Hyundai’s->ke201 crossover->ke288 lineup is pretty solid these days, with the Tucson, Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe, but it has a gaping hole when it comes to the exceedingly popular subcompact->ke4670 crossover segment. That will soon change, though, when the new Hyundai Creta launches, and Hyundai has released the first sketches of this small CUV.

Currently, the smallest crossover-like vehicle in Hyundai’s global lineup is Europe’s ix20, which is officially considered a mini MPV. The sketch shows a heavy dose of Hyundai’s latest Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language with a familiar shape to the grille and headlights. Like most recent Hyundai introductions, the cabin design of the Hyundai Creta will have a modern look with a premium feel.

Aside from the concept-like->ke169 design that has big wheels and lacks door handles, it isn’t too hard to draw comparisons between the Creta and the ix25 Concept that Hyundai debuted last year at the Beijing Motor Show.->ke2062 Hyundai promises that the Creta will be a “global SUV,” but it has yet to say where the new model will be sold. Judging by how popular the subcompact crossover segment has gotten in the last year, it’s not hard to imagine this new model being added to the lineup here.

Continue reading for the full story.

Why it matters

The Hyundai Creta will be an important new addition to the Hyundai lineup, aimed squarely at recent B-segment CUVs like the Chevrolet Trax,->ke4367 Fiat 500X,->ke4434 Mazda CX-3->ke4986 and Honda HR-V.->ke4849 Hyundai’s new subcompact crossover will launch in India sometime during the second half of this year, and will make it to other markets after that.