Hyundai Creta EV Long-term Introduction: Here To Bust Some Stereotypes!

The Hyundai Creta is one of the most complete packages in its segment. I’ve spent hours behind the wheel and it was pretty easy to understand why it sells like hot cakes in a country that’s value conscious. 

It also got an electric version in early 2025, which I somehow never got a chance to experience. So when the Creta Electric was made available for a long-term review, I was quick to call dibs over it for multiple reasons. 

The Reasons

The first reason was simple enough — I just wanted to see if the Creta Electric had the same traits that made the petrol/diesel Creta so popular. And the second reason was that I wanted to see if some of the stereotypes around EV ownership held any weight. 

Because despite the growth in infrastructure, many people still firmly believe that EVs aren’t capable of long-distance roadtrips, and this is even more apparent in the case of an EV like the Creta EV which doesn’t get a humongous battery like the new Mahindra Electrics. To find an answer, I plan to do a Pune-Goa roadtrip sometime to see whether it’s actually capable of doing that inter-state journey without any hassle. 

The Spec

After ages, I have received a long-termer that I like the looks of from the get go. I in fact think that this is the most handsome looking form of the Creta nameplate to exist currently (the N Line feels a little try-hard for my liking). 

Especially in this Ocean Blue shade, the matte-like finish just suits the vehicle and apart from the green number plate and electric badging on the tailgate, it’s not very obvious that this is an EV. 

First impressions!

I’ve only driven the Creta EV in and around the city and I have to say, it is very new driver friendly. The throttle, the regenerative braking, the visibility, the seating position — all feels very natural. The one thing you might need to get used to is the gear lever, or rather the absence of it. Instead of the usual position where a conventional gear lever is located in the central console, Hyundai has opted to place it behind the steering wheel, just like an indicator stalk. 

You need to turn it forward to put it in drive, and turn it the other way around to engage reverse. You’ll question why they needed to reinvent something as basic, but it does open up more storage space in the central tunnel and you do get used to it in sometime. 

What’s next?

As mentioned, I plan to do an inter-state roadtrip with the Creta EV. On days I won’t be testing its range to the limit, it’ll be used for my daily office commutes, gym runs and even a few sporadic Mumbai-Pune trips. We also plan to do a few video comparisons with the likes of the Maruti e Vitara so stay tuned to our Youtube channel. 

Kilometers received: 13,340 km

Kilometers driven: 13,980 km

Pros: Very new driver friendly, handsome design

Cons: NA