Do you remember the Hyundai Kona? It was a mid-sized SUV launched in the nascent EV space six years ago. While the market was yet to embrace the electric revolution, the Kona drew appreciation from buyers and critics alike. It was followed by the introduction of the IONIQ 5, which didn’t just establish Hyundai’s presence in the premium segment but also showcased the true engineering capabilities of the carmaker. Taking it forward is going to be the all-new Hyundai Creta Electric, a highly awaited BEV SUV that brings to the table the unmatched popularity of Hyundai’s best-selling SUV in a promising electric setup to answer the market’s ever-increasing demand. Is it any good?

It has become clear that Hyundai’s previous efforts in the electric space won’t go in vain. While the Kona Electric gave the company a head start, the IONIQ 5’s arrival brought along an expansive charging network. Would you believe that Hyundai currently has the highest number of 150 kW chargers installed in the country? That’s in addition to standard charging stations, which ensures that when EV adoption increases, buyers don’t face any difficulties in topping up their new prized possessions — whether it’s within the city or out on the highway.

Familiar design

In terms of appearance, the Hyundai Creta Electric isn’t too different from the standard ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) powered version. There are subtle changes made to the design to signify that it is, in fact, a very different car underneath, but the familiar silhouette is going to continue winning hearts. At the front, a nicely integrated charging flap replaces the conventional radiator grille.

The H-shaped LED headlights look great — just like the regular version — but are now complemented by pixelated LED accents, a design feature on electric Hyundais. This can be seen at the rear, too, which now gets a pixelated LED reverse lamp while the presence of a new ‘Electric’ badge does the heavy lifting of differentiating the car. Overall, it remains a well-designed SUV, which garners attention like no other despite being a familiar sight for years. The presence of 10 colour choices for the EV version is only going to widen its appeal.

Jump inside, and the cabin feels distinctly more premium than the regular Creta’s interior. The setup is familiar if not identical: a combination of twin 10.25-inch displays takes prominence, a mix of light and dark tones set the mood of the cabin, the centre console offers a variety of storage solutions, the AC controls are on a touch-sensitive panel under the screen, and the three-spoke steering is all-new. As seen on other new electric Hyundais globally, in place of the usual ‘H’ logo, the steering now sports four dots, denoting the letter in Morse code.

Spacious interior

There’s no dearth of space inside, and with the front seat backs scooped out, the rear passengers are unlikely to ever complain about knee room. The seats are supportive, the front chairs are electrically adjustable, and the rear bench offers great comfort, making the Creta Electric ideal for long journeys. We’d have loved to see the sliding centre console from the IONIQ 5, but even in its absence, it’s a great place to be, the Creta Electric’s cabin. It offers space and practicality — and cup holders that, surprisingly, some of its competitors have skipped. The boot space of 433 litres is good enough to haul family luggage for the weekend, and for other smaller items or grocery bags, there’s an additional 22 litres of space at the front, in the frunk (front trunk).

You wouldn’t expect a new Hyundai to be devoid of features, and we are happy to report the Hyundai Creta Electric isn’t, either. Apart from ADAS, it also gets EV-specific ones like vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which essentially allows owners to use the Creta to power appliances. There’s also the digital key, which integrates the car’s key into the owner’s smartphone wallet app, enabling them not just to lock/unlock but also start the car without using the physical key.

The Creta Electric weighs about 200 kg more than the standard car, making it more planted and stable on the highway. We’ll come to how well it feels to drive, but before that, it’s essential to mention its really well-balanced suspension. It soaks up bumps without any drama or unsettling the car. The steering setup is also precise, and the SUV felt confident throughout, whether in the city, manoeuvring tight turns or out on the highway cruising comfortably at triple-digit speeds.

There are two battery choices for the Creta: a 51.4 kWh one, which offers a claimed range of 473, and a more budget-focussed 42 kWh battery pack, which, according to Hyundai, will achieve 390 km on a single charge. The former is also more powerful, with the larger-battery-equipped version producing 168.6 bhp, whereas the latter makes 133.1 bhp. Since this was a first drive, our time behind the wheel was limited, but we soon realised that the Creta’s range didn’t drop drastically under spirited driving. We’ll need to spend more time with the car to find out if the claimed range is true, but it looks very promising. Among the two battery packs, we feel that if your commute/usual drive isn’t too long, the 42 kWh offers a decent balance between affordability and useable range. For anyone looking for a more complete product with more useable power and range, the bigger battery model might make sense.

Power delivery

Using a DC fast charger, the Creta Electric can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in just 58 seconds, while the official wall-mounted charger (11 kW) is claimed to take about four hours for a full charge. In terms of performance, the fact that it’s heavier than the standard Creta doesn’t quite look like a deterrent; 0-100 km/h comes up in just 7.5 seconds. While that’s impressive — and better than the ICE-powered version of the SUV — what makes the Creta Electric even better to live with is its power delivery. Unlike the sudden bursts of power that many electric SUVs exhibit, the Creta is decidedly more linear and smoother. You can sharpen its throttle response by switching to the sport mode.

Priced at Rs __ onwards, ex-showroom, the Hyundai Creta Electric brings together all that we like about the Creta, namely its space, comfort and practicality, and merges all that with the added appeal of electrification. That makes it cleaner and possibly much more affordable to run; it also adds a new dimension to the Creta line-up, which is bound to appeal to both Creta loyalists and new EV buyers.

While the package feels nearly complete, the build quality feels excellent, and the features list isn’t bad, either, we think the sport mode could’ve been a touch more aggressive. That said, it’s got the right mix of familiarity and future-ready appeal, and as an all-electric SUV in the burgeoning EV space, it’s a clear sign that Hyundai has played its cards right.