Next-Gen Hyundai Creta Base Variant and Diesel Spotted Testing Ahead of Launch

The next-generation Hyundai Creta has been spotted undergoing road tests near Gurugram in the NCR region and in Manali, revealing new details about its base variant and diesel powertrain. Built on the K3 platform, the upcoming Creta grows in size and adopts sharper, more angular lines and a boxy silhouette based on the Art of Steel design language.

Recent spy shots of a Manali test mule wearing steel wheels with covers and 205/65R16 tyres indicate a lower-spec variant, while the engine sound confirmed it was a diesel. Exterior highlights include an upright front fascia, a prominent bumper with slatted elements, a new grille, LED projector headlamps, and H-styled top-mounted LED DRLs. The side profile features flush door handles, circular wheel arches, a slanted roofline, and angular window frames. At the rear, the vehicle sports a raked windshield, a roof-mounted spoiler, a chunky bumper, a flat boot lid, and updated tail lamps.

Inside, the new Creta transitions to a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), supporting Over-The-Air (OTA) updates that eliminate the need to visit a service center for new features. Higher trims will feature the Pleos Connect infotainment system, which consolidates controls onto a centrally mounted screen and replaces the traditional full-size instrument panel with a slim driver-focused display for essential metrics like speed and fuel gauge. Pleos is slated to roll out across most Hyundai SUVs.

Under the hood, the next-gen Creta introduces a strong hybrid powertrain shared with the global-spec Seltos, pairing a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated GDI petrol engine with electric motors and a battery pack, enabling eAWD where dual motors are used. For the Indian market, however, the strong hybrid setup will be based on a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. Hybrid variants will also feature regenerative braking and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities, while existing powertrain options will carry over.

The new Hyundai Creta is expected to hit the market in the first half of 2027 as a 2027 model, competing against midsize SUVs like the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Tata Sierra, and Honda Elevate.