Hyundai Creta facelift: Hyundai launches the new Creta without panoramic sunroof, catering to a wide audience array with a strategic decision to target a wider band of the market place with even lower entry point was driving the introduction of the new Creta variant without the panoramic sunroof.
This move comes as the automotive industry sees rising demand towards feature rich, yet more affordable vehicles, the automakers are offering value embedded options without sacrificing the true essence of the car.
Hyundai Creta facelift Affordable Layout Keeps the Basics Intact
The 2025 Hyundai Creta’s entry E variant with its base sunroof starts at an aggressive ₹11.11 lakh (ex-showroom), which is much more accessible than its higher trims that get panoramic sunroofs.
This price structure is a testament to Hyundai’s empathy with value-seeking users who value utility over luxury, but still want the cachet and usefulness of the Creta brand.
With so much feature content, one could forgive Hyundai if it skimped out on the sunroof colossus, but they didn’t. This and all other versions of the car would feature 6 airbags as a standard fitment – a major safety upgrade which keeps up with changing consumer requirements and legislative trends in India. The E variant also gets vital safety techs like ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Market Strategy for the Lack of the Sunroof
Hyundai’s decision to introduce a no-sunroof variant is a result of careful market study. The panoramic sunroof has been massively gaining in popularity in India and in some cases it is a highlight of the top-spec model, but it also brings in in added cost in terms of manufacturing and weight of the car.
By having developed a variant where such feature is removed, Hyundai has succeeded in attaining substantial cost reductions while the constructional strength and essential functionality of the vehicle remain unharmed.
According to industry experts, Hyundai follows this approach since it can continue to be competitive against rivals such as the Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, which also provide comparable entry level variants at the same price level.
The move also recognizes that sunroofs, while being fairly popular with Indian car buyers, may not be very usable in several parts of India where the extreme heat or the monsoon rains may not make sunroofs as practical as they should be.
No Changes to Powertrains or Performance
The fact that the Creta lacks a sunroof is not a dealbreaker when it comes to its road capability anyway. The base E trim comes with the same tried and trusted 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol motor that serves in the rest of the range putting out 115PS of maximum power and 144Nm of peak torque.
This engine is teamed with a slick-shifting 6-speed manual gearbox for the perfect balance of performance and fuel economy.
To those looking for options, the Creta is available with a choice of powertrains right from the base trim level, ranging from a 1.5-litre diesel engine to a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
But these beefier choices are restricted to upper (and usually more expensive) versions that often come with the panoramic sunroof and other premium equipment.
Competition in a Saturated Space
The new sunroof-less version has been launched at a time when the compact SUV space in India is dominated by cutthroat competition. Till March 2025, the Creta had emerged as the highest selling vehicle in the SEGMENT, registering over 18,000 units and making it evident that there is no stopping the robust brand!
This version is aimed at a pragmatic set of buyers who would appreciate the Creta’s proven reputation for reliability, feature-richness and good resale value but wouldn’t consider a sunroof as a deal breaker.
It’s also a tempting choice for fleet managers and company car choosers more interested in cost of ownership than creature comforts.
Customer View: The Practical Beats The Premium
The response from customers for sunroof-less models has mostly been positive as they are finally getting a chance to own a Creta at a lower price point.
A few potential customers had voiced concerns over maintenance related problems and heightened cabin heat with panoramic sunroofs in India’s tropical climate.
The sunroof-less version negates these concerns albeit without sacrificing any of the core personality traits that we have come to associate with the Creta, a segment topper at that.
An owner of the base GT echoes various sentiment of many lifhe night riders about the car’s balanced price-to-features ratio. They don’t mind the lack of some luxury features, but they appreciate the presence of crucial safety features and fundamental performance attributes that establish the Creta’s on-road behaviour.
An Ideal Mix of Features
Though the sunroof is gone, the E edition still receives a few bells and whistles that make the car more practical to live with. These consist of rear AC vents for uniform temprature, power windows and wheel covers for that stylish look.
Higher trims in the lineup (ones with no sunroofs, such as the EX) gain goodies such as an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes them appealing middle-ground choices.
The vehicle dimensions remain same between the versions, were the 2025 Creta gets length x width x height of 4330 x 1790 x 1635mm. The SUV also retains its functional oodlitres of boot space and 50-litre fuel tank across every model, so there’s no utility sacrifice in the name of price.
Hyundai Creta facelift Future Perspectives: Market Development and Consumer Preferences
Hyundai giving consumers the option to purchase no sunroof aligns with industry trends that favour offering more customization to cater for a variety of needs.
With the auto industry evolving, we’re likely to see more options like this that allow potential buyers to put the items they desire a little higher on the list based on their own wants and budgetary limits.
The performance of the sunroof-less Creta trims may have a bearing on future product planning not only at Hyundai but in the industry. That reveals the market for practicality as opposed to luxury, or what have you – panoramic sunroof lovers or something — there are plenty who want value and essential equipment instead.
For customers, the new range of Creta SUV offers more options and accessibility. Whether you choose the base ‘E’ that skips a sunroof or the loaded premium variant, the substantive factors that have contributed to the Creta’s throne in the sales charts at any point of time—real world performance, useable interior space and strong build—ring true for both extremes.
On the whole, we think the new Hyundai Creta without a sunroof is a very well-considered addition to an already good range of products. With this variant available at a more affordable price, Hyundai has made it possible for a larger set of buyers to find out for themselves what it is about the Creta that has elevated it to one of the best-selling SUVs in India, while still getting an offering that has set a standard in matters of quality and appeal.