Hyundai Alcazar: Hyundai introduced the Alcazar to the Indian market, they weren’t simply stretching the Creta to add an extra row of seats. What emerged was a distinctly positioned vehicle with its own character.
One that deftly balances premium aspirations with family-oriented practicality. After spending two weeks with the Alcazar across Delhi’s urban chaos and the winding roads of Uttarakhand, it’s clear that Hyundai has crafted something that transcends the “Creta+” label that many initially assigned to this three-row SUV.
Design: Distinguished Presence
Though sharing its underpinnings with the popular Creta, the Alcazar immediately establishes its own visual identity through several key design differences.
The front fascia adopts a more sophisticated look with a distinctive grille featuring intricate detailing and chrome accents that create a more premium first impression.
The LED headlamp units maintain similar shapes to the Creta but integrate unique daytime running light signatures that help distinguish the Alcazar in rearview mirrors.
The side profile reveals the most obvious differences, with the extended 2,760mm wheelbase (150mm longer than the Creta) creating more balanced proportions despite the additional length.
The unique 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels fill the arches more convincingly than the Creta’s smaller options, while subtle character lines running along the doors visually reduce the vehicle’s height.
The quarter glass behind the C-pillar integrates smoothly with the wraparound rear windshield, preventing the extended body from appearing awkward or disproportionate.
At the rear, connected tail lamps with distinctive LED elements span the width of the tailgate, creating a premium light signature after dark.
The split bumper design with twin exhausts (functional, not decorative) reinforces the upmarket positioning, as does the chrome strip connecting the taillights.
The roof rails complete the SUV look while providing functional mounting points for additional cargo when all three rows are occupied by passengers.
Available in both six and seven-seat configurations, the Alcazar’s exterior design successfully communicates its positioning as the more sophisticated sibling in Hyundai’s SUV lineup.
The color palette includes unique options like Starry Night (a deep blue with subtle metallic flakes) and Phantom Black that particularly complement the vehicle’s upmarket aspirations.
Interior: Space Meets Sophistication
Step inside the Alcazar, and the premium approach becomes immediately apparent through elevated material quality and thoughtful design touches.
The dashboard layout shares its basic architecture with the Creta but incorporates more sophisticated materials, including soft-touch panels on frequently contacted areas and convincing open-pore wood-effect trim on higher variants.
The switchgear operates with satisfying precision, while ambient lighting with multiple color options enhances the cabin atmosphere after dark.
The front seats offer excellent comfort with 8-way power adjustment for the driver, including lumbar support that proved invaluable during our extended highway journeys.
The commanding driving position provides good visibility in all directions despite the vehicle’s substantial dimensions, with the 360-degree camera system compensating for any blind spots during tight maneuvers.
The second row deserves special mention, particularly in the six-seat configuration with its captains chairs. These seats offer surprising luxury with individual armrests, adjustable backrests, and excellent thigh support even for taller passengers.
The seven-seat layout substitutes a bench that splits 60:40, sacrificing some individual comfort for the ability to accommodate an additional passenger when needed.
What genuinely impresses is the third row, which offers more usable space than many competitors in this segment. While still best suited for teenagers or shorter adults, the accommodations back there include dedicated air vents.
USB charging ports, and cupholders – thoughtful touches that acknowledge these aren’t merely “occasional” seats but legitimate seating positions for shorter journeys.
With all seats up, the boot offers 180 liters of space – sufficient for a couple of small suitcases or a week’s grocery shopping. Fold the third row flat.
and this expands to 579 liters, while dropping both rear rows creates a cavernous 1,826-liter cargo area with a nearly flat floor – versatility that family buyers will appreciate.
Technology: Feature-Rich Experience
The Alcazar showcases Hyundai’s technological prowess with a comprehensive suite of features centered around the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
This responsive display offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, built-in navigation, and multiple display themes that change based on drive modes. The interface logic proves intuitive during operation, with minimal lag even when rapidly switching between functions.
The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster deserves particular praise for its crisp graphics and customizable displays that change with driving modes.
The blind-view monitor, which displays a camera feed of the corresponding blind spot in the instrument cluster when turn signals are activated, proved genuinely useful in Delhi’s chaotic traffic conditions where two-wheelers frequently occupy blind spots.
The Bose 8-speaker premium sound system delivers impressive audio performance with clear highs and reasonable bass response, though some competitors offer more sophisticated sound tuning.
Wireless phone charging with cooling functionality, a 360-degree camera system with multiple viewing angles, and front parking sensors complement the technology package, creating a genuinely premium user experience.
The second-row passengers aren’t forgotten, with dedicated amenities including a fixed center console (in six-seat variants) housing cupholders and additional storage, window sunshades, and on top variants, wireless charging for rear occupants – features typically found in vehicles costing significantly more.
Performance: Well-Matched Powertrains
The Alcazar offers two engine options that provide distinctly different characters. The 2.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 159 horsepower and 191 Nm of torque – figures that provide adequate if not exhilarating performance given the vehicle’s approximately 1,650kg kerb weight.
This engine comes paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, both offering smooth operation.
During our extensive testing, the petrol engine demonstrated refined manners with minimal noise intrusion into the cabin, though extracting maximum performance requires pushing toward the upper reaches of the rev range.
The automatic transmission complements this engine well, providing smooth, predictable shifts that prioritize comfort over sportiness – appropriate for the vehicle’s family orientation.
More impressive is the 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel engine producing 115 horsepower and a substantial 250 Nm of torque from just 1,500 rpm.
Despite the lower peak power figure, this engine’s abundant low-end torque better suits the Alcazar’s character, providing effortless progress in urban environments and relaxed highway cruising.
Fuel efficiency impresses as well, with our testing showing approximately 16-17 km/l in mixed conditions – respectable figures for a vehicle of this size and capability.
Both powertrains benefit from Hyundai’s drive mode selector offering Eco, Comfort, and Sport options that adjust throttle response, steering weight, and transmission behavior.
The differences between modes prove meaningful rather than gimmicky, with Sport noticeably sharpening responses while Eco mode prioritizes efficiency through earlier upshifts and more conservative throttle mapping.
Driving Dynamics: Comfort-Focused Composure
Nobody expects sports car handling from a three-row family SUV, and the Alcazar wisely prioritizes ride comfort and stability over corner-carving capability.
The suspension – MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear – delivers well-judged damping that absorbs typical Indian road imperfections without excessive body movement that might induce passenger discomfort.
The longer wheelbase contributes to impressive straight-line stability, particularly valuable during highway journeys where the Alcazar tracks confidently even when encountering unexpected surface changes or crosswinds.
The steering offers progressive weighting that increases appropriately with speed, though feedback remains limited – a common characteristic in this segment where ease of operation typically trumps driver engagement.
Ground clearance of 200mm provides confidence when navigating broken surfaces or aggressive speed breakers, while the 360-degree camera system and front parking sensors help manage the vehicle’s substantial dimensions during urban maneuvers.
The turning radius of 5.3 meters proves reasonably tight considering the extended wheelbase, making U-turns and parking lot navigation less stressful than might be expected.
Noise suppression deserves particular praise, with excellent insulation against road and wind noise even at highway speeds. Combined with the comfortable seating and effective climate control system.
this creates a refined environment that reduces fatigue during longer journeys – a crucial consideration for the family road trips this vehicle was designed to undertake.
Verdict: The Sophisticated Family Choice
The Hyundai Alcazar successfully carves out its distinct position in the increasingly crowded three-row SUV segment through its balanced approach to premium features and practical family functionality.
Rather than merely stretching an existing model, Hyundai has thoughtfully engineered a vehicle that serves its intended purpose without significant compromises.
For growing families who occasionally need three-row capacity but don’t want to sacrifice comfort, features, or refined driving manners, the Alcazar presents a compelling proposition.
It lacks the outright space of larger MPVs like the Kia Carens or Toyota Innova Crysta, but counters with more sophisticated road manners, premium features, and distinctive styling that many image-conscious buyers will appreciate.
The price positioning – starting around ₹16.77 lakh and extending to approximately ₹21.00 lakh (ex-showroom) – places the Alcazar in the heart of the premium three-row segment.
competing with vehicles like the MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari, and its cousin, the Kia Carens. Within this competitive set, the Alcazar distinguishes itself through superior refinement.
comprehensive feature content, and the reassurance of Hyundai’s extensive service network – factors that will likely continue attracting buyers seeking something beyond the ordinary in their family transportation.