Hyundai till now only has concentrated towards the premium end of the EV space with its Ioniq and the Kona to some extent. It has stayed away from the compact SUV segment unlike Tata Motors. But not anymore as the Creta electric is here and is its first compact SUV or a mass market EV aimed to compete with the Tata Curvv and the Mahindra BE 6. It is based on the Creta platform but comes with many changes while you have an option of two battery packs as well.
Styling
The new Creta electric is familiar as the popular Creta but there are some changes which means people will be able to distinguish easily on the road, if not being a completely different car. In this blue shade, the Creta electric stands out and you can get this colour only in this car. There are some changes like the blanked off grille while it also has a pixelated theme along with the camera placed front. Hyundai have also placed the charger slot at the front too which can be opened by a button. There are also active aero flaps for cooling which again are not found on other EVs while there are special wheels and tyres for getting more range too. The rear styling is similar if not for the pixelated theme again plus the electric badge.
Interiors
The basic design might seem the same as the regular Creta but the interior is changed in many ways. For starters, there is a new three spoke steering which has the Hyundai logo in Morse code while there is a new centre console which has a floating effect along with seat cooling buttons. Then there is more storage space below as the gear selector location is now at the column since it is a shift by wire mechanism. The seats are themselves made from recycled materials but also feel much the same as the Creta standard while also like the standard Creta, you do not get many plus sift touch elements but the fit/finish is quite good. Feature list is high which starts from the regular features like a panoramic sunroof, powered handbrake, connected car features and more.
Here, the Creta electric has passenger as well as driver powered seats with a memory function for the driver too. Then you have an in-car payment structure for charging as well as an app for that. Other features include an 8-spealker audio system from Bose, touch panel for the dual zone climate control, a digital key, a passenger walkin device for the rear passenger, rear passenger seat recline, ADAS level 2, V2L to charge other devices plus more. It has pretty much every feature. The space at the back is superb with plenty of space and a table too while the airy cabin helps. However, it is suited for two passengers while you do feel a bit of a knees up position with the battery placed in the floor. You also get a 22 litre frunk while there is a 433 litre boot with no change.
Drive
At a more aggressive price point you have the 42 kWh battery pack version which gives you a range of 390 km but we tested the 51.4 kWh battery pack version with a range of 473 km. Power is a single electric motor with 171 bhp. The electric Creta is slightly heavier than the petrol Creta but is faster. It feels fast and performance is strong even if the power delivery is tuned for a more comfortable drive. There are three modes and even eco is sufficient and not slow while Sport is proper fast.
There is also regenerative braking which can be adjusted via the steering paddles but you can also select the i pedal where you can basically drive with the accelerator only and lifting off triggers the brake. It is strong and has proper regen too. Expect the range to be around 400 if driven in eco mode while it could be around 350-400km overall which is not be highest in class but a good figure. Plus the ground clearance was good enough at 200mm while the ride/handling was stable. Compared to other EVs, the Creta electric felt more comfortable and composed with not a firm ride.
Final thoughts
The Creta electric is power packed with features and technology but importantly it remains a spacious SUV with plenty of practical appeal. buyers will get a 11kW AC charger with a time of 4 hours charging at home. We feel the Creta electric is the most practical EV in its class and will have a lot of sales in being an SUV which widens the EV segment with its name, space, and appeal.
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