Hyundai has for the first time launched the Creta in the N Line avatar. This sporty version will be the flagship of the N Line portfolio in India. The N Line range made its debut in India in 2021 with the i20 N Line which was followed by the Venue N Line in 2022 and then the facelift i20 N Line in 2023.
In the last three years, Hyundai has managed to clock a total of 22,000 N Line units. The automobile manufacturer believes that this performance-oriented SUV will offer a halo effect to the Creta, which sold 15,276 units in February 2024, the highest ever since its inception in 2015. We take a quick spin with the Creta N Line and find out whether there is more to it than just design upgrades.
2024 Hyundai Creta N Line review: The tale of two transmissions
Like the other vehicles in the N Line range, the Creta is only available with a turbo petrol heart. With the 1.5-litre turbo under the hood, the Creta N Line is one of the most powerful SUVs in its segment with an output of 158bhp and 253Nm. True, the turbo petrol engine is also available in the standard Creta, but only the N Line is exclusively available with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic continues to be available in both the regular and the N Line Creta versions.
We drove the Creta N Line manual briefly and that’s the version we will start our review with. It is something the purists and hardcore enthusiasts will want to get their hands on as even the Kia Seltos doesn’t come with a manual transmission. Thanks to the short throws and a lightweight gear stick, changing gears in the city limits is effortless. The manual transmission is a hoot as it always encourages you to push the pedal to the metal and discover life at redline. The rpm needle shoots past 6,000 rpm and picks up speed from the word go. The good news is that the 1.5-litre turbo is a versatile engine and can easily adjust to the start-stop traffic as it accelerates in a measured fashion. The light clutch complements the stress-free driving experience. As per ARAI, the manual’s fuel economy is 18 kmpl.
Switching to the DCT automatic version, which is expected to get more buyers, honestly, does pamper the person behind the wheel. According to Hyundai, the automatic does 0-100 kmph in 8.9 seconds, which is very decent but we do have a bone to pick with Hyundai. The initial turbo lag of the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission remains quite evident. This is a bit of a damp squib as an N Line buyer is looking for performance and an involving driving experience. Once the Creta picks up pace, it’s smooth sailing and quite responsive. The DCT changes gears smoothly and the mid-range power band is where the 1.5-litre turbo flexes its muscles. If you want to take a more aggressive driving style with the Creta N Line then opt for the paddle shifters, especially when you want to shift down and step on the gas pedal. The Hyundai SUV will not let you down.
Like the Creta, the N Line version also offers three driving modes — Eco, Normal and Sport and three traction modes — Snow, Mud and Sand.
2024 Hyundai Creta N Line review: Mechanical Upgrades
The ride and handling of the Creta N Line is slightly different from the standard version. Hyundai has changed the setting of the steering wheel and the suspension setup to offer a more dynamic driving experience. The steering wheel feels a shade weighted making it critical for offering better control by enhancing its response while negotiating turns.
By changing the suspension set-up and upsizing the wheels from 17-inch to 18-inch ones, the ride quality is on the firm side. The upside to that is that its handling capabilities are sharper and does a fine job taking tight corners with ease.
2024 Hyundai Creta N Line review: Road Presence
Hyundai has spruced up the exteriors of the Creta N Line with an aggressive new front grille sporting the N Line and a muscular bumper with a chunky faux skid plate. It has red accents running along the front and rear bumpers and lower side panels. The Creta N Line comes with 18-inch alloy wheels with red callipers and a metal finish twin-tip exhaust nestled in the rear bumper. The sporty Creta is available in three monotone colours including the new Titan grey matte and three dual-tone paint schemes.
Watch Hyundai Creta N Line review
2024 Hyundai Creta N Line review: Cabin and Features
The layout, fit-and-finish and quality of the cabin remain the same as the standard Creta, but as it is an N Line it gets an all-black theme with red inserts and ambient light. Apart from a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a leather-finish automatic gear lever, the Creta N Line has metal-finish pedals.
The Creta N Line is available in two variants — N8 and N10. Apart from the dashcam, the N10 is equipped with a Level 2 ADAS suite, auto-dimming internal rear view mirror, rear headrest cushion, front ventilated seats, voice-enabled sunroof, the 10.25-inch infotainment system, 8-speaker Bose music system, 10.25-inch driver’s console and connected features.
2024 Hyundai Creta N Line review: Is it N-gaging?
If you want your SUV to stand out and have the pomp and pace, then the Creta N Line fits the bill for you. Its design is more youthful and sporty and is equipped with all the convenient and safety features one needs. Due to the crucial mechanical upgrades, the Creta N Line offers an involving driving experience without sacrificing comfort and practicality.
The Creta N Line N8 starts from Rs 16.82 lakh to Rs 18.47 lakh and the N10 is from Rs 19.34 lakh to Rs 20.45 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. Costing a premium of around Rs 30,000 over the standard Creta, Hyundai has got the pricing spot on and we expect it to propel the N Line sales figure to an unprecedented level.
