Hyundai Alcazar, Track Test

On paper, the Hyundai Alcazar seems to be a winning proposition, as it offers everything that Indian customers today want from a mature SUV – three rows of seating, an established platform, a good brand, and a choice between diesel and petrol engines. And we too had high expectations from the Alcazar, since we found it to be a pretty competent product in our first-drive review a few months ago. But, since the Alcazar’s launch and our first drive of the car, the market has witnessed the launch of the Mahindra XUV700, which has certainly shifted the goalposts of the 3-row SUV segment of the Indian market. But we will come to it later.

The Alcazar in itself offers a lot more than the Creta, on which it is based. First, with the new rear-end styling, the Alcazar looks much more attractive than the Creta. And given its extended length, it also has a design that seems more balanced. The interior too has received an upgrade – the captain seats in the middle row, for instance, are quite comfortable.

It now features a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and a stiffer suspension to deal with the extra weight of the extended body. And to be honest, in terms of regular driving, the Alcazar offers quite a pleasant experience. The relatively stiffer suspension is an improvement over the Creta’s overly soft suspension. However, the 1.5-litre diesel engine of the Alcazar feels rather small for the car of its size, and I think under full load, it may struggle a bit.

The biggest issue with the Alcazar, however, is its space and practicality. The third row of the Alcazar is comically small – it’s suitable only for young children. The boot space, with all three rows in use, is nothing to speak about either.

Lastly, given the shocking (in a good way) pricing of the XUV700 and everything that it offers, including impressive space, all kinds of features, and powerful engines, the Alcazar – and all other competitors in its segment – looks overpriced, which ultimately affects the overall ranking of the SUV in this year’s test.

Best of 2021 << BACKNEXT >> Audi A4, Track Test