Hyundai Alcazar

Since the Alcazar is a bigger version of the Creta and is also based on Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language, there are a number of similarities in the design of the two vehicles. But it is not as simple as a copy and paste job. The Alcazar sports a larger grill with chrome beads embedded in it and also comes with faux skid plates. The headlamp design is very similar to that of Creta but the tail lamps are completely new. In profile, the vehicle is visibly longer than Creta and gets bigger 18-inch alloy wheels as an option. The Alcazar is 200mm longer, 40mm taller, has a 150mm longer wheelbase and also has a 10mm higher ground clearance.

The cabin of the Alcazar has loads of space and a long list of features. On can see a familiar-looking dashboard like the one in Creta and you also have the same 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the centre. But here, you get dual-tone interiors, 64-colour ambient lighting and a 10.25-inch digital MID. Since this is a three-row SUV, you can have it in 6 and 7-seater configurations. There are plenty of USB charging ports for all three rows and a wireless charging pad for the first two rows as well. Second-row occupants also get foldable trays on which they can keep their tablets or other items.

One can buy the Alcazar with either a 1.5-litre turbo diesel or a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The diesel engine has been borrowed from the Creta and makes 113hp of peak power and 250Nm of peak torque. The petrol engine, on the other hand, has been borrowed from Tucson but has been tweaked slightly. In the Alcazar, this engine is good for 157hp and 191Nm. Acceleration is linear in both engines and the diesel engine from Creta does not feel underpowered in the bigger Alcazar. The lighter weight means that the engine does not have to do that much work to get up to triple-digit speeds.

Both engine options on the Alcazar come with the choice of a manual and an automatic gearbox. These are 6-speed units and work flawlessly. The automatic units here are simple torque converters and you do not get any CVT or DCT options. There are some driving and traction control modes so you can tweak the riding dynamics a little.

The Hyundai Alcazar comes loaded with safety features and even the base model gets most of them. It comes with disc brakes all around, 6 airbags, ESC, VSC and Hill Start Assist as well. The SUV is also equipped with a surround-view camera, front parking sensors and a blind view monitor.

Both engines on the Alcazar are decently frugal as well. Claimed fuel efficiency figures for the petrol engine are 14.5kmpl when paired with a manual gearbox and 14.2kmpl when paired with an automatic gearbox. The diesel engine is obviously more efficient and returns a claimed mileage of 20.4kmpl and 18.1kmpl when paired with a manual and automatic gearbox, respectively.