Hyundai Creta N Line: Sporty Upgrades Done Right

Growing up is tough. Responsibilities kick in before you know it and your family takes priority over everything. You’ll find yourself sacrificing your passion, your desires for the well being of your loved ones and in the case of a petrolhead, that dream of buying a fun, enthusiastic car turns into buying something practical and comfortable for the family. Gone are the conversations revolving around coilovers, intake valves and turbos – replaced with grocery list, family functions and monthly EMIs. Mid-life crisis at its peak, huh?

But if there’s one car that panders to those mid-life crisis needs while keeping the spirit of the enthusiast alive, it has to be the Hyundai Creta N Line. It takes the recipe of the standard Creta, which is a great family compact SUV to begin with, and gives it just the right set of tweaks and upgrades, which help it cater to those spirited needs. How exactly does it go about it though? Let’s find out:

WRC Lineage

Hyundai says that the Creta N Line is based on WRC-inspired design and you definitely can see those sportier hints in its exterior. There isn’t a literal correlation with WRC, but the changes definitely add athleticism to the Creta’s otherwise muscular styling.

Apart from revised grille, bigger 18-inch alloys, and the sporty bumper with diffuser, the Creta N Line gets cool matte-finished exterior hues that go just right with its red accents all around.

Those red inserts extend into the brake callipers as well and you even get a rather sporty roof mounted spoiler. Icing on the cake is the dual tone black roof treatment, and adding a cherry on top of the icing on the cake is the dual exhaust tip – a signature styling element, definitive of a car with sporty credentials. 

Even on the inside, the Creta N Line boasts a sportier space with an all-black theme contrasted by red inserts and stitching all around. The treatment extends to the steering wheel, which gets a N-specific three-spoke unit, along with the revised gear knob styling. The combination of the materials used on the manual gear lever is a thing of beauty. 

All its design revisions definitely add character to the Creta’s package, making it more appealing not just for the members of the family, but also for the enthusiast within you.

Tweaked Suspension & steering

As part of the N Line treatment, Hyundai has tweaked the suspension of the Creta N Line, primarily to account for the larger wheels. Not tuning it for sportier handling isn’t a bad thing at all, given that the standard Creta’s ride and handling already has a great balance to begin with. So while there might not be a significant improvement in dynamism, it does feel much more sturdy on higher speeds. 

That’s also an extension of the slightly heavier steering rack, which makes the car more predictable and gives the driver more confidence at higher speeds. So the balance definitely has been tweaked to make the drive more involved and enthusiastic for the driver, but it doesn’t sacrifice on the comfort and plushness of the ride for the family.

A 6-speed MT, hallelujah!

Both the Creta and Creta N Line share the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which puts out an output of 160PS and 253Nm. Both are available with a 7-speed DCT, and while there might not be any bump in power, it still is quick enough with a 0-100kmph time of 8.9 seconds (claimed). The differentiating factor for the N Line’s powertrain comes in the form of its exclusive 6-speed manual transmission. 

Hyundai has reserved the manual for the N Line, and for a good reason too as we found out for ourselves. Not only does it give you more control of your drive, but the weight of the lever, and the crisp shifts make this manual a joy to use. You can always opt for the quick shifting DCT if you need the convenience of an automatic in city traffic conditions, but it’s always good to have the option of a manual, and a good one at that too!

For all its upgrades that up the quotient on its sporty demeanor, the Creta N Line isn’t at all heavy on the pocket. It actually is one of its kind, and probably the perfect getaway vehicle for dropping those midlife crises and moving away with your family.