Hyundai has updated the Creta midsize SUV with RDE and E20 compliant engines, and also added six-airbags as standard across the range. This comes ahead of the implementation of RDE norms from April 2023, though the prices of the SUV have now gone up by Rs 45,000. The Hyundai Creta is currently priced between ₹ 10.84 lakh and ₹ 19.13 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
While there is no change in the engine line-up or output figures, the petrol engines on the Creta are now E20 compliant, which means they can now run on 20% ethanol-blended fuel. This required some modifications to fuel systems, engine calibration, and rubber hoses to handle the more corrosive nature of ethanol. The government will start rolling out E20 fuel in a phased manner from April 2023.
The engines are also now RDE compliant, which means they are cleaner as they are tested for emissions under the MIDC cycle (Modified Indian Test Cycle) under more stringent real-world conditions than normal lab tests.
As part of the 2023 model year update, Hyundai has also made several safety features standard across the range. The Creta now gets six airbags straight from the base E trim, along with ESC, VSM, hill assist, rear disc brakes, seatbelt height adjustment and ISOFIX mounts. Till now, six airbags were offered only on the top-spec SX(O) trim while ESC, hill assist, rear disc brakes and ISOFIX mounts were offered from the SX trim onwards. The Creta also now gets a 60:40 rear seat split/fold feature as standard – this too was earlier offered from the SX trim.