TL; DR
The 2027 Hyundai Creta has been spotted testing in Jaipur under heavy camouflage for the third time. A Kia Seltos hybrid test mule running alongside suggests a shared hybrid system is in development. The new generation will bring Hyundai’s Pleos Connect platform and a significantly revised interior layout.
The Hyundai Creta has been the benchmark of the mid-size SUV segment in India, and not just for a year or two, but for a decade. Despite two generations and several facelifts, it never had to fight for its position at the top.
However, over the last few months, we’ve seen multiple new-age mid-size SUVs in the Indian market, here to test the Creta’s comfortable reign. We have the Tata Sierra, Renault Duster, and a refreshed Kia Seltos, all alive and running on the roads of the country with updated tech, stronger powertrains, and sharper designs.
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Third-Generation Hyundai Creta Spied In Jaipur
Hyundai seems to be well aware of the challenge, and it has decided to respond with the third-generation Creta, which was recently spied in Jaipur. Details emerging from the spy shots indicate that it could be a rethought machine from the inside out, rather than an incremental update.
The test mule was initially mistaken for the purported Kia Sonet facelift because both vehicles shared the same alloy design. However, sharper images now reveal that the prototype car has a larger footprint than a traditional sub-4-meter SUV, and its resemblance to global spy shots indicates it was the Creta.
More Boxy Design, Revised Front Fascia, And New Signature Lights
As seen in the spy shots, the 2027 Creta adopts a more squared-off, upright character, wherein LED DRLs sit high on the fascia, and the main headlamp clusters are mounted lower. This is a departure from the simpler front fascia of the current generation, giving it a Seltos-like appearance without looking identical.
While design elements aren’t absolutely clear, thanks to the heavy layer of camouflage materials, the rear looks like it features a tail lamp arrangement built around stacked horizontal LEDs, giving it a distinctive light signature that should stand out in traffic.
Previous spy shots have already confirmed the presence of the new Pleos Connect system on the next-generation Creta, which will turn it into a software-driven vehicle. The platform bundles an AI assistant called Gleo AI and supports a modular app ecosystem (features that should appeal to young, tech-savvy buyers).
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The instrument cluster shifts to a wide, short-format TFT display, and physical controls are expected to return to the dashboard and centre console, correcting one of the more common criticisms of the current touch-based layout.
2027 Creta Could Arrive With A Strong Hybrid Powertrain
The most important development, I’d say, could be the powertrain. A Kia Seltos test mule was running directly ahead of the Creta prototype, essentially testing the hybrid powertrain on the same roads, driving conditions, and environment. This indicates that a shared hybrid system is being simultaneously tested for both nameplates.
While the car could retain the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, turbo petrol, and turbo diesel engine, a strong-hybrid option would represent a first for the Creta in India, bringing it in line with the hybrid systems offered by Toyota.
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The upcoming models broadly compare in size with the current Kia Seltos. It could also share the advanced K3 platform, which recently helped the Seltos score a perfect safety score in BNCAP ratings.
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