Hyundai Creta Electric special feature: Is this all the EV you will need?

There’s no luxury like the luxury of having time. For most of us, our jam-packed schedules involve constantly having one eye on our to-do list and one eye on the clock. Which is why when we do have the luxury of having a little time on our hands, all you want to do is relax. Unfortunately, time isn’t limitless in supply and most of it goes in chasing productivity – and that’s where the right car can go a long way in contributing to your peace and wellbeing, without the need to deviate from your routine. Abha feels the same way about her Hyundai Creta Electric. As she gets ready to embark on her commute to work, Abha looks forward to the drive, despite it being one in Pune’s infamous rush-hour traffic. Unplug the charger, thumb the button to bring the Creta Electric to life and she proceeds to set off to the sound of… silence.

Ease of driving the Hyundai Creta Electric

The Indian summer can be unforgiving, the traffic on the road is chaotic, but inside the cabin of her car, Abha sits unbothered in her oasis of peace and calm. The climate control has been set just right, the ventilated seats are a boon and as she threads the Creta Electric through traffic, the effortlessness of this electric car comes to the fore. Even in the most responsive of petrol or diesel engines, there is the slightest of delays between your throttle inputs and the powertrain responding to them, which can be a pain point in stop-and-go traffic. In comparison, the immediacy of the electric powertrain results in near-instantaneous progress in traffic. Overtakes are dealt with effortlessly and in a jiffy, and for the enthusiasts reading evo India, you will be pleased to know that this is actually the most powerful Creta that Hyundai will sell you, producing 169bhp of power, while also being the quickest to 100kmph, with a claimed time of 7.9 seconds with the 51.4kWh battery pack that this particular example is equipped with.

ADAS on the Hyundai Creta Electric

But Abha didn’t get her Creta Electric for setting lap times. She got it since it is a smooth operator, a competent and capable SUV that can effortlessly tackle the rigours of the urban jungle, while also being very safe. The blazing heat in Pune will soon give way to the first of the monsoon showers and in these unpredictable weather conditions, the Creta Electric has her back with its surefooted dynamics and the safety equipment which also includes Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The ADAS suite comprises 20 functions, including a blind spot view monitor, lane keep assist, high beam assist as well as lane follow assist – allowing Abha to drive safely and more confidently.

Hyundai Creta Electric interior

This Creta Electric is more than just a mere means of transport for its owner – it also serves as a tool for boosting her productivity. Abha spends a considerable amount of time driving her Creta Electric to meetings and this is when the Hyundai doubles up as a command centre for her on the move. When she’s driving herself, the dual 10.25-inch screens for the infotainment and digital instrument cluster allow her to easily view all the relevant information when behind the steering wheel, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow her to easily pair her smartphone with the car’s infotainment, to stay connected on the move. On longer days, Abha prefers to work out of her Creta while being chauffeured around, thanks to the presence of a seatback table which is perfect for placing her laptop on, and the Type-C USB ports along with the wireless smartphone charger present in the second row ensures that her devices can be easily juiced up. The front passenger seat can also be electrically moved forward to liberate additional space for those sitting in the rear seat, and the Creta Electric allows Abha to effectively manage her time and to stay productive even when she’s out on the open road.

Living with a Hyundai Creta Electric

Another strength of the Creta Electric is its ability to seamlessly fit in with its owner’s lifestyle. One of the most common pain points or grouses for an electric car owner and prospective buyers looking to get one are the charging times, as well as the range offered by an EV, and the Creta Electric manages to address both of these issues. First, let’s talk about range. The Creta Electric pictured here is the long- range variant with a 51.4kWh battery pack (there’s also a 42kWh battery pack option) and it packs in a claimed driving range of 510km, which means that Abha has never really faced any range anxiety when she’s using her Creta Electric for city runs or for highway jaunts when heading for a weekend getaway. Depending on the battery pack option, the batteries of the Creta Electric can be juiced up from 10 per cent to 100 per cent using an 11kW AC wall box charger in as little as four hours, and the charging times drop even further when making use of a DC fast charger. Abha is also a fan of the styling of her Creta Electric – particularly because it doesn’t scream “I am an electric car” ostentatiously. In fact, if it weren’t for the Creta Electric badging, the aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels and the green number plates which are specific to electric vehicles, you could actually mistake this for one of the several petrol or diesel Hyundai Cretas that are present on India’s roads. Subtlety and quiet sophistication is how Hyundai went about designing the Creta Electric, and the result is a mid-size electric SUV that looks good and appeals to a larger audience. It also fits in perfectly with Abha’s routine, be it for heading to the office or for meetings, as well as for spontaneous late-night drives, runs to the salon or the mall and for social outings over the weekend. On one occasion, this Creta Electric even managed to save the day during a friend’s party, when its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function enabled it to power the lighting as well as the styling equipment during a power outage, proving itself to be a quiet and dependable saviour.

When the Hyundai Creta was first launched in 2015, it was an SUV that really nailed the mid-size SUV formula. It had a good balance between dynamics and handling, a great spread of variants and it was loaded to the hilt with equipment. Design of course is subjective, but the Creta has always been a desirable SUV, which is why it continues to remain popular amongst buyers in India. And after spending some time with Abha and her Creta Electric, it is easy to understand why this Hyundai appeals to her. It isn’t just fabulous or striking in any singular aspect, rather it is a well-rounded product that has been thoughtfully designed. It’s one of those vehicles that doesn’t just save you time by helping you skip the queues at fuel stations, but it also allows you to make the best use of your time and stay productive. For Abha, her Creta Electric has been a constant companion through the high points and the rigours of her daily routine, and it has proved to be more than just a car – it’s an enabler that helps her get the most out of her days, affording her the luxury of time.