The first made-in-India production-ready new Creta has rolled off the production line at Hyundai Motor India's Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu, ahead of the midsize SUV’s official launch on March 17, 2020.

Hyundai Motor India had upgraded the plant in preparation for the second-generation Creta’s production. Additions include a set of robots to assemble the roof section of the variants that get the large panoramic roof. The Chennai factory also stamps 17 new body panels for the new Creta. The model is put together at Hyundai’s Plant 1, which will churn out the last few examples of the outgoing Creta, in addition to the Venue and i20.

Theoretically, if Hyundai builds only the midsize SUV on Plant 1’s three assembly lines, the carmaker can build 330,000 units a year. The company has also started using 3D scanning technology, especially for the next-gen midsize SUV, to ensure parameters like panel gaps stay within prescribed tolerances. To enhance structural rigidity and keep weight to a minimum, Hyundai has also upped the high-strength steel content to 74.3 percent with the bare shell now weighing in at a smidge under 300kg.

The current segment leader, the Kia Seltos, and second-gen Hyundai Creta share a lot under the skin – like the chassis and underpinnings – and even the three engine options. However, the Seltos comes with a total of six engine-gearbox options, while the Hyundai Creta gets five – the 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol unit with 6-speed manual and CVT gearbox options; a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel mill with 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options; and a 140hp, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Interestingly, the Creta’s ARAI mileage figures are a touch higher that the Seltos’. For more on that, click here.

Can the new Creta cruise past the Seltos?
With five BS VI-compliant engine-gearbox options and five variants on offer, Hyundai hopes the all-new Creta will be able to regain the SUV sales crown from the Kia Seltos. In order to do that, Hyundai’s ensured the new Creta meets the benchmark in terms of features and safety kit. Even the base Creta E trim comes with a height-adjustable driver’s seat, remote central locking, power windows, power-adjustable outside rear-view mirrors, rear AC vents and a cooled glovebox. The top-spec SX(O) gets segment-leading features such as ventilated seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, Hyundai’s BlueLink in-car connectivity tech that adds 55 connectivity features, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, an electronic parking brake, remote engine start-stop and paddle shifters for the automatics. Curious to know what else each variant of the new Creta gets? Click here.

Expect the new Hyundai Creta’s prices to start at about Rs 10 lakh and go up to Rs 17 lakh for the top-spec version. With its bold (if polarising) styling, extensive features list, and the reputation of the Hyundai brand name in the Indian market, the all-new Creta seems poised to take a large chunk of midsize SUV sales, competing with the likes of the MG Hector, Tata Harrier, Nissan Kicks, Renault Captur and even its cousin, the Kia Seltos.

Since its launch in June 2015, the first-generation Creta sold a total of 466,839 units till end-January 2020 and has been a regular in the monthly Top 5 UVs chart. Will the next-gen Creta improve on this performance? Watch this space. 

ALSO READ: Kia snatches 7.43% UV share, Hyundai-Kia 26%, Renault surprises with 4.49%, MG takes 2.35%

Kia Motors India races past 75,000 unit sales in 7 months