FACT magazine travelled to Amman, Jordan, to experience the evolution of the Hyundai Creta.

This month, FACT was invited to Amman, the captivating capital city of Jordan, to experience the new Hyundai Creta in a uniquely beautiful, outdoor environment. This opportunity was made possible by First Motors Bahrain, whom we would like to thank for including us in this unforgettable adventure.

Amman, Jordan

As we approached Queen Alia International Airport from above, we were able to take in the vast layout of the land. Situated in a hilly region, between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley, Amman is a fascinating city of contrasts, offering a unique blend of the old and the new. This is made obvious when taking in the infrastructure, a diverse blend of historical monuments and modern creations.

As this excursion was more about the 2023 Hyundai Creta and less about having a holiday, we soon found ourselves receiving a warm welcome from our friendly and professional hosts, First Motors Bahrain, who organised our entire experience.

Exterior Design

Before setting off on our road trip, we got to thoroughly inspect this new offering from Korean automaker, Hyundai. What we noticed first about the 2023 Creta, was the futuristic nature of the exterior design. This compact crossover SUV has a bold and robust look about it, emphasised by its modern front end. Its commanding presence is enhanced by its large black and silver ‘parametric’ radiator grille, sharp, sporty side cuts and set of sunken DRL lights. All of these prominent features ensure the Creta has a strong on-road presence, one that reflects the ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design identity of the model.

At the flanks, the long profile of the hood reflects the sturdy and dynamic design of the SUV, instilling it with a powerful personality. The ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design concept of the Creta is effectively demonstrated by the novel C-pillar shape along with the aerodynamic nature of the gently sloping roofline, complete with built-in roof rails.

The wide back end of the Creta, with its rigid stance, incorporates individual lamps and a large rear glass window, offering great visibility. The Creta’s signature boomerang-shape LED rear lighting is yet another noteworthy exterior feature, as is the roofmounted rear spoiler that adds further sporty flair to the car’s already athletic presence.

Interior Design

Preparing to embark on our 150km round trip, we took in the bold and dynamic interior of the new Creta.

With its T-shaped layout and abundance of interior space, this crossover SUV didn’t feel so compact from the inside. With ample head and leg room throughout the vehicle, five people can fit comfortably and will remain so, as we did, for an extended period of time. The versatile 2023 Creta is also available in sevenseater variants.

There is no doubt that Hyundai is a high-quality brand, a fact that is highlighted by the attention given to every interior detail. Durable materials have been used throughout the vehicle, with plenty of premium touches thrown in, including the enhanced side silver garnishes.

Infotainment & Connectivity

The attractively designed dashboard of this Hyundai contains the ergonomic structure of the centre fascia, that exhibits a vertical layout including the infotainment system and a comfortable crash pad to ensure safety.

The new Creta infotainment system is accessed through a standard seven-inch touchscreen and features a variety of responsive, user-friendly technologies. We found all controls to be conveniently located and of a high-quality.

This system offers full Bluetooth connectivity and is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It is linked to an eightspeaker, premium quality, Bose sound system that offers three speaker configurations.

A highly sensitive 8V microphone (OHCL) for improved call performance and a USB port complete with illumination USB charger in both the front and rear, are also included in the setup.

Power & Performance

On our almost one-hour drive through the winding, mountainous roads towards the Dead Sea, we got to experience first-hand, the on-road capabilities of the new Hyundai Creta.

Housing a capable four-cylinder, Smartstream G 1.5-litre petrol engine, coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, the Creta proved to have plenty of power as it, almost effortlessly, navigated the inclines of the mountain passes.

The 2023 model’s suspension, handling, acceleration, traction and braking capabilities were all most impressive and we always felt in complete control of the driving experience, despite the unending twists, turns and gradients that were set out before us. Hyundai has included four driving modes in the new Creta, namely Normal, Eco, Sport and Smart. We were most impressed by the Sport setting as it offered a superior performance with extra grab and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute in this mode. On-route we learnt of the Creta’s reduced CO2 emissions and exceptional fuel-economy, which is the very best in its segment. This is, in part, thanks to the Smartstream powertrain that includes an optimal airflow control – the purpose of which is to manage the air intake and to provide heat and friction control. This in turn improves fuel-efficiency and performance.

At the flanks, the long profile of the hood reflects the sturdy and dynamic design of the SUV, instilling it with a powerful personality.

Safety & Assistance

In addition to all the high-performance components of the 2023 Creta, Hyundai has made sure to include an array of safety and driver-assistance enhancements.

These include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Safe Exit Warning, Reverse Parking Distance Warning, a Rear-View Monitor and various airbags.

With all these advanced safety and performance features in mind, we felt completely relaxed throughout our mountainous adventure to the sandy shores of the Dead Sea, as well as on our return journey to Amman – content in the fact we were in the very best of hands. ✤

GO: CALL 1712 1121 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE OF YOUR OWN.