Hyundai Alcazar: Yet while very much sharing fundamental design language with the Creta, the Alcazar carves out its own visual presence with considered proportions and some distinct styling elements.
The stretched wheelbase—150mm front the Creta—provides it with harmonious proportions even though there’s a longer body that supports the third row.
Up front, there’s a complex grille with cascading elements, while all sorts of different lighting signatures pass messages about its premium station.
The Alcazar’s three-row configuration becomes obvious in side profiles, thanks to longer rear quarters and a marginally taller roof height while still carrying those sporty character lines of Hyundai’s recent designs.
Available 18-inch alloy wheels occupy the wheel wells in an appropriate manner, establishing proper visual proportions to complement the hunkered down stance.
The rear features a set of wraparound taillights linked by a chrome strip, with twin exhaust outlets on higher trims that accentuate the premium look.
You can also avail of one of the many exclusive colour trims offered to the Alcazar, unusual on the Creta, yet indicative of its somewhat more upmarket nature. The overall form does tri-row well but avoids the visual thickening that tends to afflict vehicles in this segment.
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Hyundai Alcazar: Cabin Space and Practicality:
Inside, the Alcazar’s stretched-out proportions translate to a truly functional three-row configuration, offering six- or seven-seat layouts.
The six-person option has second-row captain’s chairs for a premium experience for middle passengers along with an easy pass-through to the third row.
The seven-seat configuration employs a 60:40 split-folding bench that optimizes passenger capacity when necessary.
The third-row accommodation, an item that goes underappreciated in vehicles of this size class, gets thoughtful consideration; there’s sufficient headroom for average-height adults, as well as dedicated air vents, USB charging ports and cupholders.
And it’s much more than just an emergency occasional patch job, as you’d expect as it isn’t such a huge three-row car.
Cargo capacity speaks to the versatility of the vehicle, with about 180 liters behind the third row, enough for grocery runs or airport luggage with all seats in use.
Fold the third row and that expands to around 600 liters, with both rear rows going flat for maximum cargo ability when the logistics require some occasional hauling efforts.
Technology and Features
Hyundai did not hold back on technology with the Alcazar offering an extensive features list with several first-in-segment features.
The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and the similarly sized digital instrument cluster offers customizable information displays, including blind-spot camera views when turning.
Comfort features are in line with the premium positioning, as ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging as well as an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat in higher specifications.
A Bose premium audio system with eight speakers ensures sound quality for your daily drive, while available ambient lighting with multiple color options adds vitality to the vehicle’s interior during night time trips.
Driver-assistance systems include blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, and front parking sensors, in addition to the expected rear sensors and camera.
This is not the full blown ADAS suite you see in some competitors but these features still hold meaningful safety enhancements for Indian driving conditions.
Powertrain and Driving Impressions
The Alcazar presents two distinct powertrain options according to differing priorities. The naturally aspirated 2.0-liter petrol engine makes around 159 horsepower and 191 Nm of torque — just enough for a smooth, though high-revving performance.
The alternative is the 1.5-liter turbocharged diesel, which produces around 115 horsepower but a far meatier 250 Nm of torque, giving more accessible performance in day to day driving conditions, along with superior fuel efficiency.
The two engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, the latter of which offers smooth changes that suit the family-friendly nature of the car.
Road and wind noise are kept to a minimum, contributing to that relaxed atmosphere in the cabin, and the suspension does a great job of soaking up any imperfections, even delivering enough body control when it comes to direction changes to not feel soppy.
Noise isolation is impressive for the segment, thanks to extensive sound-deadening material that limits road and wind noise entering the cabin.
Along with comfortable seating and effective climate control, these refinement measures engender an agreeable atmosphere for the long hauls typically covered by three-row vehicle owners.
Hyundai Alcazar:
The Hyundai Alcazar manages to be a space-efficient addition to the Hyundai SUV lineup in the three-row segment instead of just an increased footprint of the Creta platform.
With genuine usability for all passengers, a look that stands out from the rest of the pack, and tech features that enhance the day-to-day experience of ownership, Hyundai has captured versatility without the bulk or cost of the segment’s larger offerings.
In a market where three-row offerings have become dominant, however, the Alcazar finds its niche with a blend of manageable dimensions and practical utility, along with the silken driving experience and feature content that have been signature to almost all things Hyundai.
This is a prudent approach that should ensure the Alcazar carves its own successful story instead of just a hand-me-down success from its baby sibling.
