Hyundai Creta N Line Review: First Drive

The Hyundai Creta — a popular choice in the compact SUV segment — got a facelift in 2024. Building on the new model, Hyundai has introduced a sportier version of the SUV, called the Creta N Line.

This version is available only with the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. It competes with the likes of the Volkswagen Taigun GT, Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI, and the Kia Seltos GT Line. For a similar price you could also consider sedans such as the Volkswagen Virtus, Skoda Slavia, Hyundai Verna, and Honda City.

Let’s take a look at what’s different about it. 

Exterior 

The N Line model adds a sporty flavour to the Creta’s muscular styling. From the front, it’s easy to differentiate the N Line from the regular model. The bumper is different, it has a smaller grille that’s placed lower down and there are red accents too. 

From the side, you’d notice that the Creta’s signature silver accent above the doors is now finished in gloss black. The wheels are 18-inchers, a size larger than on the standard car. There are more red highlights here, including the front and rear brake callipers. 

At the rear, Hyundai’s signature N Line treatment is seen with a sporty bumper, spoiler and dual tip exhausts.

Hyundai is offering the Creta N Line in some unique colours; The Titan Grey Matte, Shadow Grey and Thunder Blue look especially appealing. It looks just as good in neutral colours too, such as the Atlas White and Abyss Black.

Interior

For the interior, Hyundai has chosen a sporty all-black colour theme for the Creta N Line. This is highlighted by red trims around the AC vents, red piping and stitching on the seats and red ambient lighting. Other subtle updates include an N Line monogram on the front seats and N Line branding on the rear neck cushions as well. 

From a space and practicality standpoint, the Creta N Line is identical to the standard Creta. There’s adequate storage space in the doors and centre console. In terms of space, a six-footer can fit behind a six-foot tall driver quite easily. It’s one of the better cars in the segment to seat three at the rear, but in a pinch.

Boot space remains unchanged at 433 litres. The boot lacks depth which makes it harder to store larger suitcases here. You’d be better off using smaller trolley bags to make better use of the boot space on offer. 

Features

The top-spec N10 variant of the Creta N Line gets all the features of the SX (O)  variant. Highlights include

Safety

Hyundai claims to have made structural enhancements to the updated Creta. The N Line is expected to carry forward those updates. Safety features include:

The top-spec N10 variant also features Level 2 ADAS. This gives it a host of features including adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.

The new Creta (or the N Line) have not been crash tested by any independent authority yet. A crash test result is awaited.

Performance

You’d expect the N Line variant to be a little more engaging to drive than the standard Creta 1.5 Turbo. Fact is, the difference isn’t as big as you’d hope. 

Sure, the acceleration is quick; The 0-100 kmph sprint is dealt with in a claimed 8.9 seconds. It also has very strong in-gear acceleration which makes overtaking a breeze. It can do some seriously questionable high speeds with relative ease too. All this, however, isn’t unique to the N Line. The standard Creta 1.5 Turbo does all of this just as well. 

The real delight for the enthusiasts lies in the 6-speed manual transmission. This is exclusive to the N Line models and is an absolute delight to use. The weight of the lever, and the crisp shift feel makes using this manual a joy to use. If you are considering the Creta N Line as a weekend toy, we’d urge you to consider a manual. It really lets you have fun behind the wheel. If it’s a mix of everyday driving and weekend thrills you seek, the 7-speed DCT with its quick shifts is the better choice. 

Ride and Handling

Compared to the standard Creta, the N Line rides on larger wheels. Hyundai claims it has only tweaked the suspension to account for the larger wheels and haven’t tuned it to be any sportier. As a result, ride quality is largely similar. It’s marginally firmer as you go over rough surfaces, and the side-to-side rocking movement is better contained. Another upside of this setup is felt in high speed stability, where the N Line feels more at ease. 

The steering wheel is easy to predict and has the right weight. It feels ever so slightly heavier than the standard car which has you feeling more confident out on the highway. 

Verdict

The N Line version isn’t as much of a step up from the standard car in terms of driving dynamics. It does just enough. For just about Rs 30,000 over the top-spec Creta SX (O) Turbo, it’s a no-brainer for those wanting racy looks, a sportier ride, and more confident highway manners or a manual gearbox. All of this is bundled with the familiar package of the Creta that offers ample space, features and wow factor.