Hyundai Creta Completes 10 Years In India, A Look At Its Evolution Over The Years

The Hyundai Creta, one of the best-selling SUVs in India, has completed 10 years in the market. First launched in July 2015, the Creta has remained a consistent performer in its segment and continues to enjoy strong demand across the country.

To mark the occasion, Hyundai has shared some key milestones achieved by the SUV over the past decade:

• Annual sales have doubled from 92,926 units in 2016 to 1,86,919 units in 2024.

• Over 12 lakh units have been sold in India so far.

• More than 2.87 lakh units have been exported to 13 countries.

• First-time buyer share has grown from 12 percent in 2020 to 29 percent in 2024.

• It is the best-selling SUV in India in 2025 so far, with 70 percent of total sales coming from variants equipped with a sunroof.

The Creta nameplate has seen two generations in India so far, including two major facelifts. Here is a quick look at what each generation and update has brought to the table.

Generation 1 (2015-2018)

Hyundai launched the first-ever Creta in India in 2015 with a boxy, no nonsense and a safe exterior design that was well received by buyers. At the front, it featured bold projector halogen headlights with sharp-looking LED DRLs, a triple-slat chrome grille, and a sculpted bumper. The wraparound halogen tail lights added a touch of elegance to the rear, complementing the SUV’s sleek and upright stance.

Inside, the Creta offered a well-laid-out cabin with a beige and black dual-tone theme. The dashboard had a clean design, housing a 3-spoke steering wheel, a touchscreen infotainment system, and an analogue instrument cluster with a monotone MID. The combination of simple layout and good material quality gave it a premium feel for its time.

Feature highlights included a 7-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, automatic climate control, push-button start/stop, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs, and power windows on all four doors. On the safety front, it offered up to six airbags, front disc brakes, a rear parking camera with adaptive guidelines, and rear parking sensors.

The first-generation Creta was offered with three engine options, the details of which are as follows: 

*AT = Torque converter automatic transmission

Generation 1 Facelift (2018-2020)

After being on sale for nearly four years, Hyundai introduced the facelifted Creta with subtle but noticeable design updates in May 2018 that is an evolution. The changes included redesigned dual-pod halogen projector headlights, a revised grille with sleeker chrome bars, and updated bumpers for a more refined appearance. It also received new halogen fog lamps with integrated LED DRLs and revised halogen tail lights.

The interior largely retained the same black and beige cabin theme but came with updated seat upholstery for a fresh look. While the core feature list remained unchanged, the facelift brought in several new additions such as a single-pane sunroof, wireless phone charger, 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control, and a wearable smart key, adding to its appeal.

The safety package remained largely similar to the pre-facelift version, with the addition of ISOFIX child seat anchorages on automatic variants. Under the hood, the facelifted Creta continued with the same set of petrol and diesel engine options as before.

Also Read: 3 Lakh Mahindra XUV700 On Indian Roads Since Its Debut In 2021

Generation 2 (2020-2024)

The Creta nameplate received a full generation update in March 2020, with Hyundai introducing a completely redesigned exterior and interior. It looked nothing like its predecessor and the second-generation Creta received mixed reactions from customers, with significant criticism aimed at its curvier body styling. 

On the outside, it featured distinctive 3-pod LED headlights with curved LED DRLs, a large grille with a mix of horizontal and vertical chrome elements, 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, and LED tail lights that mirrored the shape of the headlamps. These design changes marked a major departure from the sharp and upright styling of the previous version.

The cabin adopted a more modern and premium look with a dual-tone black and beige interior theme. The turbo-petrol variants featured black interior theme with red highlights to underline the sportiness. The dashboard followed a layered design and was complemented by a new 4-spoke steering wheel and dual digital displays. The seats also followed a matching dual-tone black and grey finish, tying in well with the overall cabin layout.

In terms of features, the second-gen Creta was significantly more loaded and was setting the benchmark in its segment. It offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital driver’s display, along with a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, a wireless phone charger and an 8-speaker Bose sound system. Safety features included six airbags as standard, hill-start assist, and an auto-dimming IRVM.

The engine lineup was also revised, with the following options:

*CVT = Continuously variable automatic transmission

^DCT = Dual-clutch automatic transmission

Notably, Hyundai discontinued the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in February 2023.

Generation 2 Facelift (From 2024)

Although the second-generation Creta received mixed reactions for its styling, the facelifted version introduced in January 2024 was welcomed much more positively. With this update, Hyundai reintroduced the boxy SUV proportions with straight lines that made the original Creta popular. The facelift brought in a more contemporary appearance with split-LED headlights, connected LED DRLs, and connected LED tail lights, giving it a more premium look.

Inside, it gets a new dashboard layout with subtle copper accents that add a more premium touch. The steering wheel was retained, however, the addition of dual 10.25-inch digital displays gave it a more modern and techier look on the inside. 

While the feature set remained largely the same as the pre-facelift version, Hyundai added a few notable upgrades such as dual-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and a Level 2 ADAS suite. Importantly, this was also the first Creta generation to offer six airbags as standard across all variants.

The facelift retained the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and diesel engines but introduced a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit producing 160 PS and 253 Nm. This new engine expanded the Creta’s appeal to buyers seeking stronger performance.

Shortly after the facelift’s debut, Hyundai also launched the N Line version of the Creta. This variant came with sportier cosmetic updates and a stiffer suspension setup, aimed at offering a more engaging driving experience. It is powered by the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine as the standard model, however, with the option of a 6-speed manual for a more involving drive experience.

 Following the N Line, Hyundai introduced the all-electric version of the compact SUV, called the Creta Electric, in January 2025 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo. It combines design elements from both the standard Creta and the N Line variant, with key differences including a blanked-off grille and active air flaps to enhance aerodynamics. The cabin retains the same dashboard layout but features a navy blue and grey interior theme. The infotainment and digital driver’s display also receive EV-specific user interface updates.

The Creta Electric is offered with two battery pack options, the details of which are as follows: 

Price And Rivals

Here are the prices of the current-spec Creta range:

All prices are ex-showroom, pan-India

The fossil fuel powered Hyundai Creta and Creta N Line lock horns with the Maruti Grand Vitara, Kia Seltos, Tata Curvv, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun. On the other hand, the Hyundai Creta Electric rivals the Tata Curvv EV, MG ZS EV, Mahindra BE 6 and the upcoming Maruti e Vitara.

Which generation of the Hyundai Creta do you like the most? Tell us in the comments below.

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