Mahindra XUV500 AT vs Hyundai Creta AT comparison

    Is the new XUV500 automatic up to taking on the most popular car in its class, the Hyundai Creta and can it come out ahead?

    Published On Feb 22, 2016 06:00:00 AM

    2,18,871 Views

    What’s new?

    Automatic cars are in vogue these days. And with more and more buyers warming up to the idea of clutchless comfort, carmakers are going ahead and specifying all their cars with automatic gearboxes. The first SUV maker to identify this niche was Mahindra. The company launched the Scorpio AT back in 2008 but it’s the recently launched XUV500 AT that has got us excited. A few months ago, we drove the XUV500 AT and were quite impressed with it. We liked it so much that we even recommended it over its manual counterpart. But is it good enough to take on what Hyundai calls ‘the perfect SUV’? Is the Creta automatic really that good?

    On paper, the XUV dwarfs the Creta with its relatively large size, two additional seats and bigger 2.2-litre diesel motor. The Hyundai, however, is more affordable as it costs Rs 1.57 lakh less. It is more car like and though it comes with a smaller 1.6-litre diesel, real-world performance is unlikely to be down on the XUV. So, which car is better – the XUV500 or the Creta? Does the Mahindra give you more for more or is the Hyundai the better car pound for pound?

    What are they like to drive?

    The automatic gearbox has made the XUV500 nicer to drive. The big, bulky XUV moves off quite smartly from standstill and what makes it easier to drive in city traffic is that it seldom jerks or feels hesitant. It has a decent amount of punch when you stay on the throttle and the gearbox is quite intuitive too, meaning it shifts up when you get off the throttle and swaps to a lower gear when you put your foot down. While it is convenient to drive in the city, the XUV doesn’t shy away from open roads either. Step on the gas and performance is actually quite good. In our acceleration test, the XUV knocked off the 0-100kph sprint in 11.9 secs. That makes it quicker than the manual variant. If you want to control the shifts, this can be done with the help of a button on the right side of the gear knob; yes, it’s fiddly and does take a bit of getting used to, but it works.

    The XUV’s traditional hydraulic power steering is a bit weighty at slow speeds, but the faster you go, the better it feels. Charge through corners with a fair amount of vigour, though, and the steering kicks back. As for refinement, there’s a fair amount of vibration felt at idle and the engine does get noisy 1500rpm onwards. What passengers will take comfort in, is the decent ride comfort. Unless you’re going over really bad patches of road, there’s not much that’ll unsettle occupants, especially at low speeds.

    The Hyundai has a smaller 1.6-litre diesel that churns out 126bhp of power and 26.5 kgm of torque. While these figures are not as impressive as the XUV’s, the lighter Creta is quicker to 100kph at 11.53 secs. Now, while the Hyundai does accelerate faster and has the higher top speed, more importantly, it drives very smoothly and effortlessly. And it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to response times either. In fact, at slow speeds and while starting off-the-line, the Creta’s engine responds better than the XUV500’s. It also holds its own on open roads as the engine and gearbox settle into a nice rhythm, making highway driving quite effortless. The gearbox is reasonably quick and the timely responses allow you to relax behind the wheel. The electric power steering has some slack at the centre position, and while its lightness is appreciated in the city, on the highway, it can get very unnerving. Also, the tiptronic mode in the Creta works nicely and is much easier to use than on the XUV.

    At slow speeds, the Creta handles bad roads with a hint of firmness and the suspension also thuds through sharp undulations. Bump absorption improves as you go faster and it feels more stable than the Mahindra. There are vibrations felt at idle, which isn’t a good thing, but the Creta is much smoother than the XUV once on the move.
     

    What are they like inside?

    The XUV500 was updated in 2015 and with that came a few minor changes to the insides. To begin with, the dashboard, with its black and beige paint scheme, looks a bit more upmarket. Fit, finish has improved and the quality of plastics is much better now. The big difference is that the centre console gets an automatic gear selector and there are two sporty aluminium pedals for the AT version. As with the manual car, the updated Visteon-developed 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system’s functionality has improved. Mahindra’s updated Blue Sense app allows passengers to connect their phones to control the audio and air-con settings from the rear seat, a useful touch for the chauffeur-driven. The front seats in the XUV are large and comfy, second-row occupants get loads of legroom and the rear bench is very supportive too. We can’t say the same for the third row, which is a bit cramped and best used for short journeys, but just having the third row is an advantage here. In terms of storage space, there are plenty of cavities and spaces to stash your valuables and bottles. And there’s a fair amount of luggage room if you fold the third row.

    The XUV500 has no boot space with third-row seats up

    There are some niggles, though. The steering angle is a bit too vertical and this makes finding a good driving position difficult. Also, plastic quality inside the cabin still doesn’t match up to what is offered on other cars in this class.

    The Creta, belying its SUV-like external styling, feels more car-like on the inside. The front seats are a bit raised, for that essential SUV feel and are comfy. There’s no electric adjust, though, finding an ideal driving position is quite easy and there’s ample storage space in the doors.
    The dashboard also looks classier with the black and beige theme and minimal buttons. Cabin quality is in fact much better than in the Mahindra. The touchscreen infotainment system, though, isn’t really good. It is not as responsive as the XUV’s and brightness is a bit of an issue in harsh sunlight.

    The Creta's touchscreen infotainment not the best around

    The Creta could have done with a bit more rear headroom, some better quality materials instead of the hard plastic bits and the design of the dash could’ve been more impressive, like the exterior. But, as it is, it outclasses the XUV.
     

    Buying & owning

    Mahindra offers the XUV automatic in W8 and W10 trims with options of both front- and four-wheel drive. The range starts at Rs 15.58 lakh and tops out at Rs 17.37 lakh. Mahindra offers a warranty of three years or 1,00,000km. In terms of sales and service outlets, Mahindra’s footprint is a shade smaller than Hyundai’s. In total, Mahindra has 335 odd whereas Hyundai has over 430.

    Hyundai offers the Creta in just a single variant – SX+ and its priced at Rs 13.95 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). The standard warranty is of 3 years or unlimited mileage. While Hyundai’s sales and service network is comparable to Mahindra’s, it’s quality of service that the Korean carmaker edges ahead with.

    Equipment & safety

    Both the Mahindra XUV 500 W8 and the Hyundai Creta SX come equipped with climate control, rear AC vents, steering-mounted audio and telephony controls. The similarity continues as both the XUV and Creta’s steering wheel can be adjusted for rake only. Both cars come with features that are important for an automatic car like hill descent and hold function. The differences begin with the infotainment system. On the safety front, the XUV leaps ahead by offering six airbags in comparison to the Creta’s two. Both cars get a reverse camera and parking sensors, and anti-lock braking system (ABS). While the Creta gets a 5-inch screen for the infotainment system, the XUV500 offers a 7-inch one. The XUV’s system also recognises voice commands and lets passengers connect with it; there’s an SMS readout system as well. 
     

    Our Verdict

    All said and done, it’s difficult to choose between the Creta and the XUV. Whereas one has the more earthy SUV feel and majors on space, size and practicality, the other is just the right size for urban warfare. That the automatic transmission has transformed the XUV from an awkward and jerky performer to an SUV that is much nicer to drive, there is no doubt. The gearbox works reasonably well, it is several times more convenient in traffic and performance is good on the highway as well. It comes with the added advantage of the third row of seats, the leather-lined seats in this version are extremely comfortable and refinement and ride are more than acceptable. The Hyundai noses ahead, however, because it manages to do almost everything just a little bit better. The engine and gearbox combination is smoother and more responsive, the seats are a bit more comfortable, the quality of the dashboard is better, it’s more agile, lighter and nicer to drive. That it is Rs 1.57 lakh cheaper only seals the deal.

    Selvin Jose

    Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

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