Hyundai Creta diesel automatic review
What is it?
The diesel automatic version of India’s best-selling 4-metre+ compact SUV.
Engine & Gearbox
- The version of the Creta here comes with a 1.6-litre diesel engine that’s mated to a 6-speed torque converter gearbox.
- The automatic gearbox also comes with manual mode which can be operated via the gear lever. There are no paddle shifts here, but it’s no big deal since the Creta isn’t a sport vehicle anyway.
- The gearbox works very well in the city and power is quite accessible in bumper to bumper traffic without any abrupt gear changes. Expect a fuel economy of 10-11 km/l in urban driving conditions.
- This gearbox also works very well on the highway since it is made for relaxed driving. You’ll be easily able to extract somewhere around 14 km/l during cruising.
- Those looking for the thrill of driving must look elsewhere because this 6-speed unit takes some time to downshift if you floor the gas pedal all the way down. Even with manual gear changes, there is a lag in gear changes.
- Otherwise, the 1.6-litre engine is the same impressively refined unit which we see on the manual Creta as well as the Verna. It makes 126 bhp of power and 260 Nm of peak torque.
- The only time you’d really hear the diesel clatter of this engine inside the cabin is when you rev it up, but that’s not what you are supposed to do with diesel engines. On the flipside, the mid-range is pretty impressive which means you won’t see the gearbox shifting gears that often.
- It’s a reasonably fast car for its segment. 0-100 km/h can be achieved in around 11.5 seconds if you care about this figure on a diesel automatic SUV…
Ride & Handling
- The ride quality on the Hyundai Creta isn’t something you’d call plush, but it’s really good nonetheless.
- It takes on bad roads with a good amount of finesse, but deeper potholes will surely be felt inside the cabin.
- In terms of handing, the Creta is exactly how a compact SUV should be – safe and predictable. It remains balanced and composed during turns, but if you go all out, that body roll will inevitably be felt.
- It’s not something that you’d call exciting either. The steering is not very responsive and the fun to drive factor is absent. But then again, it is fine as per compact SUV standards.
Space, Comfort & Build
- The Hyundai Creta scores well in terms of space. Rear seat legroom and headroom are abundant for most average-sized adults.
- The interior of the Creta remains a pleasant place to be in. Despite being 4 years old, it looks very well designed, like most Hyundais, the build quality is pleasing.
- At 400 litres, the boot has sufficient room as well.
What Else?
- The Creta diesel automatic is offered in just two variants – S and SX. Our test unit is the latter which comes very well equipped with premium goodies like wireless charging, sunroof, 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, etc. being standard.
- Since the Creta has been around for a while, we won’t talk about its design much. It’s been well accepted by most Indian customers and the facelift has made the design more premium largely thanks to that bigger grille.
Verdict
- It is worth noting that at the time of writing this review, no competing car (Nissan Kicks, Tata Harrier, Renault Captur) has a diesel automatic on offer.
- So, the Creta diesel automatic makes a lot of sense if you live in a very crowded city and your daily commute exceeds 30 km. Its auto gearbox works very well in the city and would help you bypass the fatigue you get while operating clutch during those long traffic jams.
- It’s also a good option for those who do a lot of highway miles and want a relaxed two-peddled cruiser.
Check out our Creta diesel automatic video review below:
Hyundai Creta diesel automatic review
7.7
Pros
- Auto gearbox works well in city
- Good refinement levels
- Well built
Cons
- Gearbox not very quick to respond
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