Hyundai has added an automatic petrol variant to its popular Creta SUV line-up. The Creta 1.6 petrol automatic is available in the fully loaded SX+ trim only, and like its diesel counterpart, uses a six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The SUV is priced at Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), and you can book one now for a booking fee of Rs 25,000.

The Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol SX+ comes with projector headlamps, LED daytime running lights, a rear parking camera and sensors, push-button start and a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It also gets a leather wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The SUV is already in huge demand and has a long waiting period regardless of the variant selected. Dealers are informing customers to expect deliveries around the festive season if they book right now. Hyundai has sold 63,836 units till now since the Creta's launch in July 2015 – 13,184 of those were petrol cars and 50,652 were diesel.

With the addition of the petrol automatic option, the Creta is uniquely positioned in its segment, being the only SUV in this price range to offer both, petrol as well as diesel engines with automatic gearboxes; the only other cars to do so in this price range are the VW Vento and Skoda Rapid. The only other petrol automatic small SUV is the Ford EcoSport, but the Honda BR-V, which will be launched soon, is likely to get such an option too. 

Hyundai has also taken this opportunity to update the entire Creta range, making dual airbags a standard fit on all models. Additionally, the company is also planning to launch a lower-spec S+ version of the popular Creta 1.6-litre diesel automatic, to make it accessible to more people. In addition to this, the carmaker is considering bringing back the i20 petrol automatic with the inclusion of a four-speed gearbox. This will make it better equipped to compete with the Jazz and Baleno – both of which offer the option of a CVT automatic gearbox.