In all my years of being involved in this fascinating world of the automotive industry, all the car owners I have come to interact with have told me that they made their buying decisions based on thorough research (via online news searches, local and international YouTube reviews) and actual test drives. Nothing beats due diligence, they say, especially when it comes to buying something that’s worth years of an average working Filipino’s salary.
So, what’s the role of celebrity endorsers and brand ambassadors? Celebrity endorsers are a tried-and-tested way to create brand and product awareness among the most number of people. Once these famous endorsers get you looking at them and the products they endorse, they’ve basically done their jobs. After that, it’s up to you to do your homework. And that’s when long-term owners, and the stories they tell, come in. Those who have had a long-term relationship with the vehicle are the best gauges of the model’s long-term performance.
When I was given the opportunity by Hyundai Motor Philippines to test drive the Creta, the first thing I did before even being handed the keys to the unit was to get in touch with my long-time source Simon Loasby, who heads the Hyundai Motors Styling Group. He was once the design director of Volkswagen Design China and a former designer of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars.
Loasby told me, “The Creta design story is all about creating a solid, strong SUV character that is at once unique but also fits into our range. So, there is deliberately a bit of Tucson and Palisade in there, but not too much.”
Then, I got to know a few owners of the Creta. Fortunately, members of the Creta Club Philippines were more than willing to set aside time to meet me and share their ownership stories. They confirmed that, indeed, they were first taken in by the Creta’s unique design, saying that their immediate impression of the Creta was like a “Baby Tucson,” or even a “Baby Range Rover.” Of course, once they test drove the Creta, the SUV revealed a character all of its own.
A steal
Creta Club Philippines founder/group creator Mark Joshua Castro, 32, a digital marketing manager and a former athlete (he was a running back and cornerback of the Punisher football team 11 years ago), told me, “I chose the manual variant Creta because it was a steal for its price. It has an auto hold, an electronic park brake, so I think a manual transmission variant for less than a million for introductory price is such a steal.”
‘Creta Greta’
Anne Christine Dela Paz, 37, the CEO and COO of her company, was a Hyundai Genesis Coupe owner for 12 years. She said she never had any major problems with the brand, and her ownership experience with her Genesis was a pleasant one. “The brand has been tried and tested, and I already felt at ease with it,” she said.
When she saw a Creta along Commonwealth Avenue, she didn’t hesitate. She told herself: “I love that car. It has a very futuristic design. It looks like a mini Range Rover.” After her test drive, she got the top-of-the-line GLS IVT, and named it “Creta Greta.”
Christine said that it has been comfortable and so easy to drive, and the safety features are extensive, that even her 18-year-old daughter loves to drive it. “It’s a bit pricey for its features, but at least it’s fuel efficient and easy to drive for everyday and long drives,” she added. Special mention went to the cooling seats exclusive to her variant, which adds extra comfort to the drive.
Though Christine describes the Creta as close to perfect for her own needs and use, it certainly could do with some upgrades, especially with its infotainment screen. “When I’m using the auto hold feature, I wish I could watch Netflix, YouTube and not just listen,” she said.
The 200th car
Darius Arceo, 53, the coach of his own swim school named “Aquarius Learn to Swim by Coach Darius Arceo,” owns a mid-variant Creta GL, which he reveals is his 200th vehicle to own and drive (he used to be with in the “use and sell” business). He bought his Creta just a little over a year ago, and has been satisfied with what he describes as its “consistent” performance. Darius said he has been most pleased with its handling. The steering isn’t too heavy.
He said that when he test drove the Creta, even his wife and twenty-something-year old kids drove it, and they loved it. So, the purchase was a “unanimous decision.”
In the course of owning and driving those 200 cars, Darius said he had owned several Hyundai vehicles, particularly the Tucson.
Currently logging in over 13,000 km with the Creta, Darius said he has peace of mind whenever his family uses the SUV. “It’s safe and reliable for my kids.”
As far as areas of improvement go, Darius said, “These are just minor ones. The adjustment for the side view mirrors could use a neutral position, and I hope the aircon has more temperature options, as we have unpredictable weather.”
Direct subsidiary
Data specialist Robert Ian Belgica, 37, was looking for a vehicle primarily to take his kid to school. He said that he “did extensive research and test drove many brands, including American, Japanese and Chinese automotive brands.” The factor that sealed the deal for Robert was the fact that Hyundai in the Philippines was already a direct subsidiary of the mother company in Korea.
That was when he knew that Hyundai in the Philippines would be able to meet his after-sales needs. “The P1.3 million price of this vehicle is not cheap, so I needed to study my family’s options carefully.”
Robert said that his wife loves the Creta’s compact dimensions, its ground clearance, and ease of use.
After driving it for 8,000 km so far, Robert assessed that the Creta is fuel-efficient.
“During our first week with the Creta, we drove it from Quezon City to La Union. It showed impressive fuel consumption at 21km per liter. On the way back, it was 19 km per liter with traffic jams in between.”
The Creta is a good buy for us; value for money. There are a lot of safety features here,” Robert said.
The Creta Club Philippines is one of the most dynamic car clubs I’ve come across. It has partnerships with Hyundai dealerships, such as: Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, Alabang, Las Piñas, Tunasan, Silang, San Pablo, Lucena, Naga City, and Davao, and allied organizations such as Don Euro Manila Car Accessories Foil and Decals, Kireina, Autogears, Filtera, and Stingray to enable members to get discounts on parts and services.
