Drive in to a fuel station in an SUV and the attendant will instinctively reach for the diesel nozzle. Things, however, could change in the coming future, as diesel is slowly losing acceptance due to concerns, often unfounded, regarding its environmental effects. Those willing to pay a premium on fuel can now look at a new breed of petrol SUVs.
While the Creta came with a petrol since launch, it found few takers. Now, with diesel losing its edge and the price gap between petrol and diesel narrowing, Hyundai is taking another stab at the petrol market, but this time, with the addition of an automatic gearbox. Competition comes in the form of the recently-launched Honda BR-V petrol automatic. But which is the better car?
Most buyers will drive these petrol automatic SUVs in town and only occasionally venture out onto the highway. And it’s the Creta that’s a bit better here. Its smooth-shifting torque converter automatic gearbox works well with the responsive and punchy 1.6-litre engine at everyday speeds. It even has a tiptronic function for manually shifting gears that’s useful for overtaking. Also, the engine is strong at low and medium revs, and that makes the Creta marginally quicker off the mark than the Honda. At higher engine speeds, though, the Creta feels strained and there’s no corresponding increase in power.
The Honda’s smaller 1.5-litre motor makes less power on paper: 119hp – but the engine, the same as on the City, is smooth and just loves to rev. There’s a nice snarl when the engine hits high revs, and power delivery becomes stronger the faster you spin it. Keep the motor where it’s happy and BR-V will accelerate from 0-100kph almost a second faster than the Creta. The Honda’s engine even picks up smartly from slow speeds, and thanks to the CVT gearbox, the initial response is excellent. Ask for more power though, and the rubber-band effect of the CVT automatic causes the BR-V to flounder.
This situation can be resolved with manual intervention. Like in the City and Jazz, the BR-V also gets steering-mounted paddle shifters for the CVT gearbox. These paddles are convenient to use and a quick downshift is often handy in increasing the pace of the car.
The BR-V’s light and direct steering makes this 4.5-metre car quite easy to steer, even in city traffic. While the BR-V needs some goading to turn into tight corners due to its length, driving for long distances can be quite relaxing. Straight line stability is very good, it takes long and fast corners in its stride and the brakes offer ample stopping power too. Wish the ride was a bit more absorbent and silent though.
The Creta doesn’t feel as stable as the Honda at speed and it isn’t as composed around corners either. Still, the Hyundai rides comfortably in the city and handles bad roads quite deftly. Also, without the extra length, the Hyundai also feels much more agile.
Climb into the Creta and you instantly feel that you’re in an SUV. You’re seated high and get a commanding view of the road. The front seats are supportive and big enough to keep even large body frames comfy. The dashboard is laid out well, and everything feels solidly built. Moreover, the cabin insulation is great, so you barely hear the idling engine or outside noise. Rear passengers will also find themselves comfy, as here too, the high-set seats are supportive and there’s good legroom and headroom. But the AC blowers placed behind the elbow box aren’t as effective as the roof-mounted ones on the BR-V, and you can’t get the petrol automatic with leather seats; a bit of a downer on an SUV that costs Rs.13 lakh.
In contrast, the BR-V is lower slung, so you don’t have the same SUV-like driving position. The slim seats offer good support but aren’t as comfy as the Creta’s. Still, finding an ideal driving position is quite easy. Second-row passengers are sat much lower than in the Creta, and the seating position is slightly knees up. However, the seat is comfy, and with the good range of adjustment available, you can really stretch out if there is no one in the third row. The biggest strength of the Honda, though, is the third row that allows two more passengers to sit. And it’s a pretty good third row too. Accessing it is easy, with the one-touch tumble for the second row, and the seats themselves are reasonably comfortable and spacious. That said, they are best for short drives.
Hyundai Creta: SX+ AT
Price: Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Tank: 55 litres
Engine: 1591cc, 4 cylinder
Peak power: 123hp at 6600rpm
Peak torque: 151Nm at 4850rpm
Honda BR-V: VX CVT
Price: Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Tank: 42 litres
Engine: 1497cc, 4 cylinder
Peak power: 119hp at 6600rpm
Peak torque: 145Nm at 4600rpm
