Starting from design, at the front, you’ll immediately notice a sportier character.While the overall design remains largely the same as compared to the standard Creta, the front fascia of the SUV now boasts a more dynamic look. It gets a redesigned grille, a sharper bumper and a sleek skid plate. The N Line badging, of course, further elevates its dynamic appeal.
Moving along the sides, now you get aggressive 18-inch alloy wheels along with the red-painted brake calipers. Further, the N Line red inserts running along the vehicle’s length maintain the sporty theme. Towards the rear, the Creta N Line gets a new spoiler, diffuser, and a dual-tip exhaust.
Now once you get inside this vehicle, you are greeted to a cabin that has undergone subtle yet impactful changes. Inside, the SUV gets a similar sporty treatment featuring red inserts on the dashboard, leatherette seat upholstery with red stitching, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a gear selector matching the same red accents. Moreover, the seats themselves feature a sporty pattern, perfectly aligning with the N Line’s character.
In terms of features, the Creta N Line retains the impressive offerings of the standard model. A dual-screen setup, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument cluster, provides ample functionality, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other notable features include a Bose audio system, a 360° camera, panoramic sunroof, and ventilated seats. Paddle shifters and user-friendly steering wheel controls further enhance the driving experience. So when you add all of that, what you get is a car that’s loaded to the gills with features but also looks a bit more sportier.
In terms of dimensions, the Creta N line is the same as the standard Creta, which means even in the back the space for passengers remains the same and there is no difference in terms of headroom, legroom, or the seat itself.
Now let’s talk about what’s changed in terms of driving. The hardware remains the same between the Creta N Line and the standard Creta as it gets the same engine, same suspension, same chassis; all of the geometry between components, all of it is the same. Hence, not much has changed but still the N Line version drives a bit differently. And why is that? We’ll come back to that in a bit.
But first, let’s discuss the engine. Under the hood lies the familiar 1.5 L turbocharged engine, delivering 157 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It’s a good and powerful engine to start with so you get good performance. Hyundai claims 0-100 kmph in 8.9 seconds and we will put that claim to test once we do a detailed road test but during our first drive, it did feel properly quick in a straight line.
One good thing with the N line is that while you can buy it with the 7-speed DCT, you can also go for a six-speed manual gearbox. So for all you enthusiasts out there who want a manual gearbox paired to a powerful petrol engine, the Creta N line gives you that option now.
Also, while we are at it, let’s also talk about safety. In terms of safety, the Creta N Line mirrors the comprehensive features of the standard model, boasting level-2 ADAS and a suite of active and passive safety measures. Beyond that one can expect six airbags, ABS, 360° camera, all of the hardware from the top variant of Creta.
Now while the exhaust tip looks good, I just wish it was as different as it is on the i20 N line or the Venue N line. I think the one in the Creta N L Line is a bit muted and the car deserves a sportier exhaust – something in line with its overall aesthetics and character. But beyond that, the other subtle changes which make it drive differently are the calibration changes to the steering and the suspension. The suspension is now a bit stiffer and the car just feels a bit more sharp around corners, giving you an additional sporty feeling inside the car. Furthermore, the steering also feels a bit more weighted at high speeds, adding to the dynamism of the vehicle.
It drives a little better or rather say in a sportier fashion, it sounds a bit louder, and all this for a price of Rs 16.82 lakh to 20.30 lakh, ex-showroom. For this price, we would say that’s a great deal. Also, if the standard Creta is taking too long to get delivered, one could look at the N Line as an option.