Hyundai Automotive SA has entered the busy sub-compact SUV market segment with the new Creta, which is set to make a very strong statement and fill an important slot in the local model range of the South Korean carmaker.
The Creta is a very capable, attractive and competitively priced small sports utility vehicle that will substantially strengthen Hyundai’s arsenal and enable them to further entrench their 4th place among local car brands. And if it follows the class-leading sales success of its bigger sibling, the Tucson, it can help Hyundai to aim at the 3rd spot in sales totals for passenger vehicles.
In Hyundai’s local SUV range the new Creta will slot in just below the top-selling Tucson – in terms of price as well as size, with the bigger Santa Fe as the largest of the trio.
“We have high expectations of the Creta and we are confident that it will attract many customers who are considering a purchase of a smaller SUV. It is a roomy, stylish and very practical vehicle that offers excellent ride and build quality,” says Stanley Anderson, sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.
“The Creta offers a combination of power and style with its robust body structure, economical engine performance and confident ride and handling. We expect it to bolster and grow our market share through incremental sales.”
Dynamic design, strong road presence
Based on Hyundai Motor’s evolved Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design philosophy, the Creta demonstrates all the essential attributes of dynamism, comfort, safety and style.
The Creta portrays a strong road presence and embodies the aggressive stance of an SUV in its own style. The triple slat chrome radiator grille makes a bold design statement, while the smoothly creased hood lines, projector headlamps integrated with LED positioning lamps, vertical fog lamps, sporty stylish skid plate and dual tone front bumper enhance the car’s stylish and distinctive SUV character.
The Creta’s belt line along with its sloping roof line brings a sporty and aerodynamic appeal to the side profile. The rear profile shows a stylish dual layered step tailgate design with impactful crease lines and is rounded of nicely with wrap-around rear lights.
Roof rails complete the solid SUV appearance of the Creta and completes the bold styling of the car. It also enables the Creta to carry a variety of practical accessories, such as a roofbox or bicycle-holders.
Roomy, comfortable interior with many convenience features
On the inside, the Creta’s styling is as striking and attractive. The dashboard, with its futuristic water flow inspired design and smart ergonomic contours, make the cabin environment of the new Creta a pleasing and enjoyable place to spend time in.
Comfortable seats covered in two-tone full-leather upholstery exude a sense of modernity and a premium feel. Rear seats come with 60:40 split which allows better flexibility and more storage space.
The multi-function steering wheel, with remote controls for the sound system and buttons for the trip computer and system information, is also covered in leather. Rear passengers also benefit from convenience features such as rear air vents and rear centre armrest with cup holders.
The centre dash board console houses the infotainment and satellite navigation system with an 8-inch high-definition full-colour touch screen. On this touch-screen a route can be plotted, the sound system’s output can be customized to individual tastes, and it can act as a Mirror-link for an Android cell-phone or an iPod music display from an iPhone connected via a USB cord.
Music can also be streamed via Bluetooth from a cell phone or iPod to the sound system, and it allows hands free cell phone calls via Bluetooth with remote controls on the steering wheel. The infotainment screen also displays a rear view camera picture when one engages reverse gear, supplemented by reverse warning sensors.
Underneath the infotainment screen and the air conditioner’s control buttons are two 12V power sources, as well as USB and AUX ports for the sound system.
Advanced powertrains
The Creta is driven by a couple of refined, powerful and efficient engines – one is a petrol, and the other a turbodiesel – which have been tuned for best performance and high fuel efficiency.
With a combination of these engines and a manual and automatic transmissions, the Creta range is available in three derivatives:
- The Creta 1.6 Executive manual, powered by a 4-cylinder, 1 591 cc naturally aspirated petrol engine linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. This multipoint electronic fuel-injection engine delivers 90 kW maximum power at 6 300 rpm, and 150 Nm maximum torque at 4 850 rpm. Fuel consumption measured on a combined test cycle was 7,9 litres per 100 km, and its CO2 emission figure is 162 g/km.
- The Creta 1.6 Executive automatic, using the same 1,6-litre petrol engine coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox. With the automatic transmission the average fuel consumption was measured at 8,4 litres per 100 km, and CO2 emissions at 173 g/km.
- The Creta 1.6 Executive CRDi automatic – it is the flagship version with a 1,6-litre turbodiesel engine that delivers its power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Maximum power is 94 kW at 4 000 rpm, with a healthy 260 Nm maximum torque delivered at 2 750 rpm. It sips fuel very frugally at a measured figure of 7,4 litres per 100 km, and CO2 emissions were pinned at 156 g/km. The Variable Geometry
Turbocharger (VGT) monitors throttle and changes vane geometry accordingly, which in turn regulates turbo boost pressure for a smooth acceleration and maximum power at low engine revolutions.
All three Creta derivatives come with front-wheel drive and run on 16-inch wheels. The fuel tank capacity is 55 litres, which gives the Creta a range of close to 700 km on the open road.
Suspension developed for excellent ride quality
The McPherson struts used together with a stabilizer bar and coil springs for the Creta’s front suspention, is an all-new design which is solidly anchored to an I-shaped front subframe.
A coupled torsion beam axle is used for the rear suspension, where revised geometries for the shock absorbers to a near vertical position result in an increased lever ratio that generates gentle understeer for better cornering performance.
The Motor Driven Power Assisted Steering system (MDPS) delivers great accuracy and excellent through the steering wheel to the driver. Its solid feeling, together with the well-tunded suspension, inspires confidence on both tarmac and gravel surfaces. The generous 19 cm ground clearance of the Creta makes this sub-compact SUV a very versatile vehicle that can easily keep its composure on a rough gravel road.
Very low levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
The Creta can boast with class-leading noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels due to the use of enhanced sound absorption materials and advanced engineering design of the engine, transmission and body structural parts that ensures a quiet cabin.
NVH levels have been also been well contained with the use of dash board insulators, anti-vibration pads, a sound-deadener coating on the floor, optimized engine mounts, tunnel area rigidity and the application of a dual sealing structure on doors.
The Creta is one of the toughest and strongest SUVs in its segment. It is designed with a strong “Hive structure” body shell that ensures high structural strength stability and sturdiness. The ring-shaped frames applied at B-Pillar, C-Pillar and engine bay helps to achieve high body rigidity, improved durability and crash performance.
The ring frame structure brings a significant increase in body stiffness, which contributes to more precise handling while maintaining excellent ride quality.
Safety
Six airbags – front and side for driver and front passenger, and curtain airbags – offers safety protection in case of an accident. The Creta is also fitted with an Advanced Braking System (ABS), as well as Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
