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Hyundai Creta N-Line vs its rivals: Which fast crossover would you buy
It competes with cars like the 2023 Kia Seltos, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV700.
BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Hyundai Creta N-Line
What you'll like:
- Distinct N-Line touches set it apart from the regular Creta
- Punchy 158 BHP, 1.5L turbo-petrol motor mated to a 6-speed MT or 7-speed DCT
- Firmer suspension coupled with weighted steering make the Creta N-Line fun to drive
- Tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents, etc. liven up the interior
- Feature-rich equipment list includes LED headlamps & tail-lamps, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera & more
- Price premium over the regular Creta is justified by the additions & improvements
- Safety kit = ADAS Level 2, 6 airbags, TPMS, hill assist, dashcam (only N8 variant), auto headlamps etc.
What you won't:
- Without a power bump, it feels more like an additional variant rather than a performance-oriented model of the Creta. Hyundai should've tuned the N-Line engine for some more power
- N-Line specific design changes may not be to everyone’s liking
- Although well-priced in relation to the SX(O) variant, it is still an expensive crossover
- Firmer suspension means bad roads & bumps are felt more than in the regular Creta
- 6-speed MT should've had shorter throws & clutch travel should have been shorter in the N-Line variant
- Some misses (no auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trim)
- Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
Kia Seltos
What you'll like:
- A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
- Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
- We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
- Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
- Loved the punchy 1.5L turbo-petrol
- Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
- Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
- Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
What you won't:
- Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
- Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
- Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread
- You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV700)
Volkswagen Taigun
What you'll like:
- Has its own fresh, European character in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs
- Unmistakably VW styling matched with solid European build quality
- Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
- 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment!
- Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
- Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
- Safety features include up to 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
- Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
- 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!
What you won't:
- DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
- Narrow cabin width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
- Interior colour scheme and quality don't feel up to traditional VW standards. Some polarising details too (chrome outside, painted plastics inside...)
- Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
- VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. Many VW owners find it expensive too
- Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
Skoda Kushaq
What you'll like:
- A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
- Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
- Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
- 148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
- Sporty 1.5L turbo-petrol is mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
- Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
- Safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
- 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all-inclusive service packages available
- Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
- 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!
What you won't:
- DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
- Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
- At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
- Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
- Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
- Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard
Mahindra XUV700
What you'll like:
- Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
- Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
- 197 BHP turbo-petrol mated to a smooth 6-speed torque converter
- Sorted suspension with good road manners & high-speed stability
- AWD available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
- Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
- 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
- Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...
What you won't:
- Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
- Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
- Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
- Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra
- Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
- AWD is not available with the petrol motor
Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:
Damn good time to be in the market for a 20-25 lakh crossover! Those are some seriously competent turbo-petrols. The new Seltos looks deadly, the Creta N-Line is nice (both offer 158 horses!), the VW & Skoda siblings are a pure driving delight with their 1.5L turbo-petrol DSGs and of course, there is the 200 BHP XUV700. Although, as great as the XUV700 is, it cannot match the other 4 in terms of sheer driving pleasure.
Between the Creta N-Line & Seltos, I'd still go for the latter in the deadly matte grey.
Between the Taigun & Kushaq, I'd pick the Skoda.
But really, this is one tough poll. If it came to putting my money down, it would be the Seltos 1.5L Turbo-Petrol. 2nd choice XUV700 only if I needed a bigger SUV.
Here's what BHPian tp_dominator had to say about the matter:
Voted for the Seltos X - line here as barring XUV700 and considering the other crossovers on the list, it comes out much better in every sense. Ride quality might be a little bumpy with the 18 inchers, but I had the Ford Ecosport with the low-profile 17-inch tyres as standard and compared to that, it's way better.
I feel glad to be owning both the cars - XUV700 and Seltos in their respective top trims in diesel AT guises and our de facto choice for family road trips is always XUV700. Over longer journeys, it has proved to be more comfortable than the Seltos and has ample space and power too. While driving solo too, I have extracted 18-19 kmpl from the XUV700 sometimes and it is as fuel efficient as the Seltos as driving XUV700 at 110-115 kmph delivers the same mileage as driving the Seltos at 100-105 kmph. However, if highway drives are out of the picture and it's going to be occasional, Seltos is better at performing city duties. Just the right size to park in congested areas and overall a better and refined experience than XUV700. For instance, the Auto hold function on the XUV700 doesn't release the brakes as smoothly as the Seltos does and multiple other things including the Auto Start-Stop logic which makes Seltos an overall better city commuter.
Also, the cost of upkeep is going to be lower on the Seltos than the XUV700 as we have the MCP package and regular services are covered till 50k kms in it. But if it has to be a one-car garage, XUV700 will be better.
Here's what BHPian Jaguar had to say about the matter:
Voted with my wallet
After using a Verna for 10 years, the Creta N-Line felt like a natural progression. The electrically adjustable under-thigh support and the beautiful N-Line steering were the biggest attractions for me. It does feel well-built as well.
I had explored all the cars on the poll list except the Seltos. The VAG twins don't hold a candle to the older VAG cars and the cost-cutting is evident on all fronts except the engine. The XUV 700 was too big for my needs and the diesel engine of the XUV felt coarse compared to the one in my Thar.
Here's what BHPian B58lover had to say about the matter:
My pick would be the XUV700, a safe-fast-tech loaded & reliable.
One thing I wanted to ask, is why Creta and Seltos' poor safety rating and unstable structure are not mentioned in the ''What you won't like section''?
Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say about the matter:
All of the cars mentioned here are equally good, so a buyer cannot go wrong with any of them.
Ultimately, it's just a matter of the buyer's personal preference, especially regarding the appearance of the cars and which brand they prefer.
My personal favourite from this selection is the Creta N line.
Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:
Choice of fast crossover comes down to the XUV700 petrol and the Taigun/Kushaq 1.5 GT twins. The Creta N Line and Seltos X line will not even be in contention.
If I am looking for a vehicle for purely personal use, then I will get one of the Germans with my eyes closed. Driving pleasure is unmatched. I’ll go for the Kushaq, I prefer its interior ambiance over that of the Taigun.
But if there is an angle of practicality or family usage involved, which is invariably the case for most buyers, I’ll have to go for Mahindra. The much larger cabin and boot space of the XUV700 cannot be matched by the smaller VW/Skoda. It also helps that the 2.0 mStallion is by far the best engine of this lot, and the rest of the car is pretty darn competent as well. The superbly priced and well kitted AX5 variant of the XUV700 is the single most VFM car that can be bought for 20 odd lakh rupees today, while the AX7L is about as loaded as it gets.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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