Hyundai Creta sketch previews production ix25 sub-compact SUV

Hyundai has released a design sketch of the Creta, a sub-compact SUV that looks set to be the production take on the ix25 Concept and sit below the ix35/Tucson.

It’s more than a year since the Hyundai ix25 Concept was revealed as a new take on a compact urban SUV designed to sit below Hyundai’s ix35, and mop up sales in the still growing sub-compact SUV market. And now we get the first look at the production take on the ix25 with this, the design sketch for the Hyundai Creta.

The Hyundai Creta is due to arrive in India later this year, but it seems clear that Hyundai see the Creta as a world model, and there’s little doubt it will arrive in the UK and Europe in 2016.

It also seems likely that Hyundai will keep the Creta name for Europe – rather than ix25 – as the recently facelifted ix35 reverted to its Tucson name as Hyundai signalled its intention to give its cars names rather than numbers in the future.

The design sketch for the Creta shows a dynamic and funky compact urban SUV, but it’s certain there’s more than a touch of artistic licence at work, and that the production model will be far less funky and much more like the ix25 concept.

Hyundai say the new Creta has a premium look and displays Hyundai’s evolving design, with a sleek and sporty profile. Which is pretty much what you’d expect them to say.

But it will come with a ‘hidden’ A pillar to give the impression of a light and airy cabin, it will be well built and it will appeal to the market.

What engines Europe will get remains to be seen, but 3-pots and diesels seem likely, even though the ix25 concept came with a 2.0 litre petrol, and it terms of size it looks likely to be taller, narrower and about the same length as a Mercedes GLA.