized adults will be able to sit comfortably in the rear seat thanks to the flat cushioning, but a central headrest is sadly missing. Visibility is good and the sense of space factor is great with the light-coloured theme, low window line and huge panoramic sunroof.

With amenities like adjustable recline for the back rest, a central armrest, sun shades and neck pillows, the Creta really offers one of the best back row experiences in the segment.

Practicality

The Creta’s cabin is super practical. All four doors get 1-litre bottle pockets, and there are two cup holders in the central console for the front passengers. I really appreciate the open space on the passenger side dashboard, which can be used to store your phone or other loose items. Even the wireless charging pad in the central console can be used for storage of mobile devices.

The glovebox is spacious and cooled as well, which can be used to keep soft drinks cold on longer drives, and there’s also a tiny storage space beneath the central armrest.

Rear passengers can use the seat back pockets to store their tablets/magazines, while their phone can be placed in the phone tray underneath the rear AC vents. They also get two cup holders in the central armrest.

Charging Options

The front passengers in the Creta get three charging options apart from the wireless phone charger: a 12V socket, a USB type-A port, and a type-C port.

Rear passengers get two Type-C ports. 

Overall, the Creta’s cabin is really hard to fault. Where its rivals either do one thing really well, but ask for a compromise on some other front, the Creta is like the jack of all trades. It is spacious, comfortable, practical, and well put together. All it will require is periodic maintenance to make sure the piano black panels and light coloured seats don’t get dirty.

Boot Space

The Hyundai Creta has a claimed boot space figure of 433-litres. The space is wide, but not too deep. As a result, it is best to use small cabin-sized trolley bags to maximise the space available, after which, you can store one medium and small suitcase along with a couple of duffle bags.

One large suitcase will take up almost the entirety of the boot, but you can store those larger items by folding the rear seats down, which gets a 60:40 split. Pushing those larger items inside wouldn’t require additional effort, as the seats fold flush with the floor. But due to the high ground clearance, the loading lip is a little high to begin with, so getting those big items inside in the first place will require some effort.

The Hyundai Creta has always been one of the most feature-loaded offerings in the segment, and the case is no different with the 2025 Creta. Let’s talk about the highlights first:

The 10.25-inch touchscreen has an easy-to-understand interface, great resolution and fast response times. The only complaint with this screen is that it does not support wireless connectivity for Android auto and Apple CarPlay, which still requires a wire to connect. 

This main screen is complemented by a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, which has different themes depending on the drive modes. The information it relays is crisp, the menus are easy to navigate and the graphics between the different drive modes look really cool. In fact, it also gets the integration for the blind spot camera, which is really helpful if you get the hang of it.

The infotainment and entertainment package is rounded up via an 8-speaker BOSE branded audio system, which offers decent clarity and bass. While it maintains crispness at higher volumes, audio enthusiasts might feel the need for an upgrade.

A panoramic sunroof adds to the airy feel inside the cabin, and it can be activated via voice commands as well. Hyundai has focused high on convenience with a dual zone climate control, which gets physical buttons and toggles to change fan or temperature settings. Moreover, there’s front ventilated seats on offer, which function as intended. Here’s a list of the other features available with the 2025 Creta:

Overall, it’s not just the hefty list of equipment on the Creta’s features that help it stand out, but also the thoughtful execution of those features which make the entire experience premium.

The Hyundai Creta offers plenty of safety equipment right from the base variant, while higher variants further add a 360-degree camera with front parking sensors, rear defogger and Level-2 ADAS to the list. 

The 360-degree surround view system has a good camera quality and offers multiple views and angles, which increases efficiency in tight parking spaces. I just found the sensors to be a little over-sensitive, but the overall execution is great.

Even the ADAS tech has been executed nicely. It is a camera and radar-based system, which has been well-tuned for Indian driving conditions. So you can actually use features like lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking on highways and expressways with clear markings. If you want, these features can be turned off as well, and they stay turned off even after restarting the vehicle.

If there’s anything missing in the Hyundai Creta’s safety package, it would be the safety rating as this generation of the compact SUV has not been crash tested by any independent agency yet. The pre-facelift Hyundai Creta had received a 3-star safety rating from Global NCAP.

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Engine Performance

The Creta is one of the few in its segment to offer a choice between three 1.5-litre engine options, each paired with different transmissions. The options include a naturally aspirated petrol, a turbo-petrol and a diesel , all of which are four-cylinder units.

Compared to the segment, the Creta only misses out on a hybrid powertrain and an all-wheel drivetrain, both of which are available in the Toyota Hyryder and Maruti Grand Vitara.

*CVT = continuously variable transmission, DCT = dual clutch automatic transmission, AT = torque convertor automatic transmission

1.5-litre NA petrol

This is one of the smoothest and most refined engines on offer in the entire segment. It might not be very powerful or outright fun, but it is super smooth and refined.

City performance

The naturally aspirated petrol engine of the Hyundai Creta is perfect for city commutes. Its acceleration is progressive and adequate for all city commutes, and you’ll appreciate how smooth the engine is.

The manual transmission is easy to use, and you won’t have any complaints after driving it in heavy stop and go city traffic. In fact, it can keep up with the slow moving traffic, even at a higher gear, so you won’t have to downshift often.

But the CVT automatic is the transmission to pick for a truly relaxed and smooth drive experience. In regular commutes, the transmission is so smooth that you won’t ever feel a jerk. In my experience, this is the best engine-transmission combination of the Creta for those who want a relaxed commuter. But yes, it feels like a typical CVT when you ask for a quick overtake, where the engine RPM rises quickly, but the car takes some time to build speed. The experience doesn’t feel particularly refined then, but at least you have paddle shifters, which can be used for manual control and help make that overtake a little easier.

In the city, you can expect a fuel efficiency of around 11-12kmpl.

Highway performance

Because of the engine’s output and the CVT’s character, overtakes will need planning at higher speeds, especially if you’re travelling with family and/or luggage. With the performance on offer, the engine doesn’t feel particularly quick after 60kmph. 

It is not like it can’t cruise at high speeds comfortably. But reaching those triple digit speeds takes time and to make an overtake at those speeds, you will definitely have to downshift and plan your overtakes in advance. You can expect a fuel economy of around 14kmpl on the highway.

1.5-litre diesel

This might not be the most refined or the most powerful engine in the lineup, but it is effortless to drive, and manages to balance performance and efficiency unlike any other engine.

City Performance

Being a diesel engine, it has plenty of torque, which makes drives in the city feel effortless. Since that torque is available right from low RPMs, you don’t need to downshift frequently with the manual. Just like the NA (naturally-aspirated) petrol engine, the manual is fairly simple to use here as well, and won’t leave you with any complaints.

But if you want utmost comfort, the automatic transmission is the one to pick. It offers smooth shifts, and keeps you in the right gear for almost all cases. It might not be as quick as the turbo petrol’s DCT, but it gets the job done without any issues.

You can expect 13kmpl in the city.

Highway performance

While this engine feels quick and effortless in the city, its performance is just enough for highway commutes. It doesn’t take as much time as the naturally aspirated engine to hit triple digit speeds. Even overtakes beyond those speeds are much easier, but the performance won’t  feel exciting or punchy. 

At high speeds too, the gearbox feels smooth in its operation. If you want to make quick overtakes, it is best to put the car into sports mode, where the gearbox doesn’t upshift quickly, and maintains a higher RPMs to offer you quick acceleration.

The diesel Creta will return a fuel efficiency of around 18kmpl on the highway.

1.5-litre turbo-petrol

It is a smooth and refined engine, even when you’re accelerating hard. Compared to the segment, it is one of the most powerful turbo-petrol engines on offer.

City performance

The performance of this engine feels fun and exciting in the city. All overtakes happen in an instant, even if you're just cruising comfortably, and suddenly need that burst of speed. The DCT is super smooth in regular driving conditions, where you won’t feel any jerks in bumper to bumper traffic. But whenever you ask for a quick overtake, it doesn’t hesitate to drop a gear. It keeps you in the right gear at all times, and you won’t ever need to use the paddle shifters.

For all its performance, the Creta’s turbo-petrol isn’t very fuel efficient in the city with 8-10kmpl being the best case scenario if used in heavy traffic.

Highway performance

Hitting triple digit speeds with the turbo-petrol engine is a quick affair, and if you keep your floor firmly pinned, the Creta will happily keep accelerating beyond legal speeds. So you won’t ever have to plan your overtakes, whether you’re driving alone or with a full load.

In gear acceleration is strong too, and you will only have to downshift for overtakes if you were hypermilling at slow speeds at a really high gear. Good thing is, the DCT is quick to downshift and if you want more engagement, you can also use the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

The turbo-petrol returns a better fuel efficiency of around 13-15kmpl on the highway.

Overall, the Creta’s engine options offer something for everybody. If I had to pick one, I would choose the turbo-petrol engine for its refinement and effortless performance. But it is the diesel-automatic that would be the powertrain recommended option, as it balances both performance and efficiency rather well.

Ride quality

The Hyundai Creta offers a good balance between comfort and dynamics, wherein it keeps you comfortable in most cases, but can also be driven enthusiastically.

On city roads, the Creta absorbs the regular speedbreakers and potholes really well. It works silently and keeps the jerks to a minimum. But some side to side movement and slight jerks can be felt over really big potholes, which is acceptable and won’t make you uncomfortable. 

In fact, it remains stable and maintains comfort even over undulations on expansion joints of the highways. But if the surface isn't smooth, you might feel some constant up and down movement inside, especially in the rear seat, which is the only real complaint from the Creta’s suspension.

Handling

The Creta is supposed to be a comfortable family SUV that shouldn’t ideally be thrashed around a corner too quickly. But in case you do, the Creta will feel stable and confident, and ultimately impress with its dynamics. There is body roll, but it is controlled and the steering gives you confidence at higher speeds.

So be it high speed lane changing or driving spiritedly in the ghats, the Creta won’t disappoint. And this trait becomes even more impressive with its easy-to-drive nature in the city. The steering is on the lighter side, so maneuvering or parking in tight spots doesn’t require much effort.

To summarise the ride and handling package, the Creta is one of the few SUVs that manages to keep you and your family comfortable, but also offer driving dynamics that you will enjoy.

Which variant of Hyundai Creta is value for money? 

• Hyundai Creta 2025 is available in a total of seven variants: E, EX, EX (O), S (O), SX, SX Premium and King. A 'Knight' edition is available in the S (O) and King models.
• There is also a new Summer edition available with the following variants: EX, EX(O), S(O), S(O) Knight, SX, and SX Premium.

• Hyundai Creta E Variant: 

  • This variant is available with the naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engine options, but only with a manual transmission.

  • Even in the Creta’s base variant, safety isn’t compromised. 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system are available. 

  • The focus is on functionality, with features such as driver’s seat height adjust, manual air-conditioning, and rear AC vents.

• Hyundai Creta EX Variant: 

  • Automatic is not available in this variant of the Creta 2025 either. 

  • The biggest addition is that of an 8-inch touchscreen system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a 6-speaker music system.

• Hyundai Creta EX Summer edition: 

  • Adds keyless entry and push-button start/stop features.

• Hyundai Creta EX (O) Variant:

  • This is the base variant if you want an automatic transmission. The petrol is available with a CVT and the diesel gets a torque convertor automatic. 

  • To better justify the price difference, a panoramic sunroof is also offered. 

• Hyundai Creta EX (O) Summer Edition:

  • Premium looks with all LED lighting setup that includes LED headlights, LED DRLs, and LED tail lights. Also gets 16-inch dual-tone styled steel wheels.

• Hyundai Creta S (O) Variant:

  • This variant gets all the equipment from the Creta EX (O) and additionally comes with a full-LED headlamo setup, LED tail lamps, and 17-inch black alloy wheels.

  • It also gets additional features: dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, chilled glovebox, and rear wiper washer. 

  • It also offers an optional automatic transmission with the diesel and petrol engines. 

• Hyundai Creta S (O) Summer Edition:

  • Only adds a dashcam to the safety kit.

• Hyundai Creta S (O) Knight Edition:

  • This is the entry point for the Hyundai Creta Knight Edition. While there are no feature add-ons over the Creta S (O), it gets blacked out elements inside and out for a sportier look. 

  • You can have it with both manual and automatic transmissions with the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. 

  • If you opt for the automatic variants, it additionally comes with an electronic parking brake with auto hold as well as drive and traction modes.

• Hyundai Creta S (O) Knight Summer Edition:

  • Dashcam is the only addition.

• Hyundai Creta SX Variant:

  • This variant is offered only with the 1.5-litre petrol CVT powertrain option. 

  • Additional features over Creta S (O) includes 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, dynamic turn indicators, semi-leatherette upholstery and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. 

• Hyundai Creta SX Summer Edition:

  • Borrows the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster from higher variants.

• Hyundai Creta SX Premium Variant:

  • This variant gets some important feature additions over SX Tech such as leatherette upholstery, 8-way powered driver’s seat and ventilated front seats. 

  • However, it doesn’t get ADAS that the SX Tech variant offers. 

  • The powertrain options are exactly the same as the Hyundai Creta SX Tech. 

• Hyundai Creta SX Premium Summer Edition:

  • Stronger safety feature package with a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and front parking sensors.

• Hyundai Creta King Variant:

  • This variant of the Hyundai Creta is also the only one to offer the turbo-petrol DCT powertrain. 

  • Also gets 18-inch alloy wheels.

  • Cabin gets a sliding front armrest and second row passengers get foldable tables with retractable cupholders placed behind the front seats.

  • Other feature addition include wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a dashcam, 8-way powered front passenger seat, memory function for the driver seat, a touch-based climate control panel, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, rain sensing wipers and a rear wireless charger. 

  • Surprisingly, this is the only variant of the Creta to offer a rear parcel tray, which we feel should be offered in lower variants. 

  • This variant also comes with a Level 2 ADAS suite.

  • This variant offers all the powertrain options that are offered with the Hyundai Creta. 

• Hyundai Creta King Knight Edition:

  • This variant gets all the bells and whistles offered with the Creta King and packs blacked out design elements inside out for a menacing look. 

  • The turbo-petrol engine isn’t offered with this variant, unlike the standard King.

• Hyundai Creta King Limited Edition:

  • Gets exclusive 'King' branding on multiple design elements.

  • Over the King variant, it gets seatbelt covers, headrest cushions, mats, and a key cover.

CarDekho Recommends: 

• Consider the EX variant of the Creta if your budget is tight. This variant offers a comprehensive safety package, along with basic features such as an 8-inch touchscreen, digital driver’s display, and powered mirrors. 

• Overall, the S(O) variant of the Creta feels the most value for money as it covers all needs and some wants too. Highlight features here include 17-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and cruise control.

If I was in the market for a comfortable, spacious and feature-loaded SUV for my family, the Creta would definitely be on my shortlist. It’s more feature-loaded and safer than ever before, while still delivering on its comfort and ease of drivability aspect. Sure it has some misses but it’s difficult to call out any true deal breakers, which helps the Creta stand out as such a thoughtfully packaged vehicle.

Other cars to consider instead of the Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Reasons to consider

• Sharper styling

• Better value in lower variants

Reasons to ignore

• Slightly less comfortable ride 

• Less family focused

Toyota Hyryder/Maruti Grand Vitara

Reasons to consider

• Much more fuel efficient (Hybrid)

• Better ride quality

Reasons to ignore

• Not as refined and powerful 

• Less premium cabin experience 

Honda Elevate

Reasons to consider

• Slightly better ride comfort

• Bigger boot space

• Top variant undercuts massively

Reasons to ignore

• No turbo-petrol or diesel option

• Misses out on a few features

Volkswagen Taigun/Skoda Kushaq

Reasons to consider

• Feels more enthusiast-oriented

Reasons to ignore

• Better as a 4-seater 

• No diesel or non-turbo petrol option