When Tata launched the seven-seater version of its Harrier SUV, the iconic nameplate Safari was designed to influence buyers with a sense of nostalgia. But Hyundai Motor never had such a historic label to rely upon. Hence, with a 24-strong list of best and first in segment features, it bet where it excelled already - a feature-loaded offering. And the latest seven-seater product has been called the Alcazar.

Size and Space

Visually, the Alcazar carries a different grille design, bigger 18- inch diamond alloy wheels and an entirely distinct rear end as compared to its five-seater sibling, the Creta. Proportionately, the seven-seater is longer and higher than the Creta by 200 mm and 40 mm, respectively. However, it is the smallest and narrowest car among its rivals, such as the Tata Safari and the MG Hector Plus.

 

Yet, the Alcazar has managed to provide the best-in-class 2760 mm wheelbase and a 180-litre boot. That should provide the occupants with a spacious cabin and decent boot space. In addition, Alcazar customers will have two seating options (six or seven seats) and three trim levels to choose from. Plus, being a Hyundai, one can expect the feature-list to be brimful, and the story with the Alcazar is nothing different.

Cabin Features

The basic dashboard layout certainly resembles the Creta, but with added premium upgrades. The Creta gets either beige or all-black interiors, but the Alcazar introduces brown upholstery for a plusher look. The infotainment system is the same 10.25-inch touchscreen unit as in the Creta, but Hyundai has equipped features like a 360-degree camera, 64 ambient light colours and a segment-first eight-speaker Bose audio system. And as expected, the Alcazar also gets connected-car technology with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity.

 

The driving seat is where you'd find most of the feature upgrades, such as a 10-inch digital instrument cluster with blind-spot displays and customisable dials. In addition, the front row gets ventilated seats while the driver's seat gets an eight-way adjustable powered unit. The third-row passengers would find equally convenient features such as a one-touch tumble for second-row seats. The third-row vents with speed control enable easier ingress and a cool and controlled environment, respectively. The middle-row occupants would also be content with a retractable table for iPads or office work, an air purifier, multiple USB ports spread across all seating rows, as well as wireless charging facilities for the first two rows. The massive panoramic sunroof has been carried over from the Creta and can be opened with voice-enabled commands like 'I want to see the sky'.

 

Engine Options

The Hyundai Alcazar can be had in two engine options - 2.0-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The former appears to be a bigger, more powerful variant of the 1.5-litre mill seen on the Creta with 159 hp and 192 Nm torques. The diesel power-plant is the same as the Creta but carries mild tweaks to produce 115 hp and 250 Nm torques. This seven-seater can be had with either a six-speed manual or a sixspeed automatic gearbox driving the front wheels. While the multiple drive modes like Comfort, Eco and Sport have been carried over from the Creta, the Alcazar further gets added off-thetarmac terrain traction modes such as snow, sand and mud.

Safety

While Hyundai remains tight-lipped on the EURO NCAP safety test ratings, the South Korean carmaker believes safety features such as six airbags, blind-view displays, tyre-pressure monitoring system should do. If not, the front and rear park assists, a 360-degree camera, rear disc brakes and hill-start assist appear to be enough protection to keep you cocooned inside the Alcazar.

Prices

Lately, the South Korean brand has been playing the premium game concerning prices. The i20 saw a steep price proposition, and the Alcazar followed suit. Launched at a starting price of INR 16.30 lakh makes it the most expensive offering among its rivals such as the MG Hector Plus (INR 13.63 lakh) and the Tata Safari (INR 14.99 lakh). The top-variant gets priced at INR 20.14 lakh, second only to the Tata Safari with its INR 21.81 lakh price tag. While the Alcazar may not boast the most powerful engine or the most capable off-road underpinnings, Hyundai has ensured it gets loaded with features accompanied by muchneeded space which cater directly to the Indian needs and wants.

 

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION	2.0-litre MPI	1.5-litre CRDI
Displacement (cc)	4	4
Maximum power output (PS @ rpm)	159 PS @ 6500 rpm	115 PS @ 4000 rpm
Maximum torque	191 Nm @ 4500 rpm	250 Nm @ (NM @ rpm)
Transmission type	6-speed manual /6-speed Auto	6-speed manual / 6-speed Auto 6-speed Auto
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol

SUSPENSION

Front	Macpherson Strut Suspension with Coil Spring
Rear	Coupled Torsion Beam Axle TYRES Tyres

 

BRAKE

Front	Disc
Rear	Disc

 

DIMENSIONS & CAPACITIES Overall length

Overall length (mm)	4500
Overall width (mm)	1790
Overall height (mm)	1675
Wheelbase (mm)	2760
Fuel tank capacity (L)	50
Boot space (L)	180