Hyundai Creta Long Term Review
Long Term Test No. 113
Car Tested: Hyundai Creta
Kms Done: 6867 kms
Test Started at: 8399 kms
Test Concluded at: 15,266 kms
Mileage: 12.33 km/l, 14.86 km/l (best), 10.11 km/l (worst)
Fuel Consumed: 557-litres
Fuel Cost: Rs. 34,120/-
Rs. per km: Rs. 4.97/-
The Creta outshines its rivals & hence has become a hot-seller for Hyundai India
To be successful in the Indian automobile market, you have to either be a first mover or make your product to clearly stands out on top in the given segment. Hyundai wasn’t the first mover in the affordable SUV segment which was owned by Renault’s Duster before the Koreans decided to compete in the largest growing segment globally. When Hyundai launched the Creta, Indian car buyers were keenly moving away from sedans and were embracing SUVs. Couldn’t have been a better time and time is testimony to the fact that this SUV from Hyundai became one of the best sellers. We had a chance to sample this Hyundai over a long term test, read on to find out how it fared in our fleet.
Hyundai seldom disappoints in the styling area, the Creta looks pleasant
The Hyundai Creta by no means is a revolutionary product but it is one which has bettered the existing one in almost every department. We had pitted the Creta against the Duster and its body double (Nissan Terrano) and it easily came out on top. Moreover, even after the Duster got the much needed facelift, the Creta was still unmoved. From the design perspective, it has all the elements of an urban SUV. Large overhangs, muscular wheel arches and a higher ground clearance, the latter being extremely useful for urban driving conditions. The external profile looks pleasing to the eye and the Creta feels more sophisticated than rugged.
The interiors are loaded, but few things are missing too
Hyundai’s build quality has always made impressions and the Creta is no different. The doors shut with assurance and the dashboard looks and feels like it will last. Our near 7000 kms stint with the car over all types of terrain made our belief stronger. Every part of the vehicle refrained from squeaking or rattling. NVH levels are pretty good too. While there are tons of bells and whistles, we did miss the distance to empty feature on the Multi-Information Display. The touchscreen audio unit is intuitive but the display’s readability isn’t great in bright light conditions.
The compact SUV can do some soft-roading too
The Creta feels easy & eager to drive with the smooth 1.6 CRDI engine
Powering our test car was a 1.6-litre CRDI diesel engine which is not only refined but also shines when you talk performance. The diesel powered Creta will stop the clock just under 11 seconds on a 0-100 km/hr run and one can reap the benefits of this when doing short sprints in the city. The 6-speed manual transmission on our car was smooth with ratios sorted for every driving situation. The 6th gear was particularly handy on the highway. Power felt adequate with 126 horses under the hood. The torquey nature of the oil-burner ensures that this engine performs beautifully in the low and mid range of the rev band. Translating this on the road meant that the Creta was up to the task in both city and highway conditions.
The 1.6 CRDI motor with the 6-speed MT really shines
If you are the one who prefers to drive automatics, Hyundai will sell you one in both petrol and diesel guise. Considering the traffic situation today, it is barely surprising that nearly 30% of all the Cretas sold are equipped with an automatic transmission. Our test car was predominantly driven in the city with occasional highway runs. It delivered an average fuel efficiency of 12.33 km/l. The fuel economy improved after the 10,000 km service and the car felt much smoother to drive too. The Creta returned a best fuel efficiency of 14.86 km/l while the worst was 10.11 km/l. Mileage may vary as per external conditions and driving style but these figures are respectable considering the vehicle was predominantly used in the city.
Hyundai cars have evolved over the years and how!
Handling of the Creta is average but the ride quality and brakes are good
The Creta’s ride is quite cushioned and even on very rough and irregular surfaces, the passengers were kept comfortable. Handling is neutral and even though Hyundai has improved leaps and bounds in this department, the steering feedback is average and you won’t have anything to complain about. Tyres grip well, both in wet and dry conditions and braking is predictable. The brakes were holding up well and even after 15,000 kms on the odometer, there was negligible wear on the brake pads.
Hyundai’s wide service network means owners needn’t worry
Hyundai has the second largest sales and service network in the country and here are costs of some routine parts of the Hyundai Creta.
Hyundai Creta Service Costs
1. Service Schedule – 10,000 kms/1 year (whichever is earlier)
2. Cost of Spares –
* Engine Oil Per Service – Rs. 1569/- (D)
* Brake Oil – Inspect Only
* Oil Filter – Rs. 451/- (D)
* Fuel Filter – Rs. 2016/- (D)
* Brake Pads (Front) – Rs. 3711/-
* Front Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 1600/-
* Rear Bumper (without painting) – Rs. 1820/-
* Headlamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 4900/- (Regular) and Rs. 18,628 (LED)
* Tail Lamp Assembly (Each) – Rs. 3884/-
The above prices are inclusive of taxes as per Delhi MRP and service tax on labour charges. Hyundai also claims that their maintenance cost is the lowest for 5 years/50,000 kms in Delhi.
We didn’t have any major issues with the Creta in all these months
The Creta has taken the market by storm and inspite of being the most expensive SUV in its segment, it is outselling the competition by a significant margin. Goes in to show that in today’s age, people are willing to spend a premium to get a better and more rounded product. The Korean compact SUV is spacious, has better interiors and comes with a long list of goodies. Moreover, Hyundai has offered it with capable petrol and diesel engines with automatic options available in both. The Creta, by far, is a complete package which offers oodles of practicality and reliability with a premium touch.
The Creta feels like the perfect urban compact SUV
What’s Cool
* Looks premium on the outside and inside
* The 1.6-litre engine is refined and punchy
* The Creta gets a good list of features on board
* Ride and handling balance is pretty much sorted
What’s Not So Cool
* Feels a bit on the pricier side
* No Distance-To-Empty display
The driving mannerisms of the Creta are much improved over older Hyundai cars
Testers’ Note:
The compact SUV segment is flooded with competitors now
Further Reading –
Hyundai Creta Long Term Review – Initial Report
Hyundai Creta Review
Hyundai Creta Video Review
Hyundai Creta Petrol Automatic Review
Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster
Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster – Video
Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Mahindra XUV500
Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Mahindra XUV500 – Video