12-month test: Hyundai Creta 1,6 CRDI Executive AT
A belated entrant into the increasingly crowded small-crossover segment, has the Creta been worth the wait?
HYUNDAI Automotive South Africa is remarkably circumspect when it comes to adding new models to its assiduously arranged line-up. Seldom does the Seoul-based brand’s local distributor rush a fresh offering to market, preferring instead to closely monitor said product’s fortunes in other countries and hold back for global production volumes to ramp up. In short, it tends to hang fire for optimal conditions to import a given vehicle at a relatively competitive price.
While this cautious approach has sometimes raised the ire of Hyundai’s growing local fanbase (which is still testily anticipating the third-generation i30, as well as the new, high-performance N version of this hatchback), it has generally been rather effective for the brand. But South Africa’s wait for the Creta – Hyundai’s belated ticket into the positively booming small crossover segment – was a particularly protracted one, what with the production version pre- miering on the global stage (albeit wearing the ix25 badge) way back in 2014. With the Tucson selling up a veritable storm in the segment above, Hyundai’s local range was crying out for a smaller, more affordable option. And, with a monthly average of 420 units since Hyundai started reporting individual model sales to Naamsa in mid-2017, the Indian-built Creta (which is just a smidgen smaller than what we consider its spiritual predecessor, the original Tucson) has more than merely plugged the proverbial gap.
The range-topping derivative that forms the subject of this long-term test – finished here in Red Passion paint, the boldest of the five otherwise muted exterior colour options – draws its urge from a 1,6-litre turbodiesel engine mated to six-speed automatic transmission. The two other variants in the exclusively front-wheel-drive line-up each employ a naturally aspirated petrol unit of a similar capacity: one linked to a manual gearbox and the other to a self-shifting unit (the former tested in last month’s issue).
Although these petrol-
flavoured derivatives aren’t quite as breathless as you might expect (at the coast, anyway), the 94 kw oil-burning model is certainly the pick of the powerplants when it comes to the cut and thrust of daily driving. With 260 N.m on tap at 2 750 r/min and a torque-converter gearbox that (although sometimes flummoxed when creeping up steep hills) isn’t afraid to drop a cog or two should the driver’s right foot dictate, the diesel Creta possesses sufficient punch for both the traffic-infested daily grind and more relaxed open-road cruising.
The Crdi-badged variant, however, isn’t particularly refined, with plenty of diesel clatter permeating the cabin even under moderate throttle. But that’s to be expected considering this is a relatively long-in-the-tooth mill, conforming to lowly Euro 2 emissions standards and doing duty almost exclusively in developing countries. Still, at least we man- aged to best the claimed fuel-consumption figure of 7,4 L/100 km over the year. Indeed, our final return of 6,84 L/100 km translates to an average range of more than 800 km from the 55-litre tank.
All three derivatives feature Hyundai’s Executive specification level, which both covers the basics (as electric windows, height-adjustable front seats and an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror) and adds neat features such as two-tone (imitation) leather upholstery, rear park sensors, LED daytime running lights and static bending headlamps.
But the Creta misses a handful of items you might expect at the price, including cruise and climate control (instead of the latter, it employs a particularly potent manual air-conditioning system). The SUV furthermore lacks reach adjustment on the steering wheel – making life a trifle uncomfortable for tall drivers – and forgoes any form of traction or stability control, too. A full complement of six airbags, however, is included.
One of the standouts on the Creta’s spec list is its configurable infotainment system, which incorporates everything from indepth, Gps-derived driving data to full turn-by-turn navigation. While its inclusion is welcome, the centrally mounted eight-inch touchscreen arrangement isn’t without its quirks. Besides the fact that the full-colour display rapidly gathers fingerprints and is virtually illegible in anything approaching full sunlight, we experienced plenty of software bugginess over the year.
A system reset and software upgrade at the Creta’s first sched- uled service (the Hyundai Plumstead dealership, for the record, impressed with its efficiency) solved most of the issues, but one or two gremlins resurfaced in the months thereafter, including the occasional loss of video signal from the reversing camera.
The Creta’s styling is sensible rather than attention grabbing, which leaves this small SUV looking a little plain when parked alongside its curvier Tucson-badged sibling. An arrow-straight character line that originates just aft of the front wheelarch and rises to meet the wraparound taillamps adds a touch of drama to an otherwise staid profile, while the rear design is a little generic, although