Creta

A runaway success since its unveiling on local shores last year with some 8 000 units sold, the changes to the Creta, as on the Indian variant, are reserved for the exterior and consists out of the now trademark Cascading grille with a chrome finish, redesigned front and rear bumpers, separate fog lights, a dual-tone front skidplate, daytime running LEDs, new roof rails, LED taillights and newly designed alloy wheels.

No changes have however been made to the model range, where the Creta is again offered solely in Executive trim and sporting items such as a leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera, leather seats and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and for an additional R2 522, an SD card with satellite navigation.

Up front, Hyundai has also kept the same range of engines as before, with petrol power coming from a normally aspirated 1.6 that develops 90kW/150Nm and diesel grunt from a similar displacement, turbocharged unit that produces 94kW/260Nm.

Transmissions choices consists out of a six-speed manual on the petrol with a six-speed automatic optional and standard on the diesel, with Hyundai claiming a combined fuel consumption figure for the former pair at 7.9-litres/100km and 8.4-litres/100km, and at 7.4-litres/100km for the latter. As before, drive is routed to the front wheels.

At launch, the Creta will available in a choice of five colours; Polar White, Sleek Silver, Star Dust, Fiery Red and Marina Blue with Hyundai’s seven year/200 000km warranty and five year/90 000km service plan standard across the range.

Pricing

Tucson

A perennial contender for the country’s top selling compact SUV crown, the Tucson closely follows the Creta in getting the same Cascading grille and updated bumpers, but also adds full LED headlights on top-spec models, a new front skidplate, revised taillights and exhaust outlets, as well as new 19-inch alloy wheel on the flagship Elite.

Inside, Hyundai has completely redesigned the centre facia, which now houses a floating seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay and satellite navigation. Rounding the interior’s changes off are upgraded materials and double stitching.

On the model front, Hyundai has applied the biggest changes to the Tucson by axing the entry-level 1.7 CRDI version, as well as the locally developed Sport and all all-wheel drive models, leaving a seven-range, front-wheel drive line-up with a choice of two petrol engines and a single turbodiesel.

Available in entry-level Premium spec, the Tucson can be had with a normally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol that develops 115kW/196Nm, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with a similar automatic optional. In this guise, new standard spec consists of cruise control, folding electric mirrors, 17-inch alloys, keyless entry and a reverse camera.

Moving one up, the Executive offers the choice of the petrol engine albeit only with the automatic ‘box, or the revised 2.0-litre turbodiesel that produces 131kW/400Nm, which comes connected to a brand-new eight-speed automatic.

Building on the Premium, the Executive adds rear parking sensors, leather seats with electrically adjustable diver’s chair, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Detection, Electronic Stability Programme, climate control, Vehicle Stability Management, Hill Hold Assist, a cooled glovebox and 18-inch alloys.

At the sharp end, the Elite also comes both the aforementioned motors, but retains the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol as flagship, which again produces 130kW/265Nm, and comes hooked to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. New on the spec front is push-button start, an extra USB port in the rear, static bending headlights, keyless start, electric passenger’s seat, rear air-conditioning vents and a sliding sunroof.

Like the Creta, the Tucson is offered as standard with a seven year/200 000km warranty and five year/90 000km service plan and with a choice seven colours; Pure White, Black, Platinum Silver, Pepper Grey, Dusk Blue, Gemstone Red and Aqua Blue.

Pricing