[Ripcord09]

2024 Hyundai Alcazar

What you'll like:

• A 3-row family car that's well-built inside out & now looks better (cleaner design than the pre-facelift)
• User-friendly interiors look really good and have quality parts
• Fast and refined 1.5L turbo-petrol mated to smooth 7-speed AT and 6-speed MT
• Economical 1.5L diesel offers good driveability. Available in MT & AT variants
• Comfortable ride quality with neutral road manners
• Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
• The Alcazar's safety package includes ADAS Level 2, hill descent control, 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (ventilated 1st & 2nd row seats, captain seats with extendable under-thigh support & bolstered headrests, boss mode, digital key, drive and traction modes, fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, 2nd-row wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, rear window sunshades, paddle shifters, Bose sound system & loads more)
• Hyundai's wide dealer & service network

What you won't:

• 2nd row legroom is mediocre (captain seat variant). Compromises have been made to accommodate the 3rd row & boot
• 3rd row access is too difficult in the captain seat variant
• 3rd row seat is best suited to kids only. Not really a place for adults
• Competitors like the Carens, XUV700, Scorpio-N, Safari & Hector Plus offer more spacious cabins
• No all-wheel drive option available for enthusiasts / overlanders
• Long-term reliability of the 7-speed DCT is a concern (related reading)
• Turbo-petrol revs to just ~5,750 rpm. It's a powerful motor with 158 BHP on tap, so we wish it went higher for driving pleasure
• Diesel’s 114 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are among the lowest in the segment
• A few misses (no sunroof and spare wheel in the diesel, wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay, illuminated window buttons etc.)

Review Link

Kia Carens

What you'll like:

• Fresh styling that will appeal to a larger audience (unlike the polarising Alcazar)
• A practical & sensible 3-row family car that's well-built. 3rd-row seat is actually useable
• User-friendly interiors look really good (blue shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• 1.5L turbo petrol with 7-speed DCT offers fast performance. Extremely refined too
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Impressive ride quality with neutral car-like road manners
• The Carens' safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc as standard.

What you won't:

• 3-star GNCAP safety rating is disappointing (related discussion)
• 2nd-row legroom is just ordinary, despite the seat travel of the 1st-row being restricted
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• Reliability of the 7 speed DCT in a heavier car is a concern
• Some niceties missing vs the Alcazar - no 360-degree camera, no full virtual dials, no panoramic sunroof
• Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector & XUV700 offer way more spacious cabins

Review Link

Tata Safari

Review Link

Mahindra XUV700

What you'll like:

• Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
• Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
• 182 BHP turbo-diesel & 197 BHP turbo-petrol make for a potent line-up
• Smooth 6-speed torque converter Automatics available with both engines
• Sorted suspension with good road manners & high speed stability
• AWD available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
• Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
• 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
• Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...

What you won't:

• Negligible boot space with the 3rd-row seat up. Either 5 onboard, or 7 with a roof-top carrier
• Cramped 3rd-row seat is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
• Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
• Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
• Concerns over niggles & bugs in a complex Mahindra.
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• AWD is available just with the Diesel AT, and not the MT or petrol motor

Review Link

MG Hector Plus

Review Link

Mahindra Scorpio N

Review Link

Toyota Innova Crysta

What you'll like:

• Indestructible build & durability. The Innova is known for its bullet-proof reliability
• Spacious, flexible & practical cabin. An extremely comfortable long distance commuter
• Upmarket interiors. The ZX variant is very plush
• Powerful diesel engine with user-selectable driving modes
• Balanced suspension & road manners. High speed stability is rock solid
• Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
• Feature packed! Leather seats, LED headlamps, mood lighting, cruise control & lots more
• Toyota's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• Hefty price tag!
• Top ZX variant is unavailable with a middle-row bench seat (8 seater)
• Lower variant's interior looks too basic
• No petrol or AT option available
• 2.4's NVH package still has holes to fill (engine clatter, dancing gear lever)
• Heavy steering at parking / low speeds. Can get cumbersome in the city
• Poor sound quality from the ICE. Cheap speakers beg for an upgrade

Review Link

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[buzzy_boy]

None of the above, but voted for the XUV 700. Customers in this segment look for safety, reliability, space, and convenience (automatic).

From that perspective, the most complete package is the Crysta automatic. The Hycross NA petrol is too bare-bones to warrant consideration. The closest remaining option is the XUV 700.

That said, there is a gap in the 20-30L range for a no-nonsense, safe, spacious, and reliable automatic people mover that was vacated by the Crysta.

[ssoni.1411]

Voted for the XUV700. Handsome styling, bulletproof safety, incredible road presence and two powerful engine options. Kudos to Mahindra for bringing their A-game in the past few years starting with the 3-door Thar.
A close second for me will be the Innova Crysta. I feel it has the best space management in this category, to go with the bulletproof reliability. I feel Toyota should have given the Crysta a facelift as well and sold it with the Hycross.

[vvs29]

If we are talking about a 7 seater (which I guess we are because we have safari but not harrier), then only Carens has a adult usable 3rd row. Haven't experienced Crysta, but I'm willing to bet the monocoque Carens is more comfortable as a city vehicle than the Crysta. Safari has a usable 3rd row as well, but ingress is weird and I find it too bulky for what it offers (not to mention the Tata horror stories).

If we are talking about 5 seaters with a ginormous boot, then I would choose 700 or Creta N Line depending on whether it is a primarily highway or city machine.

[CEF_Beasts]

Voted ‘Other’

My first choice in this segment will be the HyCross followed closely by the Crysta.

The oodles of space, comfort, reliability, cheap service costs, fuel economy in the city and NVH are somethings the HyCross absolutely excels at !!

Only negatives I see are high initial purchasing cost and cheap interior plastics.

I’m in absolute awe of the Hybrid system powering a 7 seater UV.

[jkaushik]

I was in the same dilemma as the post, looking for a car in the ~25lac mark to replace my 9yo Ecosport.

Crysta/Hycross: Cancelled due to high initial cost, low running, and too big a size for me.

ScorpioN: Good package, cancelled due to wobbly ride in city and medium speeds and also Mahindra's after sales service and niggles.

Safari: Have heard enough horror stories about issues and after sales service.

XUV700: Great package, great car. Only didn't opt for it due to big size and my reluctance to live with a product with higher probability of niggles. Would have surely opted for this if my requirement was to travel with 7 people more often than not.

Carens/Hector: I don't like the way they look and also a bit too MPV ish for me.

Ended up booking the new Alcazar DCT petrol as it suited my usecase the most, also I will just use the 3rd row as a boot. Very rarely will sit 7 in it. Hence it made most sense.
Alcazar is luxurious and Hyundais are traditionally reliable with good after sales support.

[aniketi]

I will go for Ertiga/ XL6. It's the best buy for common man and offers best value for money. It offers great reliability and best A.S.S. at very reasonable cost.

[neon_daytona]

None. Either too pricy, not the right automatic or way too big. I will stay with my BRV V CVT till better alternatives come up.

[B-Taurus]

While I understand that this thread is for 7 seaters it’s not fair to ignore the XL6 (tho 6 seats only).
It provides a smooth 1.5L NA engine mated with a 6 speed AT (TC here) and a 6 speed manual.
The 3rd row is quite usable as well. The 2022 variant came with 360 deg camera, ventilated seats etc
This is the best VFM offering in my opinion.

[Knightrider]

If we are comparing 6/7 seaters in this thread, then my vote goes to Kia Carens. A complete package with lot of features, engine & transmission options and most importantly the best 3rd row seat space. The sliding 2nd row gives flexibility to adjust the knee room, which is lacking in some of the options mentioned here. The boot space in Carens is sufficient even with 3rd row seats up. Overall a very VFM and really usable 7 seater for a long drive.

[MathanK]

I have voted for XUV700, it’s an extremely competent vehicle in most aspects, be it impressive road presence, long feature list, Powerful engine options, good fuel economy from diesel variant, excellent ride quality & value for money with recent price drop. I brought AX7 D-AT 5 months back, covered around 7000 KM so far, this is my daily commuter to office in Bangalore & did about 6 long drives, I’m enjoying every bit. Mahindra service also exceeds my expectations thus far. Note, this statement is coming from a Hyundai/Kia fan who associated with their cars for last 2 decades

[It's Magic]

Voted for Mahindra XUV 700

If you compare all the given cars on paper, the Mahindra XUV 700 would be at the top for most people, followed by the Tata Safari or Mahindra Scorpio N.

Although the MG Hector Plus and Kia Carens are good cars, I doubt many will select them when you have the above-mentioned three in the group.

The Toyota Innova caters to a specific section of people, and those people will opt for it irrespective of other options.

The Hyundai Alcazar shines where Tata or Mahindra mostly fail, i.e., fuss-free ownership experience, but it lacks comfort in both the second and third rows. I think Hyundai really missed a good opportunity here.

The Mahindra XUV 700 is a complete all-rounder from the pack. It has stylish looks and spacious interiors. It is also loaded with features, including many safety features. However, where Mahindra and even Tata need improvement is in after-sales service and providing a niggle-free ownership experience.

[ndnesh]

I also voted Other. I would go with the Ertiga as a 7 seater or the XL6 for slightly more features and the option of captain seats on the 2nd row. The XL6 also gets a lot of good features that I like plus It maybe just me but I like how the facelifted car looks!

If not these two , I am in the market for a pre loved BRV CVT ! My heart is set on it.

[Passion2explore]

Finally the car (Petro DCT Signature 7 seater, Starry night color) has arrived in Dealer stock yard on Sohna Road. SA was so courteous and accommodating right from reaching showroom to leaving from dealer stock yard and through out the PDI. This courteous environment is something I missed during my visit to Mahindra showroom earlier. Did the thorough PDI for more than an hour using extensive Team-bhp pdi checklist. Delivery planned for 11th, Friday this week. Will share the experience post delivery