हुंडई क्रेटा इलेक्ट्रिक

The Creta Electric shares most of its design with the regular petrol/diesel Creta, but with a few EV-specific tweaks. Up front, it gets a pixel-patterned grille (no gaps here!) and a hidden charging port behind the Hyundai badge. Functional air curtains on the bumper help slice through the air more efficiently.

From the side, the big update is the slick 17-inch alloy wheels with a wind-cheating design. The battery pack sits low, which is great for stability, but its placement might make you nervous on rough Indian roads. At the rear, changes are subtle—look for the ‘Electric’ badge and a pixel-themed bumper that houses the reverse lights.

Overall, it’s a familiar, balanced design. Hyundai played it safe, sticking to the Creta’s popular SUV silhouette, which should make it an easy sell for brand loyalists.

Step inside, and you’ll feel right at home if you’ve driven the regular Creta. The dashboard layout is nearly identical, with dual screens (one for the driver, one for infotainment) sporting EV-specific graphics. The steering wheel gets a fresh three-spoke design and a Morse code-inspired Hyundai logo.

Hyundai’s cleverly borrowed the steering-column gear selector from its global EVs—it’s intuitive and saves space. The floating center console is a highlight, glowing blue and packed with shortcuts for drive modes, ventilated seats, and the 360-degree camera.

Storage? There’s a cooled compartment under the armrest, cupholders, and even a 21-litre “frunk” under the hood.

Features include a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, dual-zone AC (with an energy-saving driver-only mode), and ventilated front seats with memory settings. Rear passengers get sunshades, USB-C ports, reclining seats, and cleverly designed fold-out trays. The flat floor boosts legroom, though taller folks might wish for more thigh support.

Two battery options are on offer: a 42kWh pack and a larger 51.4kWh unit. Both power a front-mounted motor, but the bigger battery cranks out 169bhp (vs. 133bhp) and promises up to 473km per charge.

Driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) tweak the personality. Eco dulls acceleration for max range, while Sport unleashes instant torque for zippy overtakes. Hyundai claims a 0-100kmph time of 7.9 seconds, but hard launches can trigger torque steer. At speed, body roll and understeer remind you it’s still a heavy EV.

The cabin stays quiet even at highway speeds, and the seats are plush for long drives. The safety kit includes six airbags, electronic stability control, and disc brakes on all wheels (though the brake pedal could offer sharper feedback). The 360-degree camera and parking sensors make tight spots less stressful.

Ride quality is a strong suit—the suspension soaks up bumps smoothly, even with the low-slung battery. Steering is light for city drives but lacks feedback when pushing harder. The weight (blame the batteries) makes it feel planted, but quick direction changes highlight its heft.