The updated Creta that we reviewed a couple of months ago, addressed all of the shortcomings of the 3rd gen model while making changes to the design and adding a ton of features. Hyundai has decided to introduce an N Line variant for the first time for the Creta, after launching the Venue N Line and the i20 N Line. The script remains the same. There are exterior design updates, a black and red theme on the inside, and sportier steering and suspension. We got a chance to sample the Creta N Line on the outskirts of Delhi and were also able to do a stint of the new Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Here are our thoughts.
Design
The facelifted Creta, in my opinion, is the best-looking mid-size SUV in the country. The Creta N Line adds some visual differentiation which isn’t exactly subtle, especially at the front. The large grille from the regular Creta gets swapped with a slimmer one here, and a section below the full-length LED strip has been omitted. In its place is a body-colored bit that makes the front look a bit sleeker, but I do prefer the grille on the regular Creta. There are more changes further down, with a more aggressive bumper. On to the side, there are red accents that run all the way to the back, N-badged 18-inch wheels which look rather nice and red brake calipers as well. At the back, there is an aggressive faux diffuser, changes to the bumper, and dual exhaust tips. Of course there is a smattering of N Line badges as well. There is a rather attractive shade of blue that you would have seen in some of the marketing material, and there is a sort of Nardo Grey as well. It has to be said that Hyundai has done a very good job in terms of differentiating the N Line Creta from the regular one.
Interiors
The interior layout is largely the same with the addition of a black and red theme. The twin 10.25-inch display setup continues in the N Line with a red accent around it instead of the Copper that’s there in the regular Creta. The central AC vents also feature a slightly different layout. That aside, there are two significant changes – the steering wheel and the gear lever. The steering wheel is different here and is the chunkier, N-badged steering wheel. The buttons also seem to flow in nicely to the contours of the wheel. From an aesthetic stand point, this avoids the complicated design of the wheel in the regular Creta and feels a lot more natural. The gear lever too gets similar treatment, and is nice and chunky to hold with a satisfying mechanical heft to it.
The seats are now black with N motifs and stitching. Everything else seems the same and so you get all the features and all the creature comforts. There’s a host of ADAS Level 2 active safety features to complement the passive safety features. Things like wireless charging, ventilated seats, powered driver’s seat and more are here as well. Sadly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is still not wireless. But that minor gripe aside nothing that you’d miss on the equipment front.
Performance
The engine is the 1.5-litre turbo petrol unit that’s also offered in the standard Creta. Performance is brisk with the engine good for 160PS and 253Nm of power and torque respectively. 0-100kmph comes up inside 9 seconds. The dual clutch transmission on the car that we were driving was quick with the shifts and in Sport mode encouraged enthusiastic driving by holding on to the gears longer. As with all other DCTs, it did get caught out on the odd occasion at slow speeds. The Creta N Line races to triple-digit speeds effortlessly and doesn’t mind staying there for extended stints. We were able to test this out as we cruised at high speeds on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway. Braking performance was good too, with a slight vagueness from the pedal at the very beginning of its travel but then good bite and feedback as you get through that.
Ride and Handling
Hyundai has made the Creta N Line sportier by adjusting the steering and suspension. The big 18-inch wheels also help. The steering feels a bit heavier now and that helps with how assured it feels at high speeds. It’s a bit too heavy when you’re going slow but still comfortable enough. The Sport mode makes the steering a little heavier in addition to changes to the throttle map. There is a directness to the way the steering wheel responds that just wasn’t there earlier, and I appreciate that.
We were on an arrow straight highway so we couldn’t really show the N Line some corners, but when we got off the highway and on to some narrow twisty roads, we found the steering felt a lot more connected to the front end. The larger wheels also probably play a part here. But they do have a bearing on the ride quality.
The downside is the ride is firmer. You can feel the bumps and roughness of the roads more. But it is not uncomfortable. It’s not as soft as the regular Creta, but that’s expected for a sportier model. However, it doesn’t bounce or move up and down too much on bumpy roads, so you’ll feel confident driving fast on the highway. This aspect shone through as we drove on the highway, and the Creta demonstrated admirable composure, taking the slight imperfections in its stride. With this suspension setup, the Creta N Line could be a great mile muncher for our country’s ever-growing expressway network.
Verdict
Starting at Rs. 16.82 lakh (ex-showroom), the Creta N Line is incredible value. Yes, most of the additions are purely aesthetic, but they do add to what was already a good-looking SUV and with a delta of just Rs. 30,000, it makes sense to go for the Creta N Line. The changes to the wheel size, the ride and handling make it a much more complete mid-size SUV as well.
