The tech factor has been bumped up a fair bit on the Hyundai Creta 2024 Facelift, and it shows in big ways when it comes to safety, analytics, and the ease of accessing connected features on the go. If you get a variant with the fully connected system, the Creta can connect to the Internet on its own and do a fair bit of stuff without you even needing to pull your smartphone out of your pocket.
Of course, if you prefer Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you have those options as well by connecting your smartphone using a wire. Notably, there’s no wireless Auto or CarPlay functionality here, but the BlueLink connected system hopes to cover all of the potential use cases. Usefully, BlueLink comes activated for three years after your purchase, so all features are functional straight out of the showroom. Internet connectivity relies on a built-in eSIM, with the data usage covered as part of your BlueLink subscription.
In fact, you might just want to put your phone on the Qi wireless charging surface and forget about it entirely, while the system handles things like music streaming and navigation on its own. That said, I did have some trouble finding the sweet-spot for wireless charging with my iPhone 13 Pro, and on a couple of occasions during the drive I found that it hadn’t charged at all because I didn’t quite position the smartphone right on the surface. If you prefer old-school charging, there is a USB Type-C port at the front which also connects to the infotainment system for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and two more at the back for the rear passengers to charge gadgets.
Controlling various aspects of the Hyundai Creta with your hands firmly planted on the wheel is actually quite easy, thanks to voice controls. A button on the wheel activates the voice command listening, and you can then ask for specific things including a lot of functions controlling bits of the car itself. This includes controlling the air conditioning, opening or closing the sunroof, and navigating to specific places, most of which worked well for me. You can also speak in Hindi or Hinglish (try “Sunroof band karo”) and it will usually do what you want it to.
Remember when I said you don’t need to pair your smartphone to the Bluetooth system at all? The Hyundai Creta (2024 Facelift) gets support for JioSaavn music streaming built into the car, with a Pro subscription bundled along for a year (which you can renew easily). You can therefore port in your playlists and listen to whatever you like in the fairly extensive JioSaavn library, and streaming is stable and enjoyable through the excellent Bose speaker system in the Creta.
The Internet connectivity in the Creta also enables navigation and mapping capabilities natively, as well as information about weather conditions based on your location. Don’t expect Google Maps-level of accuracy or as many points of interest, but the mapping and navigation will do the trick in most cases, and will help you not miss any major directions. Of course, the large 10.25-inch screen helps as well.