Hyundai has been testing the new 7-seater Creta in the Korean market until recently the car was spied in India as well. The Hyundai Creta 7-seater was again spotted testing the the southern state of India and is likely to be undergoing validations and is likley to be launch soon in India. The new Hyundai 7-seater is expected to be positioned above the standard Creta and is likely to com with premium features inside out. Why a comparison to Safari? Well, the Creta & the Harrier although not of the same size, customers are cross shopping between the two. The same is likely to happen between the Safari & Creta 7-seater model as both would feature a 2WD setup (till Safari comes with a 4×4 on a later date).
The test mule spotted near Hyderabad features a different haunch with extended overhangs to allow a third row of seats. Though the tailgate of the vehicle is heavily camouflaged, earlier spyshots of the 7-seater model revealed a completely redesigned rear with new light signatures and the rear bumper is also expected to be revamped.
On the front, distinguishing character continue and the 7-seater model is expected to feature its unique chrome studded grille but the headlamps are expected to be carried over from the 5-seater version. The test mule was also spotted with a different set of alloy wheels in the dual-tone finish. The new alloy wheels could be the production-ready version.
The interiors of the 7-seater Creta havent been spied yet, but the brand is expected to equip the car with the latest-generation connected features, a large infotainment system similar to the 5-seater Creta, new generation steering wheel and seating capacity of 7 persons. But it is speculated that the third-row seats will best accommodate children. The brand is also likely to offer a 6-seater variant with captain seats.
The 7-seater model is expected to come with the same engine line-up offered on the standard which is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre MPi Petrol engine, 1.5-litre CRDi U2 Diesel engine and 1.4-litre Kappa Turbo-Petrol engine. The brand is also expected to offer a plethora of gearbox options including manual and automatic options.
The 7-seater Creta is expected to be introduced in the second half of 2021 and will rival the likes of the 2021 Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus 7-seater and Mahindra XUV500.