The Best of both worlds

The Best of both worlds. How often have we heard that phrase?  Most often, it is used with reference to a house in the country close to the highway, or, recently, even the combination of a pizza and a burger. What it implies in the true sense and in the real world is a crossover of benefits. Large vehicles have always been, secretly or not, desired by everyone from little children to mothers with many little children. Road presence? Safety? Big feel? Yes, they had that, but they also had a lot of bulk and were plagued by the worst handling money could buy. Show it a muddy corner and, like a big dog. It would want to roll over in it, worse, taking said mother and little children along for the ride. 

What's changed? Vehicles can be large, yet still handle like cars. Not everyone needs a two-and-a-half tonne 4x4 to take on a wet road and a puddle or three, no. They could simply do with high ground clearance, wide enough tyres, more predictable car-like handling, and while they're at it, more space and a Cabin feels airy and spacious. Quality is good and the automatic transmission is a blessing when dealing with chaotic city traffic big car feel too. Enter the crossover. No more ladder-onframe, three-row, knees-in-your-face seating nonsense, it was time for a change. With a larger monocoque to work with, there can be a big car with all the creature comforts and space for passengers and cargo, just like the massive SUV. Except, this one is more comfortable, doesn't guzzle fuel to the tune of single-figure km/litre and is actually drivable in all weather conditions. 

Hyundai have created the new Creta, which takes several of its 'Fluidic' design cues from its larger sibling, the Santa Fe. The exterior proportions look generous, and they are. The threeslat chromed front grille is flanked by a projector combination headlamp cluster. The rising shoulder-line makes is look far more angular and sharp than the Santa Fe as well as the old Tucson; the only compact SUV offering from Hyundai India in the past. Flared wheel-arches are joined by 16" wheels and 205/65 rubber. Braking duties are handled by a set of discs at the front and drums at the rear. Don't bother looking for a rear differential, there isn't one. The CRETA is purely front-wheel drive.

Inside, the greatest thing the CRETA has going for it is the space on offer. It's wide enough to accommodate four passengers with ease, as well as a fifth, should the situation so demand. The front seats offer good support and are very comfortable to be in indeed. They are, however, manually adjustable. At the rear, the head-room is good too and the seats, although a bench, offer enough knee-room: lack of space is not going to be an issue, although the thigh support at the rear is not as good as it is at the front. The centre arm-rest is also there to make rear occupants more comfortable when travelling in a group of four. Adjustable headrests, front and rear, are a highly appreciated inclusion too.

The boot space is also generous and will easily hold the luggage for said family all set for a long weekend. The AT model also exclusively gets a 60:40 split-folding rear seat-back. Other crucial elements include generous cubbyholes and other storage spaces, Bluetooth, as well as a USB port and Aux connectivity. The interior, as expected from Hyundai, is well laid-out and equally well finished. The black plastic components don't feel cheap to touch and there is nothing lacklustre about their finish. The steering wheel is positioned at quite an angle, but the driving position isn't really awkward. A reverse parking camera rounds off the equipment list nicely. 

On the safety front, Hyundai have been busy, with the "HIVE body structure' chassis having reinforced the front end, A- and B-pillars and underbody. ABS is standard on all variants, as are dual front airbags.

Under the bonnet, the familiar1.6-litre four-pot turbo-diesel, from the Verna and Elantra, makes 128 PS and 260 Nm. The automatic transmission on offer, however, is from the latter: a six-speed unit, and shifts up quickly in the interest of efficiency. This helps keep the cabin sound level appreciably low. Power delivery is progressive and makes the CRETA a convenient city offering, while also ensuring it won't run out of breath on the highway. It dismisses 100 km/h in just over 12seconds and hits a true 160 km/h. Under braking from 80 km/h. it behaved itself and felt sure-footed.

The all-important fuel-efficiency figure we achieved was as high as 14.5 km/1 on the highway. Don't fret, because even in the city, the CRETA CRDi AT delivered a double-digit figure. Now it comes down to the price, the CRETA is available from Rs 8.6 lakh, but this 1.6 automatic diesel we've driven here is priced at Rs 13.58 lakh, all prices ex-showroom, Delhi. Value for money it is, then, and it's already got a lot of competitors shaking in their boots.

 
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