India-bound Hyundai Creta facelift showcased at 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show
Hyundai has brought in an updated version of its compact SUV, the Creta, at the 2016 Sao Paulo Motor Show. While the changes on the 2017 Creta concentrate more on the cosmetic front, Hyundai has also added more features to make it appear more premium than before. The facelift retains the petrol and diesel powertrain options.
In terms of design, the Hyundai Creta facelift features a larger and a more prominent radiator grille. The triple slats affixed on the grille are finished in matte black instead of chrome. The front bumper too has gone through a major revision. The vertically positioned fog lamps have been replaced by horizontal units that sit on the newly designed pockets.
It also gets an aluminium-finished bash plate which is more for the aesthetics than the functional use. The side remains similar to the previous model except for a change in the alloy-wheel design. It continues to ride on 215/60 R17 tyres for both front and rear. The rear gets new lights and a refreshed design of the bumper too with a larger bash plate. Overall, the new design of the Creta makes it look more rugged than before.
From the images it can be seen that the Hyundai Creta facelift carries over the same cabin layout as the previous iteration and comes equipped with a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the system now runs on a new software that offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. We believe the same to make it to India as well, considering Hyundai already offers the same on the new-gen Elantra. In addition, the Creta facelift comes equipped with a rear-parking camera and navigation as well as a tyre pressure monitoring systems.
The Hyundai Creta facelift that will be sold in the Brazilian market is powered by a Nu 2.0-litre petrol motor that makes 166PS at 6,200rpm and generates 201Nm of torque at 4,700rpm. The 1.6-litre Gamma motor produces 129PS/161Nm. Both the engines are offered with an optional automatic gearbox. The India-bound Creta facelift will still be offered with a choice between 1.4-litre petrol, 1.6-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines. The higher displacement engines gets an optional 6-speed automatic while the 1.4-litre petrol get a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The Hyundai Creta competes with the likes of the Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano, Honda BR-V and the Mahindra XUV500. Pricing of the Creta facelift will play a crucial role as Hyundai will also bring in the more premium SUV, the Tucson, in India next year. We expect the prices of Hyundai Tucson to range in between Rs 20-25 lakh in India.