HYUNDAI CRETA 1,5 EXECUTIVE IVT

As caretaker of the Hyundai Creta for a month before digital editor Jason Woosey takes over, I’ve had more than enough time to draw a couple of conclusions on the Indian-built crossover. Number one: the overall quality of cars hailing from the subcontinent is outstanding. I was particularly impressed with the two-tone motif of the cabin and the soft leather seats of the Executive model that lend it a welcome premium feel for what is a common crossover destined to sell in great numbers. Number two: powered by a 1,5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder

with 84 kw and 143 N.m delivering a tested 0-100 km/h sprint in the 11-second range, it’s certainly no rocket ship, but the intelligent variable transmission (Hyundai speak for CVT) is topnotch. It does one of the most convincing jobs yet of mimicking a traditional torque-converter automatic with clearly defined ratios as the drivetrain gains and loses speed. Thirdly, the wellinsulated cabin shields the driver from excessive noise vibration and harshness associated with the moment you floor the throttle and engine revs climb when asking for maximum performance from the four-pot motor. Pop the transmission across into manual and it defaults into the selected high “ratio” without complaint and that’s all you can really ask of a continuously variable transmission. Finally, as the top specification offering in the Creta range, I question the reasoning in omitting climate control and keyless entry. For what is an otherwise thoroughly premium product, the futility in trying to find the ideal cabin temperature with no auto mode does detract from the experience.