Photography: Saidatta Naik
I was able to snag the keys to the Hyundai Creta N Line that had been in the TURBOCHARGED fleet for some time, and was able to decipher without spending any time why it had been well nigh impossible to make Abhay part with the keys—our Creta N Line was equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission! And no iMT here, this is a proper manual trans—your mistakes are your own, as are the consequences. And what consequences those are—any kind of enthusiasm displayed by the right foot while taking off ensures that you take off, literally, as the front wheels hop, skip and chatter their way to traction-land and then on to nirvana.
The turbocharged motor puts down a solid 253Nm, which, on our poorly-surfaced roads, in a high-riding car (190mm ground clearance, anyone?) can be a bit of a handful if your attention drifts. The manual transmission is absolutely slick, and unlike most modern MTs, it has a little bit of heft to the shifting action, which only adds to the enjoyment. The reverse is to the left and up, which is a bit annoying when you’re having to make multi-point turns in tight spots, as it makes shifting into first from reverse and back again a slightly counterintuitive affair, but those moments are well worth it when you get to the open roads.
Highways, ghats and yes, off-road trails are the natural habitat of this magnificent creature, which managed to make a rather rough climb to a nearby trail, a literal walk in the park. It is also true that moments before turning onto the side road leading to the trailhead, I was doing triple-digit speeds on a well-paved section, and that transition is the quintessence of the Creta N Line—the duality and ease of transition. Yes, I am waiting for the Verna N Line like most hardcore enthusiasts, but that’s more down to personal preferences than anything else, and if you prefer the SUV bodystyle and are still a driving enthusiast, there are fewer cars that tick as many boxes of driving Zen as the Creta N Line.
Garage Update
Total: 10,007km
Previous: 8,647km
This Month: 1,360km
Fuel: 100.00 litres
Mileage: 13.60kmpl
Pros: Engine is a riot, slick manual
Cons: Road-biased tyres make soft-roading a bit tricky
