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Hyundai Alcazar vs Tata Safari vs MG Hector Plus

Hyundai Alcazar

What you’ll like:

  • 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

What you won’t:

  • 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.)

Review Link

Tata Safari

What you’ll like:

  • The iconic brand “Safari” is back! We agree with using the legendary nameplate for this car
  • Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
  • Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
  • Extra 3rd row of seats brings lots more practicality & utility
  • Superb captain chairs available as an option for the middle row (top variant only)
  • Extras over the Harrier include rear disc brakes, TPMS, e-parking brake, auto-hold, boss mode…
  • Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
  • 168 BHP 2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
  • Smooth & competent 6-speed automatic transmission
  • Sufficient ground clearance + terrain response system for rough and wet roads
  • Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, rest break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
  • Features such as the panoramic sunroof, Eco & Sport modes, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control…

What you won’t:

  • Heavy steering gets cumbersome at parking / u-turn / crawling speeds (<5 km/h)
  • 3rd row access is too difficult in the captain seat variant
  • Negligible boot space with all the seats up - a paltry 73 liters
  • Safari AT’s focus is on smoothness & comfort; gearbox is not the most responsive
  • Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test car had a problem too!
  • Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (12-months is the norm today)
  • Diesel engine does get loud above 3,500 rpm & its engine note is quite sad too
  • No petrol option (almost all competitors offer it). No AWD for enthusiasts either
  • Although improved, the Safari's steering @ 120 km/h is still a level too sensitive
  • Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
  • By 2021 standards, we’d expect wireless charging + front / 360 camera + ventilated seats
  • We don’t agree with the excessive chrome (outside), impractical white interiors & 18” rims (bit firmer ride)

Review Link

MG Hector Plus

  • What you'll like:
  • Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced
  • A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too
  • Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic
  • Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
  • Lots of kit (panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.)
  • ‘Connected’ Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality
  • 5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance
  • Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more

What you won't:

  • Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles
  • Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer
  • The petrol engine is “adequate” at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive
  • No Diesel AT (Alcazar, XUV500, Safari offer this combination, which we love)
  • Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, strange rpm meter…
  • Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns
  • Don’t get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car

Review Link

Mahindra XUV500

What you’ll like:

  • A well-engineered, contemporary SUV with a value-for-money price tag
  • More mature styling. Front end no longer looks garish
  • Acres of space on the 1st & 2nd seat rows
  • Competent engine delivers fantastic urban driveability, as well as fast highway performance
  • Balanced ride & handling package
  • Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, ABS + EBD and all-wheel disc brakes
  • Expansive feature list (sunroof, touchscreen ICE, powered driver's seat, cruise control etc.)

What you won’t:

  • Absolutely no luggage capacity with all the seats in place
  • Cramped 3rd seat row is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
  • Interior quality, although better, still has a lot of scope for improvement
  • Clutch is lighter now, but has a long travel range & high resting point. Gets cumbersome in traffic
  • Niggles & issues, as reported by existing XUV500 owners
  • Mahindra's inconsistent sales & service experiences

Review Link

Review Link - Diesel AT

Toyota Innova Crysta

What you'll like:

  • Indestructible build & durability. The Innova is known for its bullet-proof reliability
  • Spacious, flexible & practical cabin. An extremely comfortable long distance commuter
  • Upmarket interiors. The ZX AT variant is very plush
  • Powerful diesel engines with user-selectable driving modes
  • Balanced suspension & road manners. High speed stability is rock solid
  • Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
  • Feature packed! Leather seats, LED headlamps, mood lighting, cruise control & lots more
  • Toyota's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

  • Hefty price tag! 3 - 4 lakhs higher than the competition
  • Top ZX variant is unavailable with a middle-row bench seat (8 seater)
  • Lower variant's interior looks too basic
  • 2.4's NVH package still has holes to fill (engine clatter, dancing gear lever)
  • Heavy steering at parking / low speeds. Can get cumbersome in the city
  • Poor sound quality from the ICE. Cheap speakers beg for an upgrade

Review Link

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