Let’s get one thing straight – the new Creta isn’t as easy on the eye as its predecessor. Hyundai, it seems, really wanted to make a bold statement with its famous marque. For some, the design could be a bit of an overkill. Others might disagree. But will polarising opinions make a difference? At the moment, the only fact that matters is that ditching the conservative path means Hyundai doesn’t mind the journey on the love-or-hate route. The second-gen Creta arrives with an introductory price list starting at Rs 9.99 lakh and ending at Rs 17.20 lakh. Here’s the detailed one:

Hyundai officially commenced accepting bookings for the new Creta from March 2, 2020. In about a week, the counter went past the 10,000-mark. That number has already shot past the 14,000-mark. And for the record, the original launch date was March 17, 2020. But because of the Coronavirus scare, Hyundai decided to prepone the event and showcase the car in sessions to keep the headcount per session as low as possible. As the table above shows, there are five engine-transmission combinations available. Those include two 1.5-litre engines (one petrol with 113bhp/144Nm and one diesel with 113bhp/250Nm), which come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. Alternatively, the petrol engine is also on offer with an IVT, which is essentially a CVT, whereas the diesel is available with a 6-speed automatic (torque converter) as well.

Count them, and you’ll end up with four powertrain options. The fifth one comprises of a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol mill producing 138bhp/242Nm, and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Notice that the new Creta comes with the same powertrain options as the Kia Seltos. But then it would as both the brands fall under the same automotive group, and their products cater to the same segment. As for the mileage figures, here they are:

Diesel-MT: 21.4kmpl | Diesel-AT: 18.5kmpl | 1.4 Petrol-DCT: 16.8kmpl | 1.5 Petrol-MT: 16.8kmpl | 1.5 Petrol-IVT: 16.9kmpl

As you would expect from Hyundai, the new Creta comes loaded with features. The list includes Blue Link connected-car tech, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, paddle shifters, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, electric parking brake and a built-in air purifier. Not enough? That’s just a snippet. More gizmos such as cruise control, LED-powered headlamps and DRLs, paddle shifters, a 7.0—inch digital instrument cluster, massive panoramic sunroof (voice-enabled), multi-mode traction control system, rear disc brakes and three drive modes are also available.

Hyundai is offering a total of eight single-tone and two dual-tone exterior colour schemes with the new Creta. As for the standard warranty, you could choose one of the three cover plans – 3 years/unlimited km, 4 years/60,000km or 5 years/50,000km. Apart from rivalling the Seltos, the new Creta also locks horns with the Nissan Kicks and the Renault Captur. Which one would you choose?