SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Most, but not all, the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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All you need: 2017 Hyundai Creta 1.6 CRDI Executive a/t

Plenty is enough

Posted: 8 May 2017

The numbers
Price: R369 900
Engine: 1582 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, commonrail direct injection, four-cylinder turbodiesel
Power: 94 kW at 4000 rpm
Torque: 260 Nm at 2750 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 11.9 seconds
Top speed: 179 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 6.8 l/100 km
Tank: 55 litres
Luggage: 402 litres behind seats
Maximum (braked) towing mass: 900 kg
Warranty: 5 years / 150 000 km with roadside assistance
Drivetrain extended warranty: Plus 2 years / 50 000 km
Service plan: 5 years / 90 000 km at 15 000 km intervals

An acquaintance once said that any more than a decent handful is too much. Some would disagree. Whatever the case, unless you need to carry seven people at a time or use the truckie for moving your kid from home, to digs, to own place more than once a year, anything bigger than Hyundai’s new Creta sub-compact SUV is a waste.

It slots into the local range just below Tucson (iX35) with Santa Fe the biggest of the company’s sport utility offerings in this country. To put it into perspective it’s 205 mm shorter than Tucson on 80 mm less wheelbase, 70 mm narrower and 25 mm lower. That’s up to roof height. If you include the rails Creta, badged iX25 in some markets, stands 5 mm taller because its luggage racks are different. And despite being smaller than Tucson it boasts 15 mm greater ground clearance – 190 vs. 175.

Off-road nuts might say, “So where’s the 4x4?” Those who know numbers will tell you that fewer than one in five awd vehicles ever venture off asphalt, while cynics would put it closer to five percent. So, again, let’s not waste resources on what isn’t needed. Just be glad it can deal with most traffic humps, the odd pot-hole and the road to Granny’s farm.

Testing that claim, we took it out into agricultural country over a mix of gravel roads with small embedded stones (tooth rattling stuff in lesser vehicles) and long stretches of “washboard.” It soaked up whatever we aimed it at and while not quite as absorbent as really expensive air suspension, it coped well and remained on course all the time. Standard tyres are 205/65 R16s that should be reasonably economical to replace when the time comes and keep the ride comfy as well.

Wikipedia tells us that Creta was originally made in China where the roads are like ours, but it’s also assembled in Brazil, India, Russia and Algeria.

The local range consists of three models in Executive trim; a 1600 cc petrol engine with six-speed manual or automatic, and a 1600 diesel that comes with a/t only. Their prices range from R320 000 to R370 000. Hyundai says its natural predators include Nissan Qashqai and Juke, Opel Mokka X, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade and Mitsubishi ASX.

While it would be impractical to compare every model’s features, Creta keeps up with its competitors in most fields while being ahead in others. For example standard equipment includes six airbags; ABS brakes with EBD; front and rear fog lamps; cornering lights; satnav that even tells you what time the sun will rise; a six-speaker sound system with 8” touch screen, Bluetooth and the usual plugs for external music sources (the USB plays both MP3 and MP4 files).

It has a reversing camera; manual air conditioner with repeater vents at the back; powered widows with one-touch and anti-pinch for the driver; folding and heated electric mirrors; electrochromic rearview and an onboard computer. The luggage net is free. And the spare is a full-size alloy wheel with standard tyre.

You load at a height of 69 centimetres onto the usual flat floor. It’s conveniently hinged so you can get at the spare, the tools and some free storage space around the wheel. There are four lashing rings that also secure the net mentioned earlier, one bag hook and a light. The 60:40-split seat backs can be released from behind if you like and they lie almost flat.

In the back seat, our six-foot tester wallowed in plenty of head-, knee and foot room. It isn’t often that he gets to enjoy all three. There is the expected folding arm rest with its pair of cup holders, those extra vents and decent storage with two seatback pockets and medium door bins. Twin ISOFix mountings and three head restraints look after safety but there are only two full belts and a lap strap. That’s a pity because this is one of few cars with practically no central hump at all, so a middle passenger can sit comfortably.

Because the petrol engine is naturally aspirated, the similarly sized turbodiesel is noticeably stronger; 94 kW vs. 90 and 260 Nm vs. 150. This helps it make good use of Hyundai’s in-house, six-speed torque converter ‘box. It accelerated smoothly and easily while downshifts were similarly prompt and efficient. We managed on occasion to confuse it and induce flare but, provided you drive smoothly and responsibly without making sudden demands, it works well. Cruising revs at 120 km/h in sixth were about 2400 rpm.

Up front in the office, the two-tone, faux leather seats are supportive and comfortable with enough under-thigh length to keep tall drivers comfortable. Chair adjusters are mechanical with the driver enjoying elevation control. Air controls are similarly simple and easy to use, as are the music dials. Fit and finish is tight and solid although some might complain that all the plastic surfaces are hard. It’s a saving introduced by bean counters and shouldn’t adversely affect longevity.

The gear lever is within comfortable reach and the hand brake is conveniently placed for right hand drive. Manual override is via the stick; no paddles. And it turns tightly in 10.6 metres. Noticeable cost savings include a steering wheel that adjusts for height only and just one visor mirror. Instrument dials are big, round and analogue; no virtual or electronic fakery here. As we said, keep the good stuff without wasting resources.

Despite telling you how small Hyundai’s Creta looks on paper, it’s actually quite big and chunky, it performs more than adequately and will move a family of five plus luggage comfortably. Paraphrasing what that fellow said: Any more than plenty is wasteful.

Test unit from Hyundai Automotive SA press fleet


What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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