7-seat Hyundai Creta rivals Rush, BR-V, Xpander Cross

We recently reported that Hyundai is gearing up to bring four new models in the Philippines together with a new distributor. But while we're at it, we were also able to take a look at what the South Korean carmaker is doing in South Africa.

Apparently, Hyundai South Africa has a 7-seater crossover called the Grand Creta, also known in India and in other markets as the Creta Grand and Alcazar. This is essentially a stretched-out version of the all-new Creta that will make its way in the Philippines later this year.

What got us interested is the fact that the South African three-row crossover could rival the Honda BR-V, which has proven to be a popular vehicle in the PH market. Both cars have the same SUV styling with a front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. Also, both crossovers feature MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam setup at the rear.

The similarities don't stop there either, as the sizes of both seven-seaters are almost identical. The Grand Creta measures 4500 mm long, 1790 mm wide, and 1675 mm high. It also has a wheelbase of 2760 mm. The BR-V, on the other hand, is 4490 mm long, 1780 mm wide, 1685 mm high, and has a wheelbase of 2700 mm.

In the engine department, however, the Grand Creta's gasoline and diesel-fueled options could trounce the BR-V's 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine. One is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 156 PS and 191 Nm of torque, and the other is a 1.5-liter turbo diesel with 113 PS and 250 Nm of torque, which is mated to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. As for the BR-V, it only makes do with 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque.

The Grand Creta also comes with a generous list of standard interior equipment. There's an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, and even a panoramic sunroof on the top-spec model. But of course, those features will vary depending on the market it is in.

Of course, we'll have to wait and see if Hyundai will consider bringing the Grand Creta here. If they do, then things could get more interesting in the seven-seat crossover segment. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.