Test mules of the third-generation Creta (codename SX3) have shown the cabin for the first time in India. It features a redesigned dashboard and a new steering wheel.
Hyundai’s next-generation Creta has been spotted testing in India again, this time with a clear look at the interior. The spy shots, taken in the hills of Manali, show a dashboard that departs from the current model. Hyundai has not officially revealed anything about the car, so everything below comes from spy shots and reports. The Creta is expected to launch in India in 2027, with some reports pointing to mid-year.
Highlights
- Large central touchscreen with a slim driver’s display, likely Hyundai’s Pleos Connect
- New steering wheel with the Morse Code ‘H’ logo
- Built on the K3 platform shared with the Kia Seltos, so it should grow in size
What the spy shots show inside
The most noticeable change is the display layout. A big touchscreen sits in the centre of the dash. A narrow digital driver’s display is mounted deeper in the dashboard, closer to the windscreen, almost like a head-up unit. This points to Pleos Connect, Hyundai’s next-generation infotainment system. It would also be a break from the single connected-screen design on the new Seltos, new Venue and facelifted Verna. One report estimates the touchscreen at around 15 inches, but this is not confirmed.
The steering wheel is a new two-spoke design with the brand’s Morse Code logo, which stands for the letter ‘H’. The spokes appear to have touch-sensitive buttons plus two physical scroll wheels. Below the touchscreen is a rotary knob. It could handle volume or climate control, or switch between the two with a tap, as on the current Creta.
Other cabin details visible in the images:
- A floating centre console with two cupholders and an extended front armrest
- Horizontal door-panel detailing similar to the Hyundai Bayon, along with silver line patterns on the door trims
- Boss Mode buttons for the front passenger seat, which let rear passengers slide it forward
- Rear AC vents, a rear centre armrest with cupholders and sunblinds
Reports differ on a few details. The cabin theme is described as off-white and black in some reports and off-white and grey in others. One report also says the gear selector may have moved to a steering-column stalk, but this is not confirmed by the other sources.
Exterior and platform
The new Creta is expected to be larger than the current car, as it moves to the K3 platform. This should free up cabin space, and the car will sit above the Bayon in Hyundai’s India range. Earlier spy shots showed these design elements, which are visible again on the latest test mule:
- A boxy Venue-like grille with rectangular elements and a radar sensor in the centre for ADAS
- Split headlights with LED DRLs on top
- Three-segment LED tail-lights
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Revised ORVMs with camera pods for a 360-degree camera
- Flush-type door handles
Features expected
These are expectations and not confirmed features:
- Electrically adjustable front seats, possibly with an electric Boss Mode
- Ventilated front seats, and possibly rear ones
- Panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, wireless charger and the Bose sound system carried over
- Multi-coloured ambient lighting and a head-up display
- 6 airbags, a 360-degree camera, TPMS and an updated Level 2 ADAS package
Powertrain: what is expected
Hyundai is reportedly working on a strong-hybrid system for the Creta, shared with the Seltos. Most reports say it will be based on the current 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. One report instead suggests a 1.6-litre hybrid (154PS in front-wheel drive, 178PS in all-wheel drive), similar to the Seltos hybrid shown at the Paris Motor Show. This discrepancy has not been resolved. The hybrid may arrive later rather than at launch, and Hyundai could offer it in front-wheel drive only in India.
The current engines are expected to continue:
| 1.5-litre NA petrol | 1.5-litre turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 115PS | 160PS | 116PS |
| Torque | 144Nm | 253Nm | 250Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT / CVT | 7-speed DCT | 6-speed MT / 6-speed AT |
MT – Manual Transmission, CVT – Continuously Variable Transmission, DCT – Dual-Clutch Transmission, AT – Torque Converter Automatic. Figures are for the current Creta, and Hyundai has not confirmed the next-gen specifications.
Expected price and rivals
The current Creta, including the N Line, costs from Rs 10.79 lakh to Rs 19.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The new model is expected to carry a premium over this, and one report puts the starting price near Rs 11 lakh. Pricing has not been announced.
Its rivals will include the Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Nissan Tekton, Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun. With a hybrid, it will also take on the Maruti Victoris, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and Renault Duster.
Our take
The new cabin should make the Creta feel more modern, and the larger size should add rear-seat space. The caveat is that the hybrid timing and engine details are unclear, and the likely price premium could matter in a crowded segment. If you are planning to buy a Creta, it is worth waiting for official details before deciding.
Image source: Instagram (mrd_vlogs, @crossaltitude). Images are of test mules and are for representation only. Prices are ex-showroom, India.
