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Old 25th June 2021, 11:00   #1
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Hyundai Alcazar Review

Hyundai Alcazar Review


The Hyundai Alcazar has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 16.30 - 20.15 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Hyundai Alcazar Pros



• A 3-row family car that's well-built inside out
• User-friendly interiors look really good (brown shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• 2.0L NA petrol & 6-speed AT deliver a very smooth and refined driving experience
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Comfortable ride quality with neutral road manners
• Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
• The Alcazar's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, 2nd-row wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats & loads more)
• Hyundai's competent after-sales service & wide dealer network

Hyundai Alcazar Cons



Oddball love-it-or-hate-it face. We find the Alcazar's front design to be weird & overdone
• 2nd-row legroom is mediocre (captain seat variant). Compromises have been made to accommodate the 3rd-row & boot
• 3rd-row seat is best suited to kids only. Not really a place for adults
• Rs. ~3 lakh OTR premium over the Creta on the higher variants is too much!
• Nothing for enthusiasts here. The 2.0 AT is tuned very conservatively
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• The Creta 1.4L DCT is a lot, lot more fun to drive
• Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus & XUV500 offer way more spacious cabins
• Some misses (no petrol AT 7-seater variant, auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims etc.)

This review has been jointly compiled with Aditya & GTO. Thanks to them for the expert observations!

Introduction



The Alcazar is a relatively low-risk attempt by Hyundai to expand its market and take a shot at the 6-7 seater segment. It already has the enormously successful Creta which is the base for this car. To spend a few crores in stretching & converting the Creta to a 3-row crossover is totally worth it. After all, Hyundai hasn't ever had a 3-row car in the mainstream segments (the last attempt at a 7-seater SUV was the Santa Fe). Who's the competition? You have the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, Innova Crysta and the Mahindra XUV500 for now, but IMHO, the real competitors to this car are the 5-seater Creta & Seltos. India being the unique market that it is, customers will be cross-shopping between these cars and more.

Hyundai Alcazar Price & Brochure


Hyundai's stand on the Alcazar's pricing is that their base variants are comparable to the mid variants of the competition in terms of kit. This is the reason why the starting price is higher than others. One look at the brochure and you'll see that it is true to an extent, as the base 'Prestige' variant is not bare basic and comes with a considerable amount of features. Another point to note is that Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine has the lowest capacity in its class and is the least powerful (but also economical). This has allowed them to undercut the competition in the top-end diesel automatic variant (not by much though). But then, in terms of actual cabin space, the Alcazar offers lesser than all of these cars:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-comparison1.png

You can download the 2021 Hyundai Alcazar brochure here - Hyundai Alcazar Brochure.pdf

Exterior


With the new Creta on the streets for some time now, not a lot of people notice the Alcazar at first glance. Although, it's not just about the resemblance in design, even in terms of dimensions, the Alcazar isn't what you would call a 'BIG' SUV like the competition. Yes, it is bigger than the Creta on paper, but in the flesh, few people will notice it. The Alcazar measures 4,500 mm in length (200 mm more than Creta), 1,790 mm in width and 1,675 mm in height (40 mm more). Overall build & quality levels are satisfactory:


The front end design will polarise opinions. One of the things that GTO, Aditya and myself unanimously agreed on almost instantly was the ugly front end design. It's far from classy and the excess use of chrome is a serious turn-off. Before you make up your mind though, we suggest checking it out in person first. Some people do dig the radical styling (as seen with so many Creta owners), including many BHPians:


The Alcazar shares the SU2 K-series platform with the Creta, albeit this is the long-wheelbase version of the platform to accommodate the third row of seats. At 1,435 kg kerb weight for the diesel car (the official kerb weight figures of all variants haven't been shared yet), it is on the lighter side when compared to others. Just for reference, the Hector Plus & Tata Safari have a kerb weight of 1682 / 1825 kg, respectively:


I didn't like the 'concept car' like rear design of the Creta (reference image), but thankfully, the Alcazar differentiates itself nicely. The rear end has a more conventional look with quite a few horizontal elements that make it cleaner:


As mentioned earlier, the Alcazar is built on an extended wheelbase platform. At 2,760 mm (150 mm more than the Creta) the Alcazar has the longest wheelbase in its class. And not just the length, the Alcazar rides 10 mm higher than the Creta too with an unladen ground clearance rating of 200 mm:


One of the reasons why most people find the front-end not pleasing is that the design is too busy and over-complicated. Note how the 'big' chrome grille is made to look like it splits the 'big' headlamp cluster. Even the chrome studs from the grille seem to extend into the headlight. The upper two pods function as the low beam, while the single pod below is used for the high beam:


That sure is a lot of chrome! Hyundai calls it 'Dark Chrome' but it doesn't look much different from regular chrome. The tall and wide 'cascading' grille gets a thick chrome border and rectangular chrome studs:


The turn indicators and LED fog lamps are clubbed together in a cluster lower down the bumper. They get a chrome border, but the bigger concern is the positioning of this cluster - it's too low. The fog lamp aligns with the faux skid plate! 2 out of 3 cars in Mumbai have bumpers that are scratched on corners, and a scratch on this will be an expensive affair:


A look at the wide air dam integrated with the faux skid plate. Also, note the wind deflector placed below:


There is a good deal of underbody protection. This is important for India's unpredictable road conditions:


Bonnet features a wide and largely flat central dome, while four prominent creases give it some muscle:


Automatic transmission badge on the fender:


Body-coloured ORVMs are integrated with turn indicators. They are electrically adjustable + foldable, and also have an auto-folding function on lock / unlock:


ORVMs house the 360-degree camera and puddle lamps with the Hyundai logo projection (check this image):


Squared-off wheel wells with flared fender arches and cladding add to the "SUV" look:


Hyundai has been experimenting with alloy wheel designs, but none have stood out and these 18-inch diamond-cut alloys are no different. They look 'just okay' and are shod with 215/55 R18 Apollo Apterra Cross tyres:


One place where the use of chrome is subtle and looks classy are the door handles. Only the driver-side door handle gets the request sensor:


The side foot-step is offered on the mid and top-end variants, but only with the automatic transmission!


The panoramic sunroof will be a big attraction for Indian families:


The window line rises as you go from the A to D pillars, yet the glass area is adequate (even for the third row). Glad to see that Hyundai has gone with the conventional boxy SUV design (C-pillar onwards). It adds to the car's presence and also doesn't eat into headroom for 2nd and 3rd-row passengers:


The roof extends into a subtle spoiler. It houses the HMSL as well as the rear washer:


Endeavour-esque rear for sure! Tail lamps are connected via a thick chrome strip and carry the 'ALCAZAR' branding (means a Spanish palace or fortress). The 2.0-litre petrol test car that you see here gets a nice '2.0' badge on the bottom left:


LED tail lamps have a honeycomb-inspired design. They get an LED element as a border and reversing light, along with turn indicators in the middle:


Lower bumper houses reflectors on either side and a faux skid plate. The twin-tip exhaust looks sporty and unlike the Creta, it's standard across all variants. That being said, they look misaligned which isn't something we usually see on Hyundais:


The spare wheel is tucked under the car. It's a 17-inch steel wheel shod with a 215/60 R17 section tyre:


The fuel tank has a capacity of 50-litres:


Paint options include Polar White (our test car), Phantom Black, Starry Night, Typhoon Silver, Titan Grey & Taiga Brown. Dual-tone paint schemes are offered only on the top-end Signature trim in Polar White with a phantom black roof and Titan Grey with a phantom black roof. Here's the car in Taiga Brown...


...and Typhoon Silver:

Last edited by GTO : 25th June 2021 at 12:05.
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Interior


The interior is largely similar to the Creta. For the full list of features & pictures, please refer to the Creta Review.

Step into the cabin and you are greeted by this black and cognac-brown dual-tone dashboard. GTO especially loves this particular shade of brown - it's very BMW-like. And while the exteriors may not be to everyone's liking, the cabin design is pleasing overall. There are no soft-touch materials on the dashboard, however, the plastics are of good quality and well built:


The leather-wrapped 4-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel is lovely to hold and offers a good grip. It's adjustable for height as well as reach, making it easy to get a good driving position. The brushed silver insert on the bottom two spokes looks good and the steering-mounted controls are big + easy to operate. Buttons for the infotainment system, telephony and voice commands are placed on the left spoke and those operating the MID and cruise control are placed on the right spoke:


Fully digital instrument clusters are the craze these days. This 10.25" unit has a crisp display and some neat customisation options as well. It's divided nicely into the three main areas. You can select the design for the speedometer and tachometer, or...


...set it to change according to the drive modes. The transitions look super cool!
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Now, this is a clever integration of features. Since the Alcazar gets 360-degree view cameras, the ORVM units house the side cameras. Tap the left/right indicator and the feed from the corresponding ORVM camera is shown on the respective pods on the MID. There's no lag here and the display is crisp too. Also, the speedometer and tachometer reading is displayed numerically on the top when the camera feed is ON. A big for this feature:


The dual-tone theme continues to the door pads as well. They're well finished with no sharp edges anywhere:


Front seats look inviting in the cognac-brown & black upholstery and come with a cooling function. Such a boon in hot Indian summers. The front seats are very comfortable. The driver gets an 8-way electric adjustment (no lumbar adjustment though):


The sunroof spans the length of the cabin and lets in a lot of light. It’s got the “wow” factor and also makes the cabin feel super airy. Your family will love it. You can operate it by voice commands too:


Like the Creta, the C-pillar is thick. But unlike the Creta, the Alcazar gets a quarter-glass that's big enough to cover that blind spot. Especially if you're reversing out of a parking spot and are looking for oncoming vehicles, the glass area is helpful:


The touchscreen is superb, with no lag and its visibility is good even under direct sunlight. It is very responsive and great to use. Screen resolution and clarity are impressive. Good to see that physical buttons have been provided as well, for those who prefer using them over a touch interface (these are better to use on the move). You can have a split screen with lots of concurrent displays (map, media / Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, compass etc.). Because of the large display, this is one of the rare cars in which you can see the Android Auto / Apple CarPlay screen as well as the car's regular display together.


The 360-degree cameras display good quality feed to the screen. You can toggle through different views to get out of a tough spot safely. You can also adjust the brightness and contrast of the display:


Very stylish and premium looking gear lever. The top part gets a perforated leather finish which just adds to that upmarket feel:


As mentioned earlier, this shade of brown looks perfect. The area above the dashboard is made to look like it's finished in leather, and also gets a stitch-like pattern. There's no leather here though, it's just hard plastic:


We drove the captain-seat variant. Note the thickness of the backrest here, clearly, the seats have been made slimmer to release room at the back:


Front seatbacks get these hard-plastic foldable trays (they also have a cupholder). These could've been avoided altogether as the tray is quite close to your knees and can be dangerous in case of an accident. There's a nifty storage net at the top and a pocket at the bottom for keeping stuff:


The centre armrest for rear passengers houses a wireless charging pad which is a segment-first. You also get two cupholders and there's decent storage space below the armrest:


Overall seat support is good, and the cushioning is on point. However, I would've preferred a little more side bolstering as these are captain seats, after all. The centre armrest console is set at a nice height and is comfortable over long distances:


Now, here's the problem. Hyundai appears to have compromised middle-row space to release some for the 3rd-row. 5'10" Aditya could just about fit in & had mediocre knee room, behind his own driving position. You can forget about two 6-footers sitting one behind the other. If you don't absolutely need that last row of seats, the Creta is the superior car for you. This is especially alarming as all direct competitors like the Safari, XUV500, Hector, Innova etc. offer very spacious middle-row seats:


Trust Hyundai to prioritize convenience. Both captain seats tumble forward in a single motion (Hector's & Safari's seats don't). This makes 3rd-row ingress / egress that much better:


3rd-row space & comfort are overall poor. The last row is strictly for children and the Alcazar must be viewed as a "5 + 2" car only, rather than a proper 6 / 7 seater. Aditya could fit in only if the captain seat was moved all the way ahead (but that made the middle-row "kids only"). The short seat base means there's no under-thigh support for an adult. Positives of the third row include 3-point seatbelts for both passengers, adjustable headrests, adequate headroom and a well-sized quarter-glass so passengers don't feel claustrophobic. But really, only send the kids here:


Both passengers get a cupholder, cubbyhole, USB charging port and an AC vent. The right side passenger gets the controller:


With all the seats up, boot space is rated at 180-litres. All seats fold down to form a flat boot. You can try different combinations as per the requirement:


There's some storage space available below the boot floor cover. Tools are neatly stacked on one side in a styrofoam case:

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:02.
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The Hyundai Alcazar shares its 1.5-litre diesel engine with the Creta. To read about the diesel's performance & drivability, please refer to (this engine review post).

Driving the 2.0L Petrol AT



2.0 naturally aspirated petrol engine makes 157 BHP @ 6,500 rpm and 191 Nm @ 4,500 rpm:

Hyundai has used a relatively big 2.0-litre NA petrol engine to power the new Alcazar. We feel this is to 'differentiate' the product, but the Creta's 1.4-litre turbo-petrol is quite impressive too. GTO says that he now prefers the power delivery of turbo-petrols over naturally-aspirated ones. One big advantage though is the tried & tested torque-converter AT on the Alcazar 2.0-litre; the Creta 1.4's dual-clutch AT might be troublesome in the long run (many BHPians are already reporting issues). This 2.0L petrol engine is shared with the Elantra and uses an aluminium block. It develops power & torque figures of 157 BHP (@ 6,500 rpm) and 191 Nm (@ 4,500 rpm) and is offered with 6-speed MT or AT options. Before we even get started on the nature of this engine and gearbox, let's get one thing out of the way - If you are looking for something to tickle the enthusiast part of your brain, just go for the Creta 1.4 turbo-petrol DCT. It's a lot more fun to drive due to the power delivery of that turbo-engine, the fast DCT, tighter suspension setup and smaller size.

We got to drive only the AT variant and considering that most premium segment customers prefer slushboxes, this will be a popular one (also more reliable than DCTs). This is a simple old-school torque converter unit which, along with the 2.0-litre engine, makes the Alcazar smooth & easy to drive. Of course, as we have seen with other torque-converter Hyundai ATs, it's not a fast-shifting transmission. The focus here is on comfort, not hard driving. The AT goes about its business in a relaxed manner and does a competent job of getting the car from point A to point B with zero fuss. The Alcazar gets 3 driving modes - Eco, Sport & Normal. These modes alter the engine and transmission logic to suit the driver's preferences.

The Alcazar moves off the line very smoothly upon releasing the brake. With a light foot on the accelerator, one cannot feel any jerks at all while the shifts are being executed. Together with the light steering, the automatic is a breeze to drive in the city. Owners will enjoy its smooth, refined nature. Press the accelerator hard and the transmission responds at times, but gets confused at others. Sometimes, there is a delay of over a second before a downshift is executed. Moreover, the Alcazar also tends to shift gears excessively with a heavy foot. Our advice = it's best to drive this car with light to medium-level throttle inputs. That's what the engine & gearbox combination enjoy the most (unlike the Creta 1.4L DCT which loves being pushed hard).

Like normal mode, Eco is very useable in the city. Owners will probably use this mode the most, as a big petrol engine + TC AT usually mean low fuel economy. As city driving speeds are low, the duller performance isn't a handicap and the car can easily take care of commuting duties.

With 157 horses on tap, performance is satisfactory on the highway. There is more than enough muscle to carry a full load of passengers as well. However, the car doesn't feel aggressive to drive like the Creta 1.4. The Alcazar is at its best in the hands of a driver who gradually builds speed. The engine revs freely and power delivery is linear (like most NA petrols). You can cruise at 100 km/h with the engine revving at a relaxed 2,100 rpm. In a pedal to the metal driving style, the engine revs till ~6,500 rpm before upshifting. But again, keeping the relaxed nature of this transmission in mind, it's best to avoid an aggressive driving style. Overtaking is quick & easy at most times, although in some situations, the gearbox doesn't downshift and that can catch you out. Here, Sport mode comes in handy. It makes the engine hold onto revs a little longer before shifting up. The throttle and engine responses are sharper in Sport. For quick overtaking, this is the mode I would recommend.

You can use the manual shifting arrangement by pulling the gear lever to the right and pushing the lever to the front to upshift and back to downshift. Or you can just pull on the paddle shifters. In manual mode as well, the gearbox is tuned conservatively and it won't allow you to downshift aggressively. On many occasions, it didn't even allow us to downshift at merely 3,600 rpm! Honestly though, you should simply let the electronics do the shifting. If you're in the mood for speed, engage Sport mode (in D). Of course, manual mode can come in handy when you need engine braking (e.g. going downhill) or when you want to bring the engine into its powerband before an overtaking move.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)



The overall driving experience is very smooth & refined. It is only at high rpms (over 5,000 rpm) that the motor gets very boomy. If you are continuously redlining it, your passengers might find the boominess irritating.

Mileage & Fuel Economy



Hyundai claims a fuel economy rating of 14.2 km/l for the AT variant (14.5 km/l for MT). Big petrol engines & torque-converters are never FE champions. Be prepared for that, especially in a world where a litre costs 100 bucks! If you are going to drive a lot, we will strongly recommend the economical diesel instead.

Suspension




Ride Comfort



The Alcazar rides on a McPherson strut suspension up front and a torsion beam setup at the rear. Start driving and you will immediately notice that the Alcazar rides in a comfortable manner. We were worried that Hyundai would stiffen up the suspension too much for the added weight (make it like the Seltos), but that's clearly not the case here. Low-speed ride quality is acceptably absorbent and even large potholes are handled well. IMHO, the suspension tune is perfect for a 6/7 seater like the Alcazar. It's neither too soft, nor too stiff.

The Alcazar rides on 215/55 section tyres on 18-inch wheels and has a recommended tyre pressure of 33 PSI (35 PSI - full load) which is the same as the Creta. The base variant riding on 215/60 R17 tyres will offer a cushier ride.

Handling & Dynamics



Out on the highway, the Alcazar stays composed. Its road manners are neutral, just as you would expect from a 3-row family crossover. You can cruise at highway speeds quite comfortably. However, it doesn't ride as flat as the Creta and high-speed undulations do make the car feel a bit wallowy.

Throw the Alcazar around a corner and it responds better than you'd expect from a 6/7 seater. Yes, there's body roll, but it's within acceptable limits (but not sporty like a Kia Seltos). On curves, the car will hold its line and a big contributor to this are the Apollo Apterra Cross tyres. They provide good levels of grip and suit the car well. Also, good to know that the Alcazar has electronic stability control to help in emergency situations.

Steering



The steering is one finger light in the city and weighs up nicely as you gain speed. Don't expect much feel or feedback though.

Braking



Rear disc brakes are standard across all variants, which is a good thing. They work well in normal as well as emergency conditions and owners won't complain. They do the job.

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:02.
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Hyundai has re-entered the 7-seater market after 4 years, the Santa-Fe was Hyundai's only 7 seater in the market (other than the Terracan) till September 2017. It rivalled the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Honda CR-V, Ssangyong Rexton and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

With the Alcazar, Hyundai is competing in the ever-growing SUV space in India between 15 - 25 Lakhs. Based on Hyundai's hot-seller, the Creta, it has a 150mm longer wheel base and longer by 200mm.

Ideally the natural/perfect rival for the Alcazar was the Honda BR-V (discontinued in 2020 due to low sales and wasn't relaunched with a BS6 engine). With the BR-V out of the picture Hyundai didn't have a rival to pitch it against other than the Mahindra Marazzo. Hyundai has priced it out of it's actual competitor range and has decided to go head-on with the MG Hector Plus and Tata Safari. I believe Hyundai wanted to avoid cannibalizing the ever-popular Creta hence the Alcazar has no true entry-level variants, so no price overlap with the Creta.

Now this has placed the Alcazar in an extremely tough spot of neither being here nor there! The Creta on one side and the MG Hector Plus and Tata Safari on the other; which are half a size larger, with larger diesel powerplants, more space and with a very negligible price difference of 1.5-2 Lakh in the top-spec variants and the larger Hector Plus is cheaper than the smaller Alcazar!!

Spec Comparison:

Hyundai Alcazar Review-spec-comparison.png

- The Ertiga is the most VFM in the range, has the widest dealer network backed by strong after sales and even after being the smallest has very good overall space!

- BR-V although discontinued, just shows that for a similar size as the Alcazar with the same size diesel engine, Hyundai has made a massive blunder in the pricing! Hyundai has tried to cover that up by providing tons of features instead .

- Marazzo is one of the only 7 seater vehicles with the space for 3 passengers in the 3rd row, along with 3 individual seatbelts (Other being the Innova Crysta with 3-point seatbelts and 3 headrests for all three 3rd row passengers!) with a 60:40 split compared to other 6-7 seaters 50:50 split seats

- Although the MG Hector Plus is the 2nd longest, the 3rd row space and boot space reveal a completely different story. It is also the only SUV in which the captain chairs in the 2nd row which cannot be folded!

- The Tata Safari has the good space in all three rows, unlike the Alcazar and Hector Plus but the boot-space will all 3 rows up is negligible.

- The Innova is not considered as a SUV but it has blurred the lines between a SUV and MPV, it has the best captain seats at the moment with excellent shoulder room and width (beaten only by the Tata Hexa and Kia Carnival).

- The Hexa was a brilliant product (had a 4WD as well), period! Albeit, Tata had different plans.

Interior Colour Choices:

Usually 6-7 seaters are provided with lighter interior colours for a more airy and premium feel compared to their 5 seater counterparts.

- Alcazar gets a tan + black interior (Creta gets beige + black or full black in the DCT variant).

- Safari gets an ivory white shade (Or 'Signature Earthy Brown Benecke Kaliko' said to have been inspired by the golden hues of desert sand in the Adventure Persona) compared to the Harrier's dark brown or full black (Dark edition variants).

- MG Hector Plus is an exception where tan coloured seats are offered compared to the 5 seater Hector's beige (were full black in the pre-2021 Hectors).

- Ertiga and Marazzo both get beige interiors (XL6 gets a 6 seater configuration with black interiors).

- Innova Crysta offers a black/camel tan interior colour for the manual top-end variants and tan/camel tan for the automatic top-end variants. Base variants get black fabric upholstery. (Not even many luxury cars offer two different tan interior colour options!!)

Engine department:

- Ertiga is the only petrol offering and the Marazzo, Safari are the only diesel offerings. The others offer both petrol and diesel powertrains.

- For the asking price the Alcazar's 1.5L diesel is a joke where even 5 seaters offer more torque!

- The Innova Crysta has the largest petrol motor at 2.7L.

- Hector Plus and Safari have the most powerful diesel engines in the bunch with a FCA 2.0L Multijet. Hector Plus and Safari make the most torque of 350Nm for the manual gearbox and the Crysta has the most torque of 360Nm for it's automatic gearbox (343Nm for the manual).

- Marazzo with a 1.5L diesel may look underpowered on paper but the torque-to-weight ratio is the third highest, even higher than the manual Crysta!

*For the kerb weight of the Alcazar, I have added 80kgs for the diesel over the Creta diesel's kerb weight (based on a source where Hyundai had said this) and for the petrol 150kgs over the Creta as told during the camouflaged drive in Jaipur (the variant that was given for test was the 2L petrol manual). So both the power-to-weight ratio and torque-to-weight ratio will have to be re-confirmed once Hyundai reveals the actual weight.

The Contenders

Hyundai Alcazar:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-front-fascia.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-dashboard.png

2nd Row space (6-seater):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-2nd-row.png

2nd Row space:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-2nd-row2.png

3rd Row access (6-seater):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-3rd-row-access.png

3rd Row access (7-seater):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-3rd-row-access2.png

3rd Row space on offer:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-alcazar-bootspace-3rd-row-folded.png

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:03.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:00   #5
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Maruti Suzuki Ertiga:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-front-fascia.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-dashboard.png

Door opening:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-doors-open.png

2nd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-2nd-row.png

3rd Row access:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-3rd-row-access.png

3rd Row space:
Name:  Ertiga 3rd row.png
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3rd Row Space (XL6):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-xl6-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-ertiga-3rd-row-folded.png


Honda BR-V: (Now discontinued)

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-honda-brv-front-look.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-honda-brv-dashboard.png

2nd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-honda-brv-2nd-row.png

3rd Row access:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-honda-brv-folding-mech.png

3rd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-honda-brv-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-brv-boot-space-all-rows-up.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-brv-boot-space-3rd-row-folded.png

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:04.
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Mahindra Marazzo:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-front-fascia.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-dashboard.png

Door Opening:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-door-opening.png

2nd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-2nd-row.png

3rd Row access:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-3rd-row-access.png

3rd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-marazzo-3rd-row-folded-.png

Tata Safari:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-front-look.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-dashboard.png

Door opening:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-doors-opening.png

3rd row access (6-seater):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-3rd-row-access.png

3rd row access (7-seater):
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-3rd-row-access-7str.png

3rd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-safari-3rd-row-folded.png

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:05.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:00   #7
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MG Hector Plus:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-front-look.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-dashboard.png

Door opening:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-doors-opening.png

2nd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-2nd-row.png

3rd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-hector-plus-boot-3rd-row-folded.png

Toyota Innova Crysta:

Front Fascia:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-front-fascia.png

Dashboard:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-dashboard.png

Door opening:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-door-opening.png

2nd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-2nd-row.png

3rd Row access:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-3rd-row-access.png

3rd Row:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-3rd-row.png

Bootspace with all rows up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-bootspace.png

Bootspace with 3rd Row folded up:
Hyundai Alcazar Review-crysta-bootsapce-3rd-row-folded.png

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:06.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:00   #8
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Conclusion:

Given that the MUV/SUV/7-seater market is still majorly lead by diesel sales, attributing to it's ability to pull the load and at the same time return excellent fuel economy; Hyundai has made the mistake of pricing the Alcazar higher than it should have been but this was bound to get the same 1.5L diesel engine as the Creta all along.

But now there is a 7 seater SUV for everyone, here is how I see it:

- Maruti Suzuki Ertiga:
At below 14Lakh on-road there is absolutely nothing that can beat the Ertiga as a package! Has decent features, good fuel efficiency, excellent space and is extremely VFM. Some disadvantages are only 2 airbags and non-availability of a diesel mill under the hood.

- Mahindra Marazzo:
This is a strong package for someone looking for a MUV below 17 lakhs, has more space than an Ertiga and is the best product in terms of quality Mahindra has built till date! Not to forget it's India's only MUV with a 4-star GNCAP rating. But it has a massive disadvantage and that is an absence of an automatic . I see absolutely no other reason for this to not succeed other than the availability of an automatic gearbox and Mahindra's marketing team. Today everyone is moving to a slushbox for the added convenience.

- Tata Safari:
The Harrier when launched was loved for it's looks and the Safari came in and just added to that brilliant package. The Safari XE starts almost where the Marazzo's M6+ pricing ends. Out of this bunch the Safari looks the most premium both inside out! I have attached a picture of the white Safari from the official Team-BHP review and while just scrolling the Safari makes you stop scrolling and take notice, which isn't the case with the other SUVs/MUVs, it looks that good! Even the interior looks really premium with the white upholstery. Disadvantage is a new niggle/issue pops up every other week, but I can't blame the car for that, it's the sheer incompetence of the manufacturer.

- MG Hector Plus:
One word for this is, it is an extremely VFM package. Ride quality is on the softer side so has a real supple ride in the town. Is loaded to the brim with features! Disadvantage I see is again a lack of an automatic with the diesel and the 7 seater variants don't even get the petrol DCT, something which is reserved for the 6 seater?! Another is the brand image issue of MG.

- Toyota Innova Crysta:
Is the most proven of this bunch, excellent track record in terms of after-sales, resale-value and reliability. Die-hard fans of the Innova will never look at any other car other than an Innova again, ask any cab driver. The car has attained a cult status, leading Toyota to become extremely greedy with the pricing. Has few features compared to it's much cheaper competitors, heck it still doesn't get an auto IRVM even after being the most expensive in this bunch .

So where exactly does the Hyundai Alcazar fit in? Hyundai clearly didn't want to overlap any variant with it's massive profit-making Creta, hence the lack of any base variants. It's starting variant is equivalent to mid-variants of it's competitors in terms of features. Hyundai wants people to come into the showroom for it's class-leading features more than the car itself. The base variant Prestige(O) Diesel AT 7 seater makes the maximum sense for the price and features, only thing missing is 6 airbags, which would have made this otherwise good variant excellent!

Where the other cars in this bunch can work as a single car for the entire family (yes even the Ertiga), the Alcazar just can't do that. The Alcazar is perfect for families which already have 1-2 other cars, because the 3rd row can't be used for too long even by children standards. It's at best a 4 or 5 seater but then the Creta is already a 5-seater, so the only extra things you get is a pair of extra seats in case of an emergency, larger petrol engine, a bigger boot and extra features over the Creta. Regarding the diesel engine, I believe it will get the job done but don't expect Safari/Hector Plus/Crysta levels of surplus reserves of power. But it will get the job done, remember the Honda BR-V was also powered by a 1.5L engine with lesser power and torque, so I expect the Alcazar to do a decent job. Where the Hyundai has scored is refinement be it the petrol or the diesel!

PS: This quick spec comparo wouldn't have been possible without the massively detailed and top-notch reviews with pictures! Kudos to the excellent standard of reviews, there is absolutely no other media house who can come close to the gold standard of reviews set by Team-BHP!

Last edited by Aditya : 25th June 2021 at 11:06.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:09   #9
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:31   #10
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

If you are offering 6/7 seats and 2 rows out of 3 are not very spacious, you will lose a lot of that 6/7 seat advantage. A more spacious middle row would have made it a much better proposition.

No petrol automatic for the 7 seat variant? That's another bummer.

Last edited by Eddy : 25th June 2021 at 11:35.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:32   #11
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

Good review of an important car. For one has the Hyundai badge, secondly comes in a 7 seater avatar which is in trend. Full marks for Hyundai in differentiating Alcazar from Creta. Interiors looks sweet and seem to have decent road presence too. Tonne of features and neutral driving manners should win hearts of a family man.

If someone is looking for a true 7 seater, they should look at Innova , Marazzo or even a Ertiga. Alcazar suits those who need an occasional 7 seater but 5 seater plus big boot most of the time. For latter, Alcazar ticks almost all boxes. For a 2+2 family the one with bucket seats make for a comfortable family car.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:33   #12
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

Excellent review and comparison guys! Another 5 star review. The comparison posts were icing on the cake!

As GTO often says, if the car companies don't cannibalize their own products with their in-house options, other car makers will do it to them! I think Alcazar is a testament to this. Maybe it's not the best 6-7 seater in the price range, but from the review it's pretty evident that the car is a solid smooth experience for the prospective owners. Alcazar may take some sales away from Creta despite, maybe, being less VFM than Creta on pure functionality. But it will nevertheless taste success on its own merits of added seats, premium positioning, features, and, interiors experience.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:35   #13
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

Excellent review!

However, can the mods explain me if the diesel variant was unavailable for test drive from Hyundai end or purposefully Team-Bhp didnot review it because the diesel engine review was already done in Creta Official Review?
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:36   #14
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

As per ACI review Petrol AT does 0 to 100 in 9.8 Secs. That is nearly as fast as their Tucson CRDi - Well done.
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Old 25th June 2021, 11:53   #15
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Re: Hyundai Alcazar Review

Lovely review! Thanks for sharing it guys. Rating it 5 stars.

The key points that I remember the most after going through the very detailed review -
  • The petrol 2.0 seems to have a peak torque lower than Hector, and its also achieved at a fairly high RPM for a turbo engine. Interesting or is there some error there?
  • The 1.5 diesel is a big downer really. A premium 7 seater running engine specs which are standard for a sub4m cross-over costing <10 lakhs OTR is rather arrogant on Hyundai's part. And yet - it will sell well of course, for the lack of options! I suspect this car might be the final push that the Marazzo needed for reaching the end of the road.
  • I simply loved the instrument cluster & its integration with features like turn-camera etc. I'm an "all analogue" guy to the core. Yet - I'm all in love with this all digital setup from Hyundai. Excellent fluid execution also. Imagination + Execution - both splendid. On the other hand, we still have some car makers not even able to keep their simple digital clocks properly timed (my present car being one such example).
  • Good to see wire-less charger for 2nd row. Its about time car-makers started making these charging pads standard.
  • Position of the turn indicators & fog lamps is really poorly decided. Hardly any cars without these areas damaged. Even kids on bicycles hit parked cars in these areas!
  • Amusing that the side-step (which seems quite narrow for real use) - makes the cut only on ATs. MT drivers have longer & stronger legs by default and won't need the step as per Hyundai ?
  • And yes - the front really looks ugly.
  • AT in all trims. Thats good to see from a customer point of view & also shows the confidence Hyundai has with this product's sales performance.

Last edited by Reinhard : 25th June 2021 at 12:05.
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