Hyundai has updated the popular Creta with more kit and a new range-topping SX(O)Executive trim. Prices for the refreshed 2019 Creta start at Rs 9.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) for the base petrol E trim – an increase of Rs 10,000 from the 2018 model.

The E+ trim prices remain more or less unchanged at Rs 9.99 lakh for both the diesel and petrol variants. The diesel only S trim is priced at Rs 11.88 lakh for the diesel-manual and Rs 13.35 lakh for the diesel automatic. It must be noted that the E+ diesel and the S diesel-manual are offered with a 1.4-litre diesel engine. The S diesel-automatic and subsequent variants are offered with the larger 1.6-litre unit only.

The Creta SX and the variants that follow it now offer LED tail-lamps and are priced starting at Rs 12.23 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) for the petrol-manual and Rs 13.57 lakh for the diesel-manual trim, up by about Rs 18,000. The SX(O) trim is now priced at Rs 13.85 lakh and Rs 15.34 lakh (petrol and diesel respectively), while the new, range-topping SX(O) Executive ­– which gets the addition of ventilated front seats – is priced at Rs 14.13 lakh and Rs 15.62 lakh (petrol and diesel respectively), which is around  Rs 30,000 more than the SX(O).

All variants of the Creta get the addition of safety kit such as rear parking sensors, seatbelt reminder and a speed alert system to conform to the upcoming safety norms.

The Hyundai Creta will have two new rivals entering the market this month in the form of Nissan Kicks and the Tata Harrier. The inclusion of cooled seats on the top-spec Creta will give Hyundai an edge over these two models as they don't offer this feature on any variant. Also, an important point to note here is that the on-road price for the top-spec Creta SX (O) Executive is likely to breach Rs 19 lakh mark in some cities.

(All prices ex-showroom, Mumbai)