Hyundai Creta King launch is a tribute to this legacy, as well as an attempt to further raise the bar in a segment that is more competitive today than ever before.
Hyundai Motor India has marked a historic milestone today, September 2, 2025, with the launch of the Hyundai Creta King, Creta King Knight, and Creta King Limited editions, celebrating 10 years of the Creta in India. Since its introduction in July 2015, the Creta has not only transformed the mid-size SUV segment but has also established itself as Hyundai’s undisputed bestseller. With more than 1.2 million units sold domestically and nearly 300,000 exported, the Creta has become a household name across the country. The launch of the Creta King is Hyundai’s tribute to this legacy, as well as an attempt to further raise the bar in a segment that is more competitive today than ever before.
The story of the Creta in India began when Hyundai spotted a growing demand for SUVs that combined rugged looks with urban sophistication. At that time, Indian buyers were torn between small hatchbacks, compact sedans, and larger SUVs that often felt out of reach in terms of price and practicality. The Creta arrived as a perfect balance—compact enough for city driving but imposing enough to give owners a sense of prestige. The first-generation Creta, launched in July 2015, came with a choice of petrol and diesel engines and featured premium equipment such as touchscreen infotainment, six airbags, automatic climate control, and even projector headlamps. Within months, the SUV shot to the top of the sales charts, forcing rivals to rethink their strategies.
Over the years, the Creta has undergone major design and technology overhauls, with the second-generation debuting in 2020 and a facelifted version arriving in early 2024. These brought sharper styling, a panoramic sunroof, wireless connectivity features, advanced safety technology, and eventually, the introduction of an all-electric version in January 2025. Yet, Hyundai has maintained a consistent formula: multiple engine choices, a strong features list, high reliability, and the trust of its service network. This formula explains why the Creta still dominates a market that now has more than a dozen mid-size SUVs vying for attention.
Dimensionally, the current Creta measures 4,330 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width, and 1,635 mm in height, riding on a 2,610 mm wheelbase with a generous 190 mm ground clearance. Its 433-litre boot is practical for family travel, while the spacious second row has been one of its biggest selling points. Buyers can choose between three main engine options: a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol producing around 115 PS and 144 Nm, paired to a 6-speed manual or CVT (IVT); a 1.5-litre diesel delivering about 115 PS and 250 Nm, offered with a 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic; and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol making a punchy 160 PS and 253 Nm, paired exclusively to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Mileage figures range from 17 km/l for petrol to 21 km/l for diesel, making the Creta as efficient as it is versatile.
The newly launched Creta King editions push the flagship trims into even more premium territory. The standard Creta King replaces the earlier SX(O) as the top-end variant, offering features such as a driver seat with memory function, eight-way powered passenger seat with walk-in assist, dual-zone climate control with a new touch interface, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via an adapter, and a dash cam for added safety. It also gets larger 18-inch diamond-cut alloys and an exclusive “King” emblem, while Hyundai has introduced a new Black Matte exterior paint theme to underscore the SUV’s regal positioning.
The Creta King Knight edition takes things further with an all-black styling package. It features matte-black alloys, gloss-black accents across the grille and bumpers, and Knight badging, aimed at customers who prefer a sportier, stealthier look. Meanwhile, the Creta King Limited edition adds a layer of exclusivity with Hyundai-branded interior accessories—embroidered cushions, seat-belt covers, door cladding, mats, and even a key cover, making it ideal for buyers who value bespoke touches.
Prices for these variants start at ₹17.88 lakh (ex-showroom) for the petrol manual Creta King and go up to ₹20.92 lakh for the diesel automatic in King Limited trim. This positions the Creta at the very top end of the mid-size SUV space, competing not just with core rivals like the Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun, but also brushing close to larger models like the Tata Harrier and MG Hector. Despite this premium pricing, Hyundai is confident of the King edition’s success, pointing to the fact that nearly 70 percent of Creta buyers in 2025 opt for sunroof-equipped higher trims, and first-time buyers account for nearly 29 percent of sales, showing the SUV’s broad appeal across age groups and budgets.
Sales figures underline just how crucial the Creta has been for Hyundai. The company recently confirmed that the Creta has sold more than 1.268 million units in India since launch, averaging over 1 lakh units annually. In FY2025 alone, Hyundai sold close to 195,000 units of the Creta, and it has consistently been the best-selling SUV in the country, even outselling hatchbacks and compact cars in certain months. For instance, in June 2025, the Creta topped the passenger vehicle charts with over 15,000 units sold, reaffirming its stronghold in the market despite the growing popularity of electric cars and compact crossovers.
In terms of competition, the Creta faces stiff challenges. The Kia Seltos, built on the same platform, offers a similar package with slightly sportier styling and features. The Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder appeal to fuel-conscious buyers with hybrid powertrains, while the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun bring European driving dynamics to the table. Tata’s Curvv EV and upcoming petrol version also threaten to pull younger buyers looking for futuristic designs. Yet, the Creta’s ability to balance space, performance, features, and Hyundai’s after-sales reliability ensures it remains the most trusted name in the segment.
The launch of the Creta King editions is more than just a commemorative move; it is Hyundai’s way of future-proofing its crown jewel. By offering more premium features, distinctive styling, and limited-edition touches, Hyundai ensures that the Creta not only celebrates its glorious past but also stays firmly ahead in the SUV game for the coming years. Ten years ago, the Creta created a new benchmark in India’s SUV market. Today, with the King editions, it proves once again why it continues to wear the crown.