Only 2 Out Of 100 Hyundai Creta Buyers Opt For Turbo-Petrol Models
The Hyundai Creta continues to dominate the mid-size SUV segment. It is available in three different powertrain options- 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol (MPi), 1.5L turbocharged petrol and 1.5L diesel. Latest data reveals that the turbo-petrol engine remains a highly unpopular choice among Creta buyers. Just 2 out of 100 Creta buyers opted for this engine in the calendar year 2025.
Hyundai had a wonderful 2025. The Creta sold incredibly well during the period. 1,89,063 units of the SUV were retailed- across powertrains. Turbo-petrol sales amounted to 3710 units- inclusive of N-Line numbers as well. That’s roughly 1.9% of the total Creta numbers. In other words, just 2 out of 100 Cretas sold are turbo-petrols.
The MPI petrol-manual combination was the second most popular, posting sales of 67783 units in 2025. 66080 units of the diesel manual version were also sold during the year, indicating strong demand for the diesel fuel type among Indian mid-size SUV buyers.
In 2026, Hyundai offers the turbo-petrol engine only on a single, high-end trim of the Creta- the King edition which has an ex-showroom price of Rs 19.91 Lakh. Previously, it used to be available on some lower, more affordable trims as well.
Additionally, the Creta N-Line is also powered by the same engine. It, however, targets a more niche crowd and has an even stronger focus on performance. The N-Line comes in two trims- N8 and N10. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available, depending on the trim chosen. It sits in the Rs 17.83 lakh- 20.09 lakh price bracket, both ex-showroom.
Next possible reason could be the choice of transmissions on offer. The regular Creta now offers the 1.5 turbo-petrol engine only with a seven-speed dry clutch DCT transmission. Not everyone would want an automatic transmission, particularly a DCT, with a turbo-petrol Creta. A large share of Creta buyers prefer manual gearboxes.
Yes, the N-Line offers the choice of a manual gearbox with this engine, but is, as mentioned earlier, a niche product with a noticeably stiffer suspension setup- something that many potential buyers of the standard Creta may not appreciate in the long run.
The next big reason for its limited acceptance is likely to be the low (real-world) fuel efficiency of this engine. Hyundai has tuned the 1.5L turbo-petrol engine for performance. It makes 158hp and 253Nm and is quite fun-to-drive.
In many real-world scenarios, this heightened performance comes at the cost of fuel efficiency. Any attempt to maximise performance from the driver will result in poor fuel efficiency figures. The numbers can also be dull when driving inside the city. The average Indian buyer considering a car in this segment would obviously be concerned about the real-world fuel efficiency.
The 1.5 turbo-petrol- DCT combination has an ARAI-certified mileage of 18.4 kmpl. In real life, however, users report it to return around 10–13 kmpl in the city and 15–18 kmpl on highways if driven carefully. Hypermiling techniques like driving with a light right foot, optimal gear changes, maintaining the momentum and keeping the right RPMs will have to be used to extract the maximum in terms of fuel efficiency. These, obviously, aren’t practical in all everyday drive-abouts.
And finally, many buyers may not like the complexity of a turbocharged petrol engine. The Creta’s naturally aspirated (MPI) petrol engine’s acceptance shows just the same. People eyeing a Creta are rarely enthusiasts. They can be ok with the naturally aspirated petrol engine’s ‘relaxed’ nature and not pick the less fuel-efficient and more complex turbo-petrol over it.