Bucket Seat: Hyundai Creta

The compact SUV market in South Africa has become one of the most competitive spaces in the motoring industry, especially with a growing number of Chinese brands arriving with feature-packed vehicles at aggressive prices. Hyundai has clearly taken notice, and the introduction of the new CRETA range seems to be its answer to a market where buyers are looking closely at exactly what they are getting for their money. The biggest talking point has to be the price. The new Hyundai CRETA 1.5 Premium comes in at R434,900, which is an impressive R44,000 cheaper than the outgoing 2024 model. At a time when new vehicle prices continue to climb, it is refreshing to see a manufacturer bringing a newer offering to market at a more affordable price point rather than simply adding another increase.

Under the bonnet, the CRETA Premium uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 84 kW and 144 Nm of torque. These figures are not going to set the world on fire, but for everyday driving, commuting and the occasional longer road trip, it should offer more than enough performance. Hyundai claims fuel consumption of 6.3 litres per 100 km, which should also make it relatively affordable to run. Where the CRETA starts becoming more interesting is with the technology and standard equipment. The Premium model comes with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth with voice recognition, USB charging, keyless entry and start, automatic headlights and a 4.2-inch supervision display. Safety equipment includes multiple airbags, ESC, hill-start assist, a rear-view monitor, parking sensors and tyre-pressure monitoring.

These features are important because this is exactly where the Chinese competition has been putting pressure on established brands. Manufacturers such as Chery, Haval, OMODA, Jaecoo and others have changed buyer expectations by offering large screens, cameras, advanced technology and long equipment lists at prices that were previously difficult for mainstream brands to match. The CRETA may not necessarily have the biggest touchscreen or the longest list of flashy features in its segment, but Hyundai still brings something extremely valuable to the table: a well-established brand, a strong dealer network and the reassurance that comes with the company's long-term presence in South Africa. The seven-year/200,000 km warranty and four-year/60,000 km service plan also add to that peace of mind.

For buyers wanting something with a bit more excitement, Hyundai is also introducing the CRETA N Line to South Africa for the first time. This is the more interesting model in the range from a performance and technology perspective. The N Line gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine producing 117.5 kW and a healthy 253 Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch transmission. That is a significant step up from the standard Premium model and should give the CRETA a much stronger and more engaging driving character. Hyundai has also loaded the N Line with technology that helps it compete directly with the increasingly sophisticated Chinese alternatives. A 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning and pre-collision avoidance are all included. There is also fatigue detection, rear parking sensors and hill-hold assistance.

Inside and out, the N Line feels like a more premium and distinctive offering, with leather upholstery, wireless smartphone charging, a panoramic sunroof, LED lighting, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheels. The satin-black grille and N Line styling also help give it a sportier personality. At R569,900, the CRETA N Line is entering territory where there is no shortage of alternatives, particularly from Chinese manufacturers offering plenty of space, technology and equipment for the money. However, Hyundai's advantage is that it is combining modern technology with a brand that South African buyers already know and trust.

The new CRETA range feels like Hyundai recognising that the market has changed. It is no longer enough to simply offer reliability and a good reputation. Buyers now expect technology, safety features, stylish design and value for money as standard. By dropping the entry price significantly while still offering modern equipment, and then introducing the much more powerful and technology-packed N Line, Hyundai has given the CRETA a stronger position in an increasingly crowded market. The Chinese brands may still have an advantage when it comes to offering the biggest feature list for the lowest price, but the new CRETA shows that established manufacturers are not standing still. Hyundai is fighting back with better value, improved technology and the confidence that comes with an established reputation in South Africa.

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Sante Fe Hybrid

It feels like the other day when the Koreans entered the market with cars much cheaper than the European and Japanese makes and offering a whole lot more. People were naturally skeptical about the products but since grew to love them, fast forward to current day and there's a new country that is starting to dominate the markets with their brands and that is China. The Koreans have long established themselves and people love their offerings but the Chinese models being much more cheaper, bolder in designs and offering loads more tech just makes them hard to ignore, but what have their Asian neighbors who once enjoyed a large chunk of the market share doing about this "invasion", Hyundai still remains one of the world's largest motoring manufacturers and have a variety of models across the segments to rival just about anything from any brand but they too have been feeling the heat coming from China. I got to spend time with the latest Sante Fe to see if this model squares up to the competition. 

DESIGN

The latest Santa Fe marks a bold shift in Hyundai’s styling direction: it trades soft curves for a more boxy, rugged, and squared-off look, reminiscent in places of upscale off-road machines. Key design features include prominent H-pattern LED daytime-running lights and tail lamps, in fact the H is so prominent in the front, I challenged people to count how man H's they could find! I lost count because there were so many! The squared wheel arches, wide-set 20-inch alloys, and a bluff front grille that lends it a strong road presence. From the side and rear, the angular roofline, large rear quarter windows, and pronounced roof rails emphasize its “tough family hauler” aesthetic. It's more masculine and rugged than previous iterations, and while that may please some, others may find the styling polarizing. Inside, the cabin steps up significantly in terms of luxury and modernity. Expect dual 12.3-inch curved displays (one for the digital instrument cluster, one for infotainment), soft-touch surfaces, Alcantara or synthetic leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and thoughtful layout touches like plentiful USB-C ports, wireless charging, and well-placed storage cubbies. 

PERFORMANCE

In South Africa, the launch model is a hybrid AWD “Hybrid Elite” trim: a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine combined with a 44 kW electric motor delivers about 175 kW (system output) and 367 Nm of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels. There are selectable drive modes—Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart—and an AWD system with specialized terrain settings like mud, snow, and sand. These help adapt the car to different driving conditions.  Hyundai claim a fuel efficiency average of around 7.5 l/100 km, but real-world driving with multiple occupants tends to hover more toward 8.6 l/100 km. As is typical for large SUVs, actual economy depends heavily on driving style and load. I must say though, it's the first hybrid drive-train I've driven from Hyundai and its near perfect, for such a big car to propel the electric engine really does well to cope with the short distance runs. I wish I had it a big longer to take it on a long road trip to see how it fairs but alas, my time with it was short. 

COMFORT

The Sante Fe remains a big SUV, with ample amount of space for most of its occupants, I say most because we will discuss the third row seating in a bit. The ride and handling lean firmly toward comfort: the suspension is tuned to absorb road imperfections well, and onboard refinement is strong. Engine noise is well suppressed in most scenarios; the transition between electric and petrol modes in the hybrid setup is smooth and largely unobtrusive. Some criticisms exist around shift behaviour (more for non-hybrid turbo/ICE versions) and tightness in the third row legroom when fully occupied. As a true seven-seater, the Santa Fe offers good space for the first and second rows. The third row is usable—especially for children or smaller adults—for shorter trips. Legroom, headroom, and seat height have been improved compared to past generations.  When the third row is up, trunk space drops notably; folding it (and then the second row) opens up a large, versatile cargo area, great for family travel or larger loads.  Top trims bring amenities such as heated and ventilated front seats, dual sunroof, ambient lighting, a powerful Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, powered tailgate, rear window curtains, and a host of driver-assistance and safety aids. The build quality feels premium, with quiet cabin insulation and materials that give a more upscale feel than older Santa Fe's. While usable, third-row seating is best suited to children or shorter trips for adults. It’s less spacious and the headroom/legroom don’t match the second row, also with the seats up means less luggage space. 

VERDICT

The new Hyundai Santa Fe 7-Seater is a compelling choice for families who want space, comfort, and modern tech wrapped in a bold and purposeful design. Its hybrid powertrain delivers a nice balance of performance and efficiency, especially in everyday driving. The design and feature set push it closer to luxury territory without straying into exorbitant price tiers. However, if you regularly carry seven tall adults, demand maximum luggage space with all seats in place, or want razor-sharp, sporty handling, then you might want to explore rivals to see if those trade-offs favour you more.The latest Santa Fe is a solid evolution—not just a facelift. It firmly stakes its claim among premium family SUVs by leaning into bold design, roomy interiors, and well-judged hybrid performance. For most families, it strikes a very attractive balance between utility, comfort, and style.

SPECIFICATION

Engine	1.6L Petrol Hybrid
Gear Box	6-speed automatic
Torque	367Nm
Power	175kW
Top Speed	190km/h
Price	R1,249,900

Bucket Seat: 2022 Hyundai Creta Executive

The Hyundai Creta is probably one of the more popular compact SUV’s in the local market with the first generation doing remarkably well with sales. It offered the consumer a mid-to-large cabin with decent luggage capacity with great fuel economy and that is what the recipe of the Creta is in a nutshell, fast forward to the last model on the market, it’s definitely gotten better in looks and packs quite a bit of tech offering but still has those core values of the original model. I had the opportunity to spend almost 2 weeks with the Creta in which I traveled over 2,300km with it, so I got to know the car pretty well with my time with it, here are my thoughts on it.

DESIGN 

The revised Creta design sees major design changes to the front of the car that sports an almost identical face to that of the new Tucson. The bold new grill which incorporates the new headlights is a striking feature that catches your attention almost immediately, bold borders outline the shape which tapers off to the bottom to join the bottom bumper. The car which was in a metallic red/ maroon suited the car perfectly even with the silver brushed aluminium accents. The car has a great body design with clever lines adding to the bulk look, making it more of a crossover design than SUV.  The rest of the body is pretty similar to the previous model with subtle design tweaks to enhance the appearance. The biggest change on the rear sees the shape of the rear lights change a bit, still sticking to that C shape but with the top line extended, making it look like J now I suppose. They did well to break the design with distinct characteristics, such as the greys, blacks and borders, would have liked to have the roof in a full black colour since there was no panoramic roof offering. The inside remains pretty similar to the pre-facelift model with the cabin being very spacious, and comfortable place to sit in. 

PERFORMANCE 

Powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, there’s nothing to write home about in-terms of performance but after travelling around most of KZN and parts of the Free State, the true beauty of this car showed itself on the long open road giving me close to 650km on a single tank of fuel! With the engine producing 84kW and 144Nm of torque, it isn’t bad when you require the power and it does brilliantly when coasting, this is also helped a lot by the IVT gearbox that works like a charm, and isn’t as annoying as the CVT boxes found in the other cars. Being a small car, I expected the car to struggle at higher altitudes while cruising at high speeds but to its credit, the car managed to cope quite well, with my cruise control set to 120kph, the Creta breezed as I travelled through the N5 in Free-State. Where you did notice the climate taking a knock on the car was when the range started to drop dramatically, with the box type shape and not very aerodynamic, it was obvious it wasn’t managing well with the dry air outside but like I mentioned, getting close to 650km from a 45-litre tank is pretty good in my books and I while still doing decent speeds. 

COMFORT 

This for me is a critical talking point when it comes to SUV’s in the same segment as the Creta. While the offering may seem great, the manufacturers tend to add cheaper quality materials in the cabin to lower the prices of the cars and while I did complain about the previous model Creta being very plastic, not much has changed in this model but what I can say, the quality of plastic is good (not sure if that’s even a thing you can say), it’s still hard and sounds like crap when you knock on it but it will last you a long time so it’s pretty robust, rest assured it won’t crack or melt in extreme hot temperatures. The seats are great and comfy, sitting for 7 hour straight and I had no complaints, and even no back pains at my old age. The Creta doesn’t have climate control, just you conventional type aircon but it does have a very cool 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit which has built-in mobile apps which has wireless connectivity. There is two USB ports up front with a 12V power port and a wireless charging mat in this Executive model. The rear passengers have a bench type seat with vents for the air conditioning and one USB port for charging there devices. The cabin is very roomy with lots of headroom, even for a tall guy like myself which helps as you tend to feel claustrophobic in smaller SUV’s like this. The boot space is decent, you can get a set of clubs in there with no issue, and lots of bags as I found out on my multiple trips. Should you require more space, you can drop the rear seats which fold in a 60/40 split for additional loading capacity when required. 

VERDICT 

I wasn’t hugely impressed when I drove the previous model Creta, while the styling was different and they spec’s the interiors colours brilliantly, it didn’t really do much for me. This revised model though, is almost the complete opposite. I guess spending over 30 hours of driving with it meant I got the experience the car more and had time to digest what the car is all about. When taking all of this into consideration and looking at the price tag, you have to say Hyundai have done a great job with the Creta. Even with the entry model with the manual transmission, it’s a very decent offering to what else you have in the market at the moment. Overall, I quite enjoyed my time with the Creta, it’s a weird little car but it works and is great value for money, I suppose that’s the most important thing at the moment for most buyers and you certainly won’t go wrong with this model.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.5-litre
Gear Box	IVT
Torque	144Nm
Power	84kW
Fuel economy	6.3L/ 100km/h
Price	R469,900

 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Tucson 2.0D

Hyundai have been releasing new models quite often over the past 4/5 years, with various ranges in various segments but the mid-size SUV has been a popular choice for many in this time. When it was first introduced locally, it was known as the Tucson, then changed over to the IX-35 but then reverted back to the Tucson badge in its previous generation. This model proved to be extremely popular with the locals especially with the N Line kit that was offered as their "sport kit", but in my opinion the four tail-pipes was a bit of an overkill. Recently I got to spend time with the latest generation of the Tucson, a model which snuck it's way into the country without making that big of a grand entrance but with a drastic style change, it deserves a lot more noise than what it has received so far. Here are my thoughts on the latest iteration of the Hyundai Tucson. 

DESIGN

As mentioned earlier, the design of this car is something else, its very drastic and different from their other designs and seems to be the start of their new design language with some of the other models being based off this. When it comes to design languages though, Hyundai don't play it according to the rule book with models often looking vastly different to each other, so I can't even say for certain that this is what future models will look like, that being said, this week the face-lift Creta was launched and it sports almost and identical front as the the Tucson, so who knows.  The front end of the new Tucson is very imposing and sleek with the dominant feature being the new grille with extends into the front headlamps. The grille is finished off with a tile/ scale type design with the segments being winged off at the sides that house the LED lights. It looks very cool and quite iconic. The bottom end of the front end tapers down to the diffuser area and has a brushed aluminum scuff plate and on either side of the front bumper are the LED fog lamps. The side profile of the Tucson is sleek and follows those sharp lines with a lovely side plate at the rear window which is finished off in silver. The rear end is also quite extravagant with sharp edged tail lights mimicking shark teeth, going back to its Tiburon roots, The interior of the Tucson is very similar to the Creta with slightly better materials being used and a few added extras which I'll discuss later in this review. Overall, its quite a stunning design and one of the better ones at the moment from the Korean brand. 

PERFORMANCE

When it comes to SUV's, personally I prefer diesel engines, purely to cart the huge chassis along, it's the more the torque that I think is better suited to cars of this size but then again, an adequate sized petrol engine also does the trick. The new Tucson comes in a choice of naturally aspirated 2.0L petrol or a Turbo-charged 2.0L diesel motor in the Elite guise. I had the latter which I thoroughly enjoyed, doing long distance driving in a car like this was simply a pleasure with the engine producing 137kW and 416Nm of torque, the power was substantial for my needs and being a diesel I was getting great kilometers per liter on it. Hyundai's brochure claims 7.9L per 100km but I was getting around 8.5 which still isn't too bad. The engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission which has decent ratios when driving in normal or eco driving styles, it tends to struggle in sport if you really in a hurry but it's not too laid back as you might think. This car picks up speed quite fast and can maneuver very swiftly along the roads if need be. 

COMFORT

Being a medium sized family SUV, there is no shortage of space in the new Tucson with it being capable of fitting 5-fully grown adults with ease. The front passenger and driver get some nice extras with dual-climate control, heated and cooling seats and a function I found myself using more than once, was the steering wheel heater! Yes, in Durban, when spending time with this car, there were some frosty mornings that had me needing to warm my fingers up and this was quite the treat! The large infotainment touch screen was very easy to use and had pre-loaded mobile apps. The reverse camera was in almost HD quality which made reversing a synch. The instrument cluster is fully digital, just like the Kona I had last year, the dials change in colour depending on the driving mode you in.  There is two-USB ports up front with a power outlet and wireless charging tray as an optional extra. The panoramic sunroof was a nice added extra with letting in the balmy winter sun on most days or looking at the stars in the night. The sound system isn't the greatest if you like me, picky with how your music should sound but it isn't bad. Maybe Hyundai should look at bringing in a sound partner in this aspect. Safety wise, there is no cutting corners with the Tucson coming with the full range of airbags, including curtain airbags on the side. ABS with EBD, PDC and rear view monitoring to warn you of approaching cars when reversing. 

VERDICT

Overall, I was very impressed with the latest Tucson and really think it will do as well, if not better than the previous generation model and that is saying a lot given the success of that one. It's styling is different but not controversial, its a welcome style change to the brand and I like when brands take risks like this on designs that stand out from the crowd. With the incoming onslaught of the Chinese brands in the SUV segment, Korean brands know they have to up their anti with the offerings rolling out from their factories as the quality coming from China is pretty good and during times like this where people are looking for bang for buck cars, they might start to fall short. Like their other models, the Tucson comes with a host of their warrantees and services plans so you know you won't be stranded with issues down the line. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8-SpeedAutomatic
Torque	416Nm
Power	137kW
Top Speed	201km/h
Price	R704,900

 

Bucket Seat: Hyundai Kona N Line

The Hyundai Kona was always a car that left a question mark hovering over my head, from its inception in the market I could never figure out where it fits in. While it was an attractive looking car, boasts a great deal of options that you'd expect from a car in this price bracket I could never put my finger on it and say, that's a great hatchback or great crossover. So one would think after spending some time with the face-lift model in the N Line guise, I would have a better understanding of this car and could nail down where it sits in terms of segments in the motoring world. The answer is no, but in saying that, as you read through my review, you would find that it does have a purpose in the market and will have appeal to certain buyers. 

DESIGN

The styling on the Kona is quite different in the sense that it comes across more like a hatchback than SUV, which is where my confusion starts. It has a low stance with quite a bit of bulk which comes from bold wheel arches and a slightly raised ride height. This one being the N Line version has the full on sports treatment with lowered front splitters, a more aggressive grill and rear difusser as well as large multi-spoke rims. There are extra fins and details to add to the N appeal making this look like a proper racer, dare I say it, even a hot hatch.  The styling makes it evident that this model is more aligned to the SUV range of the Hyundai stable with the signature split head lamps featuring the LED daytime running lights on the top with the main headlamps below, this is also mirrored at the back with the tail lights being split. Its a refreshing look to what we're normally used to and adds character as such to the car. 

PERFORMANCE

The N Line model has the 1.6T motor, which produces 146kW with 265Nm of torque. That power output is startling to say the least with it being 40kW more than the NA 2.0 engine that is also offered in the Kona range but not with the N Line. The engine was very responsive and coupled with the 7-speed DCT gearbox proved to be a lot of fun to drive. I did find the gearbox to be twitchy on the lower gears, especially changing from first to second at low speeds, it gave the feel of it slipping and made the car jerk which wasn't very pleasant to say the least. This could have been an issue with this particular unit and not a common problem faced by the car, so will report in on that when I have further info on it. Other than that, it was a brilliant driving experience given from the car .The ride quality was quite superb and with the gusty engine just made you feel like you were behind the wheel of a sporty hatch rather than a crossover SUV., I would have liked paddle shifters on the steering to echo that feel and also could have minimized that issue I had with gear changes.  

COMFORT

Taking a look at the interior of the Kona N, it would give some of the Europeans some stiff competition not only form the styling but also levels of comfort and choice of materials used in the cabin. It was obviously sporty being kitting out with the N Line package, that including sports seats, red stitching , sports style steering with the N badge prominent on the wheel and gear selector. What intrigued me a lot was the tech loaded in this car, from a full digital dash which had quite amazing graphics and animations when toggled through the driving modes, even the infotainment screen was very intuitive and easy to use. This came preloaded with mobile apps for use of use when driving. The front passenger and driver enjoyed climate control,  the car had two power outlets as well as USB connection for driver and front passenger. The Kona also had hill descent control should you find your self in tricky situations with it. Other note worthy features on the Kona were lane keep assist, active cruise control with collision warning and electric seats for the driver. 

VERDICT

While Hyundai maintain this car is a crossover/ SUV I don't blame people for thinking its more of a hatch more so with the N Line kit on it. It even feels like a hatch when driving but with the added extras that you would find on a crossover, that would be a bonus to anyone. I can probably sit here and nit pick minor details about this car but truth be told the week spent with it was very enjoyable, while there isn't any direct competition for it in the market, well none that I can think of anyway, I feel there is a need for this type of vehicle as you will get those buyers whom aren't really sure if they want to make that transition into the SUV lifestyle but want something thats practical and small. This would be the ideal car for those and like I said, while it might have the off-road capabilities, it doesn't give off that big bulky vibe you'd usually expect from an SUV/ Crossover, so now you understand why I am still confused about its segment rating. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.6T Petrol
Gear Box	7-Speed DCT
Torque	265Nm
Power	146kW
Fuel Economy	7.5 per 100L
Price	R579,900