Hyundai Creta N Line Review
It was a decade ago that Hyundai decided to finally end its absence from the up-and-coming 'compact SUV' segment. Okay, they must've decided a bit earlier than that, but the resulting crossover SUV didn't come until mid-2015. This was Hyundai's highly appreciated plan that didn't just add to the carmaker's annual sales but also cemented its position in the Indian market, way more effectively than any of its previous products. So much so that the Korean carmaker, which started its journey a little less than three decades ago, sold about 2.5 million units of the Creta over the last 10 years. While this was taking care of the brand's presence in India, the company had slightly different plans abroad.
Also in 2015, Hyundai established its performance division, very succinctly named 'N'. Yep, just one letter. It mightn't be the strongest in the English alphabet (that would be the one that precedes it), but it certainly has a nice ring to it. Especially considering you can't spell Nurburgring without writing the first letter. Or Namyang, for that matter. Both places are instrumental in making fun-to-drive Hyundais. The former is where Hyundai test their performance-focussed cars, while the latter is where they make those. This wasn't the first time Hyundai would offer a sporting car, and this certainly wasn't their first time developing something at the 'ring, but a discrete skunkworks? That was a first.
While India didn't get any of the 'N' cars, Hyundai did add some masala to its existing lineup by launching 'N-Line' derivatives of its existing cars. There are three of those currently, the i20 N Line (possibly the strongest of the lot), the Venue N Line (which has just been thoroughly updated), and the most powerful N-Line for India, the Creta N Line. What I find endearing about Hyundai's move is that they haven't upped the power in any of these cars but have rather uprated the overall dynamics. That promise is a reason good enough to spend some time with the Creta N Line.
The look
It doesn't look bad for a crossover; you have to give it to Hyundai for that alone. The Creta has never looked bad but the N Line is by far the best-looking of the lot. If I could change things, I would have a Creta saloon rather than a Creta 'SUV' but I am not the only person who buys 15,000 of these every month, so my point is a bit moot. In terms of design alone, I don't think the Creta N Line has anything that will, say 10 years later, make me regret not buying one. I do think that anyone who had the chance to buy an Etios Liva Sportivo should've taken the proverbial leap of faith. The Enkei wheels alone would've justified the purchase... Sorry about that digression, but the point is there's nothing that quite stands out.
It looks better than the standard Creta in many ways. The combination of blue, which has been the company's comms colour for the N Line sub-brand, with red accents works well for the most part. The red bits might be a bit too OTT for many, but, unless paired with white or grey as the main shade, it doesn't quite look as jarring. Also, I would happily choose red accents over whatever weird design Hyundai tried to pull off with the previous Venue N Line's rear bumper. Thankfully, the Creta N Line hasn't had such mishaps when it was being designed.
The interior
A nearly-all-black interior is still one of the simple joys of life. Not quite 'premium', it also doesn't make the cabin appear bigger than it actually is, but there's nothing that allows you to focus on driving than this. Even the red bits, in line with the N Line's exterior (sorry!), don't seem to be overdone. The seats, the steering, and the gear knob all have 'N' branding, which, quite frankly, doesn't look bad — if nowhere as evocative as 'M'.
The boot is large, and the second row is quite good in terms of space, too. I haven't had the privilege to spend hours in the rear seat, so my comment wouldn't hold much value, but none of the occupants complained about lack of comfort. The front seats aren't going to hold you like an estranged lover you've encountered again after years of no-contact, but they're good for everyday use. The seats. Despite the Creta being a fairly tall car, it is possible to set the seat low and pretend that you're driving something sportier. While doing so, you lose out on the 'commanding' perspective of the road ahead, but it only makes pushing the car harder easier.
The use of 'N' motifs serves as a constant reminder of Hyundai's slightly more driver focussed approach for this model line. Not much has changed in terms of design, and it won't take too long for anyone to spot the nice round, almost golf-ball-like manual gear knob. This is what differentiates the Creta N Line from the lesser trims. In terms of liveability, the cabin scores really well. The space, both at the front and back, is quite sufficient. The seats are decent, if not the most supportive; getting in and out of the car is as easy as it can get; and the wide range of useable features makes spending more time in the Creta a pleasure. The Bose audio system sounds strictly okay, the lack of wireless Android Auto connectivity is slightly problematic (although not a deal breaker — plus with the inclusion of a dongle, that has I believe, been resolved now), and I would have loved to see the outside door handles feel less flimsy.
How's it to drive?
There's no Creta N, so this is by far the most driver-orientated model of the crossover SUV you can buy. In the current lineup, this is also the only way you can enjoy the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a manual gearbox (there's also an optional 7-speed DCT). The increased interaction is a definite win in my book, and also, it's quite easy to live with, too. The four-cylinder engine doesn't have the initial grumble of the three. But, to be honest, both the i20 N Line and the Venue N Line sound a bit off at startup/slow speed, so I don't miss that. It is from 2500 rpm onwards that the Creta becomes raspy, keep pushing it and the engine note only gets better as the revs climb. You'd need to back off quickly because it has enough poke to reach illegal speeds very quickly for an everyday car.
It's quite easy to up the flow of adrenaline in your body when behind the wheel of the Creta N Line (MT). The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine makes 160 PS at 5500 rpm. Low down in the rev range, it's pretty much like an NA engine, gasping for breath if you aren't in the right gear but pretty docile, too. The turbo surge isn't as maddening as in a generation-old diesel engine, but it's quite noticeable. The car makes power as the revs climb and you can easily make solid progress without going anywhere near the limiter. That's the thing that makes modern turbocharged petrol engines fun, and this one's no different. For everyday cruising, you can sit around 2000-2500 rpm and the engine will happily chug along — with peak torque coming in from as low as 1500 rpm, that is no surprise. The shift quality of the six-speed manual isn't bad, but the throws are long. I would have liked the clutch to have a more prominent bite point, too. Modulating power using the clutch isn't as easy as I would've liked, but it's not too bad, either.
The biggest shortcoming of the Creta N Line is possibly its unsettled suspension. I understand that this is a big car, but the suspension is just not tuned well to handle aggressive driving. And by aggressive, I don't mean 'bullying your way through traffic' aggressive, but rather the kind in which you hit the apex like McRae on acid. No, not Tate, you dimwit! The steering is a touch too light for that, too. And the clutch is smooth, but for the love of Christ (or any God of your choosing), why is the bite point so vague?! It's frustrating, because the Creta N Line does everyday driving bloody well but when it comes to actually proving its mettle (and its name), it falters. And the supplied JK Tyres love to squeal, but the brakes seemed okay for everyday driving.
It comes with a variety of driver assists, and thankfully, you can easily switch off autonomous braking and lane-keep assist. I left rear cross-traffic alert and braking on, and that was an real life-saver. Firstly, the cross-traffic alert makes reversing out of spots where your view of traffic is obstructed effortless. In addition to it, the car would automatically apply brakes if someone appears out of nowhere as you're reversing. These aren't as intrusive as the other features and ensure that erratic — and often uncourteous — road users don't become a cause for shot-up blood pressure.
There are a few nice corners which I frequent especially when I want to clear my mind, and these turned out to be a nice litmus for the Creta N Line. With more than adequate power to, well, power through the corner, there wasn't much that would falter the Creta except that clipping the apex in this seemed a bit risky. Not that it goes out of control like a Mahindra from the noughties but it just would not inspire enough confidence for me to attack a corner hard. The six-speed manual is quite easy to operate, although for a driver-focussed car, the shifts are long (if not as poor as on the Indian-spec Abarth Punto), but fairly smooth. Does it make every drive better? Absolutely. Does it make living with the Creta N Line a task? No. I must add that while the turbocharged engine has solid mid-range performance, it bogs down at low rpm, which means you're as likely to revisit the first as that aforementioned estranged lover of yours yearns for — assuming you were the first. Ah, never mind, loser!
There are two ways of looking at the Hyundai Creta N Line. One is from behind the wheel, especially when you're done with the mundane bits on your rota and head out for a peaceful drive. As the needle goes beyond 3,000 rpm and you experience a seemingly unending rush of adrenaline, as you manually shift into the next gear, before it dawns on you that that's enough fun for the day and you head back home. Unless your work commute requires testing cars on a racetrack, the Creta N Line will most certainly do everything you ask for — as long as there's a road for it to traverse and you don't mind manually switching gears. The other way to appreciate the Creta N Line is by acknowledging that it's not the most spirited of cars, and that duty is left for a more engaging motor. It's not the one car that does it all but rather an everyday car that ensures that you don't get too bored on your way to work. Whichever of the two you choose, you'll end up with a car that looks better than the standard model, drives better than the standard model, and most importantly, doesn't shy away from masquerading as a fun machine. My ideal Creta N Line will have a short shifter, better tyres (not wider), and probably a set of aftermarket dampers.
It does everything you would realistically expect from your midsized SUV but with a touch of sportiness. It is, by no means, the one car that does it all. It won't replace your ageing hot hatch, it won't be an alternative to a project car, and it will definitely not be the only car you can have in your garage for absolute driving fun. What it works exceptionally well as is your everyday car, especially with the added dose of sporting character that Hyundai has very kindly included. I have a stock Fiat Grande Punto (Indian-spec) as my main (preferred) mode of transport. It attacks my favourite corners better than the Creta, it feels more eager to be chucked into corners, and it rewards me with improved corner exit as I driver harder.
The Creta N Line, on the other hand, tackles the everyday stuff better; it makes transporting large items slightly easier, my dog's beach visits are more comfortable, and out on the highway, I have better cruising abilities — in addition to all the benefits of running a new car viz. serviceability, safety, convenience, etc — but most importantly, it doesn't make me yearn for a more fun car 90 per cent of my wheel time. Which, as any car enthusiast would confirm, is a big compliment. If you're after a midsized SUV but want something that's more fun than the usual choices, the Creta N Line (MT) is easily the one to go for. PS: Don't give up on your fun car, though.
As of November 2025, the Creta N Line Manual, as tested, is priced at Rs 19.17 lakh, ex-showroom, for the fully loaded version. For the complete 2025 Hyundai Creta price list, please visit the official website by clicking here.