Hyundai Creta: Which Engine Is For Who?

When you search the meaning of flavours, this is what Google throws up: Flavour (noun) - the distinctive taste of a food or drink.

That analogy can apply for many things. Be it an ice cream where each flavour has its own fan base where a group of people like vanilla, chocolate and so on. A similar analogy can be applied for the Hyundai Creta where apart from the many variants available, it is available in three distinct flavours (read: engines) which suit a particular set of audience. 

In this article, we are going to detail exactly that by explaining which of the Creta’s flavours are for which type of buyers. 

If You Are Easygoing And Relaxed - 1.5-litre MPi Petrol

If you’re someone who’s easy going and wants something calm to drive, then you should consider the Creta’s 115 PS 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. It’s known for its refined nature and linear power delivery, making it a great choice for those who like to sit back and ease up on the drive. Adding to the nature are two transmission options: a slick shifting 6-speed manual or a CVT that’s smooth as butter. 

The relaxed nature of this engine with a smooth build up in its power delivery makes this version of the Creta the perfect choice for beginner drivers. That being said, it’s no slouch by offering satisfactory performance on expressways. And all of this comes without any compromise in fuel efficiency, where Hyundai claims the petrol-MT can deliver 17.4 kmpl and the CVT delivers 17.7 kmpl. 

If You Are Someone Who Wants Fun - 1.5-litre Turbo GDi Petrol

Let us put it this way – if you’re someone who loves to be behind the wheel and want something that can plaster a smile on your face, opt for the Hyundai Creta’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. 160 PS and 253 Nm makes it one of the most powerful turbo-petrol cars in its segment. It’s free revving in nature and loves to be pushed to its limits. Adding to the drive experience is the slick shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that’s quick and ready to serve you the right gear at the right time. 

Want more fun? Slot the gear lever into manual mode and you can take control by using the paddle shifters. Want even more fun? You should consider the sportier Creta N Line, which gets a sportier design and tweaked mechanicals for a sportier drive. The N Line version of the Creta also offers a 6-speed manual transmission with this engine if you intend to take matters in your own hands. 

Turbo-petrol engines usually don’t score high on fuel efficiency, but the same doesn’t apply for the Creta. This engine of the Creta is claimed to offer a mileage of 18.4 kmpl. 

If You Want A Mix Of Both - 1.5-litre U2 CRDi Diesel

When you pair something chocolatey with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, the end result you come up with is something magical. That’s what we’d describe the Hyundai Creta’s 115 PS 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is a mix of punch and frugal nature. The punchy 250 Nm torque available from lower down in the rev band adds to the punch and comes in handy for both city driving and executing quick overtakes. It’s also extremely helpful in situations where torque is demanding such as hill driving. 

Also, this engine with its long legged nature makes it perfect for those who do a lot of long distance driving, where the oil burners spin in relaxed rpms.  And the best part - despite being a diesel, it’s very refined and in certain situations, one can even confuse it for a petrol engine. 

This engine is offered with both a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic, both of which are refined and one of the best in the business. Also, the Creta is one of the few models to offer a diesel engine, which in this age and world, is a big plus. Running costs of this engine is also lesser than the other two, courtesy of its incredible claimed fuel efficiency – 21.8 kmpl with the manual and 19.1 kmpl with the automatic. 

What’s The Price Jump Between The Three Engines? 

To keep things fair and square in this section, we have compiled the prices of the top-end SX (O) variant of the Creta to give you a perspective of the price difference between each powertrain. Also, the price jump for each variant is calculated from the base engine, which is the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol. 

• The Hyundai Creta diesel-manual commands a premium of Rs 1.58 lakh over the petrol engine. 

• And if you opt for the automatic, the turbo-petrol and diesel engine both command a premium of Rs 1.27 lakh over the NA petrol-automatic. 

These are three different flavours from the Hyundai Creta that suit its audience. Which flavour would you pick? Let us know in the comments. The Hyundai Creta is priced from Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20.3 lakh (ex-showroom).