Time to dazzle a little
The Hyundai Creta has been around for some time now in the compact crossover segment and has been a popular choice since its model introduction back in 2014. One thing you may have noticed is that Korean car manufacturers are on fire when it comes to design, drive, and overall product quality. The new facelifted Creta has been given the aforementioned fire treatment, evident in its reworked design inside and especially on the outside.
Related: Is the Hyundai Creta good for families?
So, where does the Creta slot itself within Hyundai's product range? It's between the Venue and the Tucson, in other words in the happy medium of the +/-R400k crossover market.
Styling
Hyundai is one of the Korean manufacturers that's been going to town with the styling of their vehicles. One vehicle from their range that comes to mind is the uber-future-styled Staria. It seems the stardust from the Staria is rubbing off onto some other Hyundai models. Here on the facelifted Creta, the body shape remains the same as the pre-facelift, but you get reworked front and rear fascias. The front is the biggest head-turner, mostly the grille and lights with what Hyundai calls their 'Parametric Jewel Pattern' design. The current generation Tucson has this design as well where the grille has a particular pattern and the headlights are integrated into the grill with the same pattern and allow for creative shapes when it comes to headlights. When turned on, the headlights are quite bright and noticeable, adding to the head-turner aspect of the vehicle.
The headlights on the Executive derivative are LED and have daytime running lights. The Premium derivatives use halogen headlamps without daytime running lights. Moving along to the side, a large silver-coloured trim accent breaks apart the doors and roofline. There are two-tone 17-inch alloy blade-style wheels. In the rear, there's no longer a light bar running across the boot lid to connect the deconstructed taillights. The taillights are more abstract shaped but in our view, we prefer the front more than we do the rear of the vehicle. However, compared to the previous Creta, the design here feels more cohesive.
Interior and technology
Hyundai has done away with the two-tone interior in favour of a uniform grey on the dashboard with varying plastic material feels and some silver trim to break apart the grey. The dash and centre console are rather simple compared to the radical exterior styling. This is good in that everything is centralised and not busy, so it's easier to find tech and functions in the cabin.
The manual air-con controls are a simple 3-dial 2-button setup with physical buttons which is much easier to operate when driving as opposed to touch controls. This is well welcomed.
The infotainment centre is seamless with a connection to Android Auto & Apple Carplay either wirelessly or via cable. A reverse camera is also integrated into the infotainment system with rear parking sensors. You also get an artificial leather-wrapped multifunction telescopic steering wheel to operate audio, cruise control and trip computers. There's a decent grip on the steering wheel with the supple feel of the leather. Wireless charging is standard in the Executive derivative. When looking at audio systems, the Premium derivatives get 4 speakers while the Executive get 6 speakers, so 2 tweeters to add in.
You'll feel cosy on the artificial leather seats which come in the Executive derivative, that fit average-sized bodies snuggly, but bigger bodies may feel a bit squeezed. It's worth mentioning also that the door cards have soft-touch materials on the contact points, like where you'd rest your elbow on a long drive. The rear seats are spacious enough with ISOfix child seat mounts. The luggage area holds 416 litres. Overall, the interior of the facelifted Creta feels ergonomic and comfortable.
The drive and handling
Powering the facelift Hyundai Creta currently is a 1.5-litre petrol non-turbo engine paired with Hyundai's IVT transmission. Looking at power figures, the 1.5-litre mill pushes out 84kW and 144 Nm. Punting around in an urban area, the facelift Creta doesn't need much flat-foot action to get moving. From robot to robot, it's a smooth activity. On the open road/highway, the engine and gearbox are competent at maintaining speed. Overtaking will see you needing to put foot, but considering that there's a non-turbo engine, the 1.5-litre doesn't mind a bit of revving to have enough overtaking oomph. Hyundai's IVT transmission is in essence a self-shifting gearbox which is basically the same as a CVT transmission. It's a very smooth gearbox with a responsive "kickdown".
With regard to fuel economy, the facelift Creta with a 1.5-litre engine and IVT transmission had an average fuel consumption of 5.9l/100km combined during this launch drive. That's quite decent!
On open winding roads, the facelift Creta is nicely planted and composed even at highway speeds. The ride quality is more on the firmer side rather than soft. There's decent weight to the steering wheel with minimal adjustments needed to be made by the driver. There is some road noise penetrating the cabin, however. We also saw how the vehicle fared in a soft offroad setting and the Creta did very well in that respect with a light vibration on graded gravel roads. So if you're planning to go on some farm dirt roads, you'll do fine in the new Creta.
Safety
The Premium derivative Creta comes with driver & passenger airbags while there are 6 airbags in total (driver, passenger, side and curtain) for the Executive derivative. You'll also find ISOfix child seat mounts along with rear park distance sensors and a reverse camera. Other safety systems include ABS, EBD and ESP and tyre pressure monitoring is standard across the range.
Verdict
The facelifted Creta is a nice evolution for Hyundai in terms of design and engine engineering. Competition is quite stiff in the subcompact SUV/crossover market, but the facelift Creta has enough to hold its own. It could do with a stronger set of features to compete with what Chery, for example, can offer, and it could do with some more noise insulation to quieten the cabin. Other than those small issues, the core parts of facelifted Creta are solid and it's fuel-efficient to boot. We also can't forget the stellar warranty offering from Hyundai. There's more to come later in the year with the Creta lineup so this one is worth keeping an eye on.
Pricing
| MY22 Creta 1.5 Premium 6-Speed Manual | from R409 900 |
| MY22 Creta 1.5 Premium IVT Automatic | from R429 900 |
| MY22 Creta 1.5 Executive IVT Automatic | from R469 900 |
*The facelifted Hyundai Creta comes standard with a 7-year/200 000km manufacturer warranty, 4-year/60 000km service plan and 7-year/150 000km roadside assistance.
