Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Creta Discontinued model
Hyundai Creta in South Africa

Hyundai Creta

1.5 IVT Fluid Petrol Discontinued model
ZAR 456,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 144 Nm ⛽ 16.8 km/l
VS
Mahindra Scorpio-N in South Africa

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Z8L 4x4 AT Adventure Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 129 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai Creta vs Mahindra Scorpio-N: the short answer

Scorpio-N has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Creta remains close.

Recorded price context Creta: last listed from ZAR 407,900 · Scorpio-N: current from ZAR 489,999

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Creta Scorpio-N
Maximum Power Creta85 kW @ 6300 rpm Scorpio-N128.6 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque Creta144 Nm @ 4500 rpm Scorpio-N400 Nm
Engine Size Creta1497 cc Scorpio-N2184 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Creta16.8 km/l Scorpio-N14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Creta200 mm Scorpio-N187 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for Hyundai Creta 1.5 IVT Fluid

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Creta

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Scorpio-N

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Creta

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Scorpio-N

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Creta Scorpio-N
Model Introduced Year 2016 Not Available
Generation Second generation Creta built on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; the SA model is a popular variant shared with several emerging markets Current local listing
Facelift History Second generation arrived in SA in 2021 with significant upgrades to interior quality, safety tech, and engine options; notably improved over the first-gen car Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Original current-generation version
Tare Mass Kg 1365 kg 1825-2070 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed Current
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec Creta Scorpio-N
Length 4330 mm 4662 mm
Width 1790 mm 1918 mm
Height 1635 mm 1905 mm
Wheelbase 2610 mm 2750 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 187 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 57 l
Boot/Cargo Space 433 l 460 l
Kerb Weight 1365 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1860 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors -
Minimum Turning Radius 5.3 m -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Creta and Scorpio-N comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Creta 36 vs Scorpio-N 69.

Efficiency index: Creta 65 vs Scorpio-N 60.

Safety-equipment index: Creta 87 vs Scorpio-N 90.

Practicality index: Creta 69 vs Scorpio-N 78.

Ownership-cover index: Creta 65 vs Scorpio-N not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Scorpio-N leads by 11 points

Scorpio-N has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Creta remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 54% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

Scorpio-N

54% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 60
Performance 69
Efficiency 60
Safety 90
Practicality 78
Leads by 11 points
64
#2

Creta

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 65
Safety 87
Practicality 69
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Scorpio-N +33 Efficiency Creta +5 Safety Scorpio-N +3 Practicality Scorpio-N +9

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Scorpio-N

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 78/100

Creta

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 69/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Mahindra Scorpio-N leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 64 pts for Creta

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Scorpio-N leads. However, Creta may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Creta vs Scorpio-N questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.