Design revamp delivers refreshed, trimmed look
● Hyundai takes the scalpel to popular Creta and Tucson models, writes Lerato Matebese
Hyundai SA has taken the knife to its popular Creta and Tucson models, which have emerged from surgery looking more prim and proper than before.
The former gets a new grille which is taller in aspect than the outgoing model, with a cascading effect and some chrome embellishments giving it a more integrated, tidier look.
That front valance has also been chiselled slightly and receives a satin silver scuff plate, while the front fog lamps now feature chrome housing inserts.
At the rear new light clusters and a revised bumper round off the exterior updates.
Moving into the cabin of the Creta, little has been altered save for the new eightinch touchscreen, which can be specified with navigation for an additional R2,522.
As part of its Executive trim, the entire Creta range comes standard with leather seats, cruise control, electrical folding mirrors and rear park assist with reverse camera.
Motivation still comes in the form of the normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine that makes 90kW and 150Nm paired to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, while oil-burner fans can still enjoy the 1.6-litre turbodiesel powerplant that musters 94kW and 260Nm and is allied solely to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing starts at R339,900 for the 1.6 Executive manual (R359,900 for the automatic) and tops out at R399,900 for the 1.6 TD Executive.
Moving up a rung on the Hyundai SUV ladder brings us to the updated Tucson, which, much like the updates introduced to the Creta, receives a sharper grille with a similar cascading design, while the front bumper also gets a satin skid plate, and a new 18-inch alloy design has been introduced to the flagship Elite trimmed model.
At the rear is perhaps where the most obvious updates can be seen in the form of the redesigned tail lights (now LED equipped), while a new, wider licence plate housing and spruced-up rear bumper complete fresh updates.
The cabin, too, has been given a more refreshed look with new air vents and, more significantly, a “floating” seven-inch infotainment screen atop the dash now features Apple CarPlay.
Three specification levels are still offered – the entry-level Premium, which comes with amenities such as cruise control, the aforementioned touchscreen infotainment system, LED daytime running lights and driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags.
This variant is powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, delivering 115kW and 196Nm paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
The mid-spec Executive, over and above the Premium trim, adds standard features such as an Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), leather seats, Blind Spot Detection for side mirrors, Cross Traffic Alert detectors at the rear, electric seat adjustment for the driver and a full auto air conditioner with climate control.
It also comes with the 2.0litre petrol engine, but paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox as a new addition, while the Executive turbodiesel variant with a 2.0-litre displacement pushes out 131kW and 400Nm and features a new-to-the-range eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The flagship Elite models takes the specification sheet even further with such things as a panoramic sun roof, electric seat adjustment for both driver and front passenger, keyless entry and push-start engine button.
It also includes the Blind Spot Detection and Cross Traffic Alert safety features, with an additional USB port in the rear quarters.
Engines used in the Elite derivatives are the abovementioned 2.0-litre petrol, the 2.0l turbodiesel and the 1.6-litre turbo petrol with 130kW and 265Nm paired with a sevenspeed dual clutch automatic transmission.
The 1.7-litre turbodiesel variant has been dropped from the Tucson line-up.
Pricing for the Tucson overlaps that of the Creta range with a starting price of R399,000 for the 2.0l Premium manual version and R559,900 for the 1.6T Elite automatic variant. – BDLive