2024 Hyundai Alcazar Review

Hyundai is hoping that the super success of the Creta will rub onto the Alcazar as upwardly mobile customers look for a SUV with Creta-like qualities but more space and premium features. Is the Alcazar a recipe for success? We have the answer at the end.

The Alcazar follows the Crete N-lines visual look at the front end. You get the stylish H-shaped lamps which look really cool and visually appealing and you also get chunky 18-inch wheels and the alloy wheel design looks really striking too.

The side profile is extremely simple in design and has a square and boxy look. The rear end of the car with its extended tail lamps and LED light treatment looks good and has a certain European feel that most Indian buyers will like. Overall, the car is longer than the Creta and has considerably better road presence than the Creta too or the older Alcazar as well. That is something most Indian car buyers will like.

You will get a sense of deja vu as soon as you step inside the cabin of the new Alcazar. The dashboard looks identical but the colour has been changed to a deep shade of brown or burgundy depending from which angle you look at it. There are some notable extras. You get dual zone climate control along with ventilated seats at the back. You also get pillow like head rests at the back.

The quality is hard to fault and all the buttons and switches have a nice and tactile feel about themselves. The overall seat comfort is good and you get a sense of being in a posh and luxurious car. Hyundai has improved space in the back seat too by lowering the rear seats slightly and also by offering scoops on the back of the front seats. This helps generate more legroom overall.

The last row is just as good or bad as before. You can ask occupants to sit there for short journeys but the occupants need to be just a shade under 5 feet 6 inches. Any taller and the occupants will complain about the rear seats.

Hyundai offered us the 1.5 Lturbo petrol to test at the drive event. You can also choose a 1.5 L diesel. What you will like about this engine is the responsive nature. The engine responds from relatively low rpms which means that this is a good car for people driving in the city. What you will also like is the DCT gearbox. Both upshifts and downshifts are very quick. The car also feels relaxed to drive at faster highway speeds when you hit 100kph and beyond thanks to the extra seventh gear.

The Alcazar is a large sized car and it shows in the handling. The steering is soft and the car shows plenty of body roll when pushed in corners. If you are looking for a sporty handling car then the Alcazar isn’t for you. Hyundai has purposely erred on the side of comfort for this car instead of sporty handling. That’s because they believe around 30 percent buyers will be chauffeur-driven.

Overall, the Alcazar is a well rounded package for those who love the Creta but want a bit more space and comfort. You also get extra features that sweeten the deal. At a starting price of Rs 15 lakh(ex-showroom) the car looks like good value as well.