Will 2020 Hyundai Creta Reclaim Crown of Best-selling SUV from Kia Seltos?

Last year, the small SUV market experienced a significant shift in the best-selling chart. The long-reigning Hyundai Creta has left its throne and made way for the newly-launched Kia Seltos, the first product from the South Korean carmaker to launch in our market.

In the face of the high threat from this new compact SUV, Hyundai has come up with a plan to turn things around. This year, the 2020 Hyundai Creta, the second generation of the popular SUV, will take on the Seltos. The second-gen Hyundai Creta was unveiled earlier at the Auto Expo 2020. It is slated to launch on March 17.

Also read - New 2020 Hyundai Creta Vs Old Model: What Are The Differences?

Kia Seltos was welcomed with warming responses from the market. What makes it even more bittersweet is the fact that Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta are related since Kia is a subsidy company of Hyundai. As a matter of fact, Kia Seltos also shares some common elements with the upcoming Creta. Moreover, Kia Seltos also get the timing right, launching near the end of Hyundai Creta’s cycle.

After the debut of the Seltos, the sales of the former best-selling mid-size SUV has suffered. “The last few months of the Creta’s lifecycle has seen the sales numbers go down,” said SS Kim, Hyundai Motor India’s Manager Director and CEO. Despite the ongoing sales slowdown, he shows confidence with the upcoming all-new Hyundai Creta. According to him, Hyundai Creta will claim back the leading position occupied by Creta since 2015 until Kia came to light.

2020 Hyundai Creta will come back with better equipments and features  

To fare better with other competent newcomers, the 2020 Hyundai Creta is packed to the brim. It even comes with some segment-leading features like electronic parking brake, panoramic sunroof and advanced technology features. Compared to the Kia Seltos, however, it doesn’t get a head-up display, even on the top-spec variants. It is explained that the head-up display is not necessary and too expensive. Instead, Hyundai will focus on enhancing the interior ambience.

According to the teaser images, Creta’s interior will come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen which is also employed on the Seltos. Besides, it also features a premium design with quilted seating cover, flush dashboard finish.

Also read - 2020 Hyundai Creta To Get India-specific Interior, Launch Next Month

Under the hood, 2020 Hyundai Creta will share the same powertrain options with a slightly-retuned suspension system. The engine options include a 1.5-litre petrol (115PS/144Nm), 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol (140PS/242Nm), and 1.5-litre diesel unit (115PS/ 250Nm). A 6-speed manual gearbox will come as standard across the range. Each engine will get a different optional automatic gearbox: CVT, a torque converter, and a 7-speed DCT for 1.5-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel engine and 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, respectively.