In the long list of crossovers & SUVs that Hyundai sells in the UAE, the Creta slots between the Venue and the Tucson. It will be a practical option for those who are looking at similar cars like the Nissan Kicks, Ford EcoSport, Chery Tiggo7, etc. The Hyundai Creta 2024 takes several styling ideas from pricier Hyundai cars – albeit with a closer eye on the budget.
The segment where it sits is pretty competitive, where absolute mediocrity will certainly lead to declining sales. Ensuring it remains attractive for customers in the UAE will not only be based on its looks and price, but also in other key areas such as comfort, features, and efficiency. We will cover all those (and more) in this review of the Hyundai Creta 2024.
Places where the Hyundai Creta shines:
Bolder and less awkward design
The front styling of the Hyundai Creta borrows heavily from the likes of the new Tucson and the Santa Cruz pickup. It features the Korean brand’s new “Parametric Jewel” grille design with chunky black inserts and well-integrated LED lights along the fringes. These, along with the large LED headlights and reworked front bumper, make the new Creta look more imposing yet stylish.
The 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels of the new Hyundai Creta are available in a dual-tone option and look sharp. The prominent creases on the bodywork along the sides and the dynamic two-tone paint help this crossover among its peers. The tailgate has also been redesigned a bit to make it look more edgy and features a large ‘CRETA’ badge.
Purchasing it won’t break the bank
You should get a well-specced Hyundai Creta 2024 for around AED 80,000, making it relatively affordable within its segment. While it is not as cheap as the Renault Duster, the Creta certainly feels more premium – both inside and out. Most new Hyundai cars fare well when it comes to reliability and ownership experience, plus the Creta also gets a 5-year/150,000 km manufacturer warranty.
Some stylish interior elements
The first thing you will notice in the cabin of the Hyundai Creta is the 10.25-inch fully-digital driver’s display. It is a neat & crisp display with useful information on offer which can be viewed at a quick glance. Also, this gauge cluster comes with multiple viewing modes that the driver can select from.
There is a stylish leather-wrapped steering wheel with some shiny plastic trim and also paddle shifters for that sporty feel. The leatherette upholstery on the seats features white piping on the sides and a honeycomb-like pattern down the middle. The design of the dashboard and chunky side vents will grab your grab attention, and so will the large gear lever.
Spacious and practical cabin
The cabin of the Hyundai Creta is more spacious than it looks on the outside. There is enough leg space and kneeroom for occupants in the front and the back. The front seats offer a fine seating position with a good view out, while the rear ones are decently padded and provide a fair bit of back and under-thigh support.
The large glass roof lets in plenty of light and makes this cabin feel airy, plus there are center armrests as well as cupholders for the front & rear occupants. There is also decent storage space in the front door pockets and under the front armrest.
Decent fuel economy
The Hyundai Creta 1.5L is capable of around 14 km/L (7.1 L/100 km) in mixed driving conditions, which is fairly good for a car this size. That said, the Creta’s fuel economy is not class-leading.
Areas where the Hyundai Creta can improve:
The infotainment system isn’t the best
The Hyundai Creta sold in other markets comes with a modern 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, but the model available in the UAE features an older 8.0-inch system. While it gets the job done, the unit looks straight from the aftermarket bin and contradicts the more premium look & feel of the larger digital gauge cluster.
Lacking some higher-end safety features
The new Hyundai Creta covers the basics when it comes to its safety suite, which is not that vast anyway. However, its arsenal falls short on several fronts – even the higher-end model only gets two airbags. Its safety kit seems to be devoid of surround-view cameras, auto-emergency braking, collision avoidance, blind-spot warning, etc.
Not the most interesting to drive
When compared to some of its closest rivals in the segment, the 2024 Hyundai Creta’s handling characteristics feel dull and uninspiring. The focus here has clearly been on comfort and neutral road manners, so excessive effort behind the wheel will not yield any fruitful or exciting results.
The rear design is still not it
Despite having worked on some of the sheet metal, the rear design of the Hyundai Creta 2024 will still divide opinions.
Rear cargo space is limited
At 416 liters, the boot space of the 2024 Hyundai Creta is not the most spacious. You can still load at least three medium-size (airport-style) bags before running out of usable room.
Some of the other highlights of the Hyundai Creta 2024
In the UAE, the Hyundai Creta 2024 has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 113 hp and 144 Nm. It is a smooth and tractable motor at city speeds, and when paired with Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), it makes driving the Creta an easy experience even for newbies.
With a top speed of 170 km/h and taking 12 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, the Hyundai Creta sure isn’t a quick car. As for the sloping roof and rear windows, they look stylish but compromise the headroom for tall passengers at the back.
The most poignant convenience features of the new Creta would be the integration of Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, LED mood lighting, a panoramic sunroof, single-zone climate control, a rear USB charging port, and a smart key with remote-engine start.
Should you buy it?
As the title of this review suggests, the Hyundai Creta 2024 offers modern styling and comfort along with everyday practicality – all at a price point that isn’t intimidating. If you are willing to live with a rather bland-driving crossover without additional safety & tech frills, then this could be your car.
