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In the game of thrones, has Hyundai strategically executed its next move?"

- VIPUL PUNETHA

Very few cars evoke interest like the Creta does. Whenever there’s a new Creta, people take notice. Enthusiasts, prospective car buyers, car admirers, product designers at other OEMs, the valet at your local pub - everyone. It’s been such a stellar success for Hyundai, proving to be as iconic as the Santro - one of India’s most common household names.

The start of the year 2024 has been no different. Folks from all over the country were flown into Jodhpur to experience two things - stay in tents and have their Cretas experienced on the arrow-straight roads of Rajasthan. Strange choice of location, I thought as the journey began. But the reason for choosing this location became evident very soon.

To make something like the Creta look pretty, you need a clean backdrop. You need Rajasthan’s ‘gulabi sunrise,’ and you need a little bit of sand to showcase ‘SUV’ credentials. Did it work?

The face of this new Creta does not split opinions like the one it just replaced. A good start, but that also means it’s not cutting-edge as it used to be. It’s taken a mature approach, drawing inspiration from a bunch of SUVs like the Santa Fe and the Venue. What’s likable is the deletion of shiny chrome - it’s now replaced with darker bits, and the DRLs are chunky and textured, adding a bit of character to the Creta.