It's largely an unfair comparison when people club the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport as rivals. The Duster is larger and the ideal example of the compact SUV while the EcoSport is the poster child for the sub-compact SUV segment. However, both have been immensely successful and don't have very credible challengers. They also see some overlap of prices on some variants.
In my opinion, the Hyundai Creta will be the one to watch. It will likely expand the segment by offering terrific value and lots of options and features. It will also bring in an automatic variant, which is now being seen as a growing requirement for automakers in India. The EcoSport does have an auto-box too, but the rest don't. The Creta is also very good looking as it carries Hyundai's Fluidic sculpture 2.0 styling that has already been a hit with stable mates like the new i20.
In fact the i20 is the big reason why Hyundai knows it will stand a good chance of making a major impact with the Creta. The buyer in India is more evolved than before. While the first generation i20 started slow and then was selling handsomely by the end of its lifecycle, the 2nd gen i20 has gone through the roof. Hyundai sells over 12,000 of them a month, with another 1,000 odd units of the i20 Active. The segment of the truly premium hatch has just exploded - and even pricier variants of cars like the VW Polo are now gaining acceptance and traction as a result.
So I believe the Creta too will dramatically expand its segment, just like the i20 did for its segment. Add to that Maruti's S-Cross and existing players getting more aggressive, and this is the space to watch! The Creta will, no doubt, also bring a lot to the cabin - in terms of gadgets and overall comfort. It will also have a plush interior by comparison and that's really Hyundai's trump card isn't it? To ensure that the car looks premium and very well made - inside and out. The focus isn't always on driving!
We have all seen numerous pictures of the ix25 (the same model already launched in China) flood our timelines and yes some spy shots of the Creta-badged car too. So we all know how it looks. But how does it drive? This time around Hyundai's PR machinery has gone into hyperdrive trying to communicate to me that the senior management (in Korea and in India) are very clear that with the Creta the message has to be about drive dynamics, not good looks. So I am curious to see how that plays out! I drive the car today and so can tell you that is really what's top of mind for me. How will the Creta drive? (And by the way, why isn't anyone talking about the S-Cross?)
But the big question I simply can't seem to shake on the Creta? Why, oh why did the Hyundai brass choose to call it that?
Also Read: First Drive: Hyundai Creta
