2024 Hyundai Creta N line review, first drive - Glow-up

One of the reasons the Creta has been so popular is because it covers most bases. But that hasn't been entirely true if you are one who finds joy in driving. On the other hand, Hyundai's N Line cars have been growing steadily in popularity, the i20 N Line and Venue N Line are now serious options for affordable enthusiastic motoring. The Hyundai Creta N Line then should fit right into the middle of this scheme of things.

2024 Hyundai Creta N line Styling

Quite a way away from where this generation of the Creta started, the N Line is quite the looker now. Hyundai going further than usual to give the Creta N Line a distinct, committed look. This is best noticed with the new face. The split grille arrangement with the body-coloured panel below the DRLs forms a good foil to the smaller, better-detailed grille. The air dam with the cladding that juts out is especially aggressive but never feels over the top.

The edgy cladding along the sides and the larger 18-inch wheels fit in better with the face than in the standard Creta. As elsewhere, the N Line badges feel especially well detailed and there's just the right degree of red accenting in the callipers and around the car.

The rear, if anything, seems bolder still. The oversized two-step spoiler and the fleshed-out diffuser theme to the bumper border on overkill but still gel well with the theme that Hyundai seems to be going for. You have chunky exhaust tips and more red highlighting for added effect. The new colour options, especially the matte grey here, make the Creta N Line stand out further.

2024 Hyundai Creta N line interiors, space, practicality

Things are relatively more subdued inside the Creta N Line, although Hyundai has made sure this SUV's sporting intentions are still clear. The curved housing for the two 10.25-inch displays is still the centrepiece, foiled by the slim air vents and the neat storage space in front of the passenger. The big bank of physical switches below is as welcome here as in the standard Creta.

But while materials and textures have been left untouched, you now have an all-black theme that makes for a cosier space. There are splashes of red here with the highlighting around the screens and on the dash face. Furthering this are the red ambient lighting and the aluminium pedals. But as we noticed in the standard Creta, some of the finishes and materials could have been better. You don't have soft dash surfaces and some of the panel fit leaves you wanting, most noticeable in the stark red highlighting around the screen.

But in contrast, the N-specific steering is still deeply impressive. As we noted in the Venue N Line, it wouldn't be out of place in something far more expensive. It's easy to hold, the buttons and toggle switches are especially tactile and the large clawed paddles are a joy to use. Similarly, the stubby shifter feels tighter to use as does the textured leather on both. However, Hyundai could have gone further and added N Line-specific themes to the displays.

You'll still be ferrying around family and the Creta N Line's back seat is as effective here. Yes, the dark cabin doesn't feel as open as in the standard Creta but you have the same good legroom, reasonably good under-thigh support and amenities like chargers and large door pockets. The red highlight on the seats is finished well but they also have been recoushioned, making them more supportive over longer durations. The great-feeling head cushions have been retained too, now with N Line embossing.

2024 Hyundai Creta N line features, safety

The Hyundai Creta N Line carries over the same features set as the standard Creta. So you have full LED lighting, connected tech, Bose audio, PM2.5 air filter, climate control, auto headlamps and wipers, panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats. Wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay is still a stark miss though.

The well-calibrated Level 2 ADAS functions continue and you get front, side and curtain airbags. There's also a neat set of 360-degree cameras, TPMS as well as a dashcam.

2024 Hyundai Creta N line driving impressions, 0 to 100 kmph time

The Hyundai Creta N Line uses the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol as in the regular Creta with its 160PS and 253 Nm, but this engine is available across two variants here for a wider spread. The 7-speed DCT continues but a 6-speed manual has been added as well.

Driving the DCT, there's not much difference in the way the engine performs. It still shines with its refinement and in the way it's so well paired with the gearbox. It doesn't feel too hesitant or lethargic at low speeds, Then when the turbo spools there's a wide, linear powerband to use. In fact, there's a sizeable degree of grunt here as the claimed 0 to 100 kmph time of 8.9s suggests. This performance is available till quite high up the powerband so it makes for clean, flexible driving.

You have drive modes and a gearbox Sport mode that alters this experience, there is a fair degree of separation between these and even in Sport, the motor doesn't feel peaky or sharp-edged. That said, the gearbox continues to be a tad bit conservative with giving you a hard downshift at high revs but you don't find yourself reaching for one often given this drivetrain's more tractable nature, compared to the Venue. In any case, the gearbox fades away in the background with largely smooth shifts. But, we were left cold by the exhaust note. It's no different from the standard Creta, and some way off the purr that you get from the Venue N Line.

We came away with the suspension tuning in the new Creta, and the N Line seems to carry this forward. That solid substantial feel has been kept intact despite the wheel sizes growing. A slight firm edge is the only major giveaway, but the Creta N Line manages to stay plush over our road surfaces in most conditions. A good improvement has been in high-speed stability where it feels tied down and doesn't seem to lose traction over undulating surfaces all too much.

The Creta N Line's steering feel also seems more natural than the regular version. The artificial heft has possibly been toned down and you now have some more directness. It's a good balance between comfort and engagement, given that this will largely see life as an everyday car, but at low speeds, you do sometimes want more precision. We didn't find too many corners to see how the Creta N Line handles, but over fast, sweeping ramps we came away impressed with the way the Creta N Line felt confident. The SUV leans progressively, you have a good sense of what the car is doing and there's reasonable speed that you'll carry before it starts to run wide. But we think slightly wider tyres would have made for a touch more excitement here.

2024 Hyundai Creta N line price, verdict

Topping out at just over Rs 20 lakh, the Hyundai Creta N Line does well to broaden the Creta's appeal. We would have liked a better-finished cabin and maybe a fruitier exhaust note, but the usual Creta traits of comfort, modernity and value remain. More enthusiastic buyers, who may not have considered the Creta before, will also take to the fluid powertrain and the added confidence in the chassis. That it's had a glow-up along the way helps.

Images by Anis Shaikh

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