Introduction

The Hyundai Creta Automatic Petrol has been with us for three months now. We have extensively used it in the city and on the highways in order to tell you about some of its pros and cons. This long-term review wrap-up report will point out just that. Take a note of these points before you decide to buy it.

The good things

1. Automatic gearbox

To ease their gear shifting hassles in the ever-increasing traffic, customers are choosing an automatic car instead of a manual. And the Creta's six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox does this job very well. It’s very smooth and the gear shifts happen without any jerks, making the Creta quite a joy to drive around.

2. Engine and ride

The 1.6-litre petrol engine has an awesome refinement level and isn't a petrol guzzler. The Creta has a balanced suspension set-up to offer a comfortable ride. It dismisses broken roads with ease and also handles well according to SUV standards.

3. Touch screen system

The Creta was one of the first SUVs to offer a 7-inch touch screen system with audio and video navigation. We found it to be very useful as the Bluetooth feature was continuously used to buffer songs through the phone. The reversing camera paired to this system came to our aid while reversing or parking in a tight spot.

4. Space and storage

Being a premium SUV, one would expect the Creta to get well packaged interiors. And it doesn't disappoint in that quarter either. It also offers sufficient legroom and headroom, while having a very practical boot.

The not so good things

1. Video playback and navigation

Many customers might not be aware that the system supports video playback as well. That's probably because you can only use this feature when the car is parked. As a safety measure you cannot use it on the run. Also the navigation system isn't as friendly and precise as Google Maps. We ended up using our phone more than the car's sat-nav.

2. Digital instrument cluster

The present digital instrument console displays the odometer, trip-meter, temperature and which gear you are in. However, it misses out on distance-to-empty and average fuel efficiency, which is quite a necessity in present day cars.

3. Price

Many don't mind shelling out that extra money for a premium car with many features. However, despite the Creta being a premium SUV, it misses out some features which its competitors offer. So it does feel that it's overpriced.

Farewell

Despite all odds, the Hyundai Creta is a refreshing take on SUVs. It has paved the way for the unconventional compact SUVs we are so accustomed to seeing around these days. So much so, that the average Indian buyer is now all gaga over SUVish looks and wants a vehicle like that. It, therefore, doesn’t come as a surprise that the Creta is a runaway success for Hyundai in India. It remains an all-rounder urban SUV with perfect size for Indian cities and is good looking too! As we bid farewell to it, Hyundai has already planned how to rectify the shortcomings, even an updated version has gone on sale.

Click here to read the first introduction report.

Click here to read the city drive report.

Click here to read the highway drive report.

Pictures also contributed by Kapil Anganeand Surmai Bhatt