What to expect from the 2020 Hyundai Creta (ix25)?

The second-generation Hyundai Creta will make its world debut at the upcoming Auto Expo 2020, but the SUV will be launched in March.

It’s official. The new 2020 Hyundai Creta will be unveiled at the upcoming Auto Expo and later in March, the SUV will be launched. No doubt this will be one of the most anticipated crossover SUVs to be launched this year along with the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and both Kia’s and Toyota’s compact SUVs. So, it’s safe to say that 2020 too will be the year of the crossover SUV. Recently in China, Creta’s sibling ix25 was launched and we take a closer look at it and tell you what to expect from the new generation Creta.

Exteriors

The new Creta will be longer and wider than the current version, but what’s surprising is that the latter model remains taller than the new-generation SUV. At 4,300mm in length and 1,790mm in width, the 2020 Creta is 30mm longer and 10mm wider. On 16-inch rims, the new Creta’s height is 1,620mm, while the 17-inch ones are 15mm taller. Keeping in mind that these are China-spec measurements, therefore, we expect the Creta in India to offer a higher ground clearance.

Hyundai has completely revamped the design of the second generation ix25 and much of it is similar to the compact SUV, the Venue. It gets Hyundai’s signature ‘cascading grille’, which is seen on the Venue, and like its younger sibling, the new Creta will get squarish bumper-mounted headlamps and the DRLs placed above it. The second-generation Creta is expected to receive some design changes to suit the Indian market like a new front grille and as the ix25’s alloy wheels are similar to the Venue, expect a different set of rims for the new SUV. Coming to the rear, the Creta will retain the split taillamps and the redesigned bumper with aluminium painted faux skid plate.

Interiors

The biggest addition in the ix25’s cabin has to be the vertical designed 10.4-inch touchscreen. The intuitive experience is what Hyundai is looking to offer, therefore, the cabin has a clean layout with limited buttons as most the functions can be carried out from the infotainment system’s touchscreen, like the MG Hector. The new Creta will also come with a panorama roof. It gets a new flat-bottom steering wheel, a new all-digital instrument cluster, a stylish ‘Aviation’ gear knob and an electric parking brake.

Engines and transmissions

When it comes to both powertrain and gearbox options, the Creta will get the same as the Kia Selotos like the 113bhp 1.5-litre petrol, the 113bhp 1.5-litre diesel and the 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol. As for the transmissions, the 1.5-litre petrol will be available in manual and CVT, the diesel in either manual or torque converter automatic and the turbocharged petrol will come in manual or dual-clutch auto.

Expected price and competition

The first generation Creta had a field day as it crushed its competition without a sweat, but this time around it will face stiff competition from the current segment leader, the Seltos, a bit from the MG Hector, Volkswagen plans to crash the party with the A0 SUV, based on the T-Cross, and then there are the two unknown quantity — the Great Wall Motors and Haima Automobile. It is expected that Hyundai will price the new Creta competitively in the range of ₹10-17 lakh as they gear up for round 2.

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