Five reasons why the Hyundai Creta can be your next daily driver

In tandem with the revival of the Hyundai brand in the Philippines, we got the Creta it was one of the cornerstone models that comprised the new lineup for the country. The Creta is the smallest model in the current lineup of the brand, and it presents a good value proposition for car buyers looking for a competent daily driver. 

As it stands, the Creta finds itself in some shark-infested waters, with a ton of great options out in the market from new and several other well-established brands. Being one of the newest players in the market, the Creta will be going up against some stiff competition, but Hyundai has a good value proposition for its crossover in the form of several essential features as well as a very reasonable price tag. So, let’s go over some of the aspects that make the Creta a great buy for anywhere between P1,048,000 to P1,388,000. 

What sets the Creta apart from the rest of the pack is a very interesting light array in the front and in the rear. You might find it hard not to stare at the Creta whether you’re in front of it or behind it. The lights on the thing are mighty interesting. The main beams are housed on the cheeks of the front, while the daytime running lights (DRLs) are LED and are a part of the grille. The rear is also an interesting thing to look at thanks to the separated taillights. 

The shape of the Creta is also rather muscular, given how the model looks bigger than it actually is. Paired with the imposing grille, the position of the rear taillights, and the high ground clearance of the model, which stands at 200mm, it’s more imposing than its subcompact dimensions suggest. 

Another aspect of the Creta that wowed us when we first saw it was the interior. For the top-of-the-line trim, Hyundai opted to go for a two-tone black and tan interior which elevated the model’s refinement and premium-ness. It totally worked for the model and elevated the premium feel in the cabin. Compared to the other brands available, we feel that the Creta exudes class, and then you get into the sturdy dashboard and the clicky buttons and you might probably wonder how Hyundai gets away with charging so little for a car like this. If you're not a fan of this, there's always the all-black interior trim option. 

While we won’t praise the Creta too much because it is still built to a price point and it’s positioned and built like a bona-fide premium car, it’s good for its price, and we feel that it punches above its weight in terms of refinement and interior features. 

Speaking of interior features, perhaps the stars of the show are the screens that make up the gauge cluster and the infotainment screen. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen paired with the eight-inch head unit creates a very modern atmosphere in the cabin. With the 10.25-inch gauge cluster offering fluid performance and the infotainment screen equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, we feel that it covers all the needed bases for a tech-savvy driver to enjoy. 

The eight-inch display also serves as the display for the car’s camera system, and it also displays other bits of information in a bright and colorful way. It’s also standard across the lineup so no matter what budget you’re working with, the Creta will serve you well on the tech front. 

One thing that’s underrated by most manufacturers nowadays is the option to go for a manual transmission, and you’ll be happy to hear that Hyundai Motor offers a six-speed manual option. If an automatic is more your speed, the Creta comes with an IVT, which is essentially the Hyundai Motor Group’s continuously-variable transmission (CVT). We’ve tested the IVT and it’s a bit more responsive compared to other CVTs in the market. The transmission can make or break the driving experience, and the IVT in the Creta, and definitely the six-speed manual has a good shot at giving drivers a pleasant and responsive experience while putting the 1.5-liter-113-hp-capable gasoline motor through its paces. 

With two front airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, hill start assist, park distance warning, blind spot collision avoidance assists, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, lane following assist, high beam assist, driver attention warning, and a tire pressure monitoring system, the Creta in its highest trim has a lot going for it. 

It also got a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating which is probably one of its most impressive metrics. Hyundai is also pretty consistent when it comes to crash testing scores, and the Creta is no exception. With the ASEAN NCAP’s criteria, it’s great to see that the Creta holds up given how Hyundai is very proud of its use of high-strength steel and its engineering.