The Audi Q2, as good as it, may be might be a bit costly for some. Well, not to worry because Hyundai has just launched the Creta, and seeing as I was already in Cape Town, I went and took it for a drive.
What is it?
For starters, all of Hyundai’s SUVs are named after famous places, mostly cities. Take the Sante Fe and Tucson for example. The Creta on the other hand is named after the Greek island Crete. As for the car though, well it’s basically a baby Tucson with the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Mazda CX-3, Suzuki Vitara and Jeep Renegade firmly in its sights.
The looks
At first glance, it looks larger than other compact crossovers on offer like the EcoSport and Renault Duster. It has a long bonnet with a square, muscular SUV stance, an upright grille and decent ground clearance (more than the Tucson actually).
Viewed from the side, you will notice a flowing roof line and a more upright design with familiar Hyundai character lines. The rear is also somewhat attractive with wraparound taillights and a steeply raked rear windscreen. Overall, it’s a good looking car which should attract customers.
What about the interior?
When I got inside, the first thing I noticed is that, well, there isn't too much going on. The design of the dashboard is simple, neat and uncluttered. One can expect a large screen mounted in the centre which incorporates all of the infotainment functions, as well as navigation and display for the reverse camera.
Quality plastics have been used throughout the interior and one does not get the sense that anything is cheap. The rear is also fairly spacious and the boot large with a flat floor.
Safety
The Creta comes with six airbags, ABS, EBD and other electronic gizmos to keep it going in the right direction. It also features strengthening bars for extra rigidity, and safety and structural features for instance; the entire front end can be replaced as a single unit in case of damage.
Under the bonnet
Hyundai South Africa has introduced two engines for the Creta; a 1.6-litre petrol available with a manual or automatic gearbox, and a 1.6-litre turbodiesel which is only available as an automatic. Both engines are definitely up for the job and feature new technologies which not only aid fuel economy, but power delivery and reliability. The four-cylinder petrol makes 90kW and 154Nm of torque, whereas its turbodiesel sibling punches out 96kW and an impressive 265Nm.
Verdict
After driving on numerous gravel and tar roads, the Creta definitely offers an alternative to the numerous options available in the segment. I was impressed with the overall ride quality and the refinement of the diesel model. The petrol model did seem to struggle to get a move on even at the coast, so taking into account our need for speed up in Johannesburg, it would be the diesel for me.
Pricing
1.6 Executive - R319 900
1.6 Executive AT - R339 900
1.6 CRDi Executive AT - R369 900
