The Alcazar is also available with a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The 2.0-litre petrol unit has been discontinued.

Hyundai has introduced the new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine in the Alcazar. The SUV is available in four variants with prices starting at Rs 16,74,900 (ex-showroom).

The Alcazar 1.5 Turbo GDi is offered in 6-seater and 7-seater configurations. The 2023 model features a new front grille and puddle lamp logo, an idle start / stop system, as well as side and curtain airbags.

The new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is RDE-compliant and E20-fuel-ready. It develops 158 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 253 Nm @ 1,500-3,500 rpm. The engine is mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 2023 Hyundai Alcazar is also available with an RDE-compliant 1.5-litre diesel engine that makes 114 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm @ 1,500-2,750 rpm. The 2.0-litre petrol engine has been discontinued.

2023 Hyundai Alcazar 1.5L turbo-petrol ex-showroom prices:

• Prestige 6MT 7S – Rs 16,74,900
• Platinum 6MT 7S – Rs 18,65,100
• Platinum (O) 7DCT 7S – Rs 19,96,000
• Platinum (O) 7DCT 6S – Rs 19,96,000
• Signature (O) 7DCT 7S – Rs 20,25,100
• Signature (O) 7DCT 6S – Rs 20,25,100

The Alcazar 1.5 Turbo GDi is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The Hyundai Alcazar is now available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The SUV can be booked by paying a token amount of Rs 25,000.

The Alcazar 1.5 Turbo GDi comes with two transmission options: a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The engine produces 158 BHP @ 5,500 rpm and 253 Nm @ 1,500-3,500 rpm. The claimed fuel efficiency of the turbo-petrol unit is 18 km/l (7DCT) and 17.5 km/l (6MT).

The Alcazar is also offered with a 1.5-litre diesel engine that puts out 114 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm @ 1,500-2,750 rpm. However, the 2.0-litre petrol engine has been discontinued.

Hyundai rolled out the 2023 Alcazar with several updates earlier this month. The SUV gets 6 airbags, ESC, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Start Assist Control and disc brakes all around. It also comes with an Idle Start & Go function, which uses an integrated starter generator (ISG) to improve fuel economy in heavy traffic.

The fuel efficiency is on the lower side and have also faced a few niggles over the 1-month of ownership

BHPian hatlessgovi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took delivery of our Petrol AT Signature 6 seater last month. Absolutely loving it so far.

Our main criteria for a new car was size. My wife and I + two dogs in my Polo GT Tsi were getting quite cramped and almost impossible to do long trips with luggage and two furry babies.

What I like:

1. Feature packed: Although tech and electronics are not something I look for when buying a car, preferring old-school basic cars, Hyundai has packed the Alcazar to the gills with features. Coming from a tiny Polo, the 360 camera is excellent when parking in tight spots
2. Engine: Super refined. The torque converter box is a bit sluggish, but this can be dealt with by using manual mode and staying in the right rev band. Doesn't feel underpowered at all.
3. Space!: We took delivery of the car two days before we shifted house within the same city, and we were able to fit all our breakables in the rear with all seats down.

What I don't like:

1. The mileage is quite poor. Getting around 9-10 km/l in the city. During my office commute from DL to GGN, if I leave at a good time I get around 16 km/l (indicated)
2. The middle row could have had more space. I, 5'11" can't sit behind me in my seating position. But this is subjective as I hog space.

Issues faced:

• The wireless charger in the front wasn't working. It turned out the base had not been fitted properly and had fallen off under the centre console. Was fixed within minutes at the ASC.
• After a wash, the ESC light kept flashing on and on and the engine kept cutting. This solved itself after a few kilometres so perhaps waters hit one of the sensors.
• The middle-row AC went does not seem to be working. Has anyone else faced this? The "rear" button for the AC activates the third-row vents. Can't seem to get the middle row to blow any air.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The 2023 Creta and Alcazar get 6 airbags and updated RDE-compliant engines with Idle Start / Stop function.

Hyundai has announced the launch of the Creta and Alcazar for the 2023 model year. The updated SUVs now come with a host of active and passive safety features as standard.

The 2023 Creta and Alcazar get 6 airbags in total, including driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags. The SUVs are also equipped with ESC, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Start Assist Control and get disc brakes all around. Besides this, all variants of the Creta now come with a 60:40 split rear seat.

Hyundai has also updated its engine line-up with RDE-compliant powertrains. The Creta is offered with a choice of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines, while the Alcazar comes with 2.0-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options.

Hyundai claims that the updated powertrains are more eco-friendly and are E20 fuel ready. Additionally, the 2023 line-up gets the Idle Start & Go function, which uses an integrated starter generator (ISG) to improve fuel economy in heavy traffic.

Hyundai has also updated the Venue for the 2023 model year. Besides a revised features list, the compact SUV now comes with the same 1.5-litre diesel engine that powers the Creta.

Almost finalised on the Tata Safari but changed to the Alcazar SUV which wasn't even on the considerations list.

BHPian Thegreatone recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So what car is it?

Presenting my almost 2 months old Hyundai Alcazar (White Colour) Diesel Signature Edition-1.5 Diesel MT.

Hyundai Alcazar? Now? Are u okay? Diesel??

This is precisely what I got to hear from a close friend of mine when I told him-Bhai, book thai gayi (I have booked it)

The Big Question- WHY?

Frankly, Alcazar wasn’t even on my consideration list. I was driving Honda WRV - Diesel for the last 4.5 years (78K clocked on the ODO) in Surat.

Got transferred to Ahmedabad (my hometown) this year and we started facing space constraints in the back seat of my WRV whenever we went out locally with the entire family (4 adults + 1 kid) hence the need for 6 or 7-seater came up. We have another Hyundai Grand i10 which my dad drives so one option was to take both cars and avoid unnecessary spending in a new car since I did not have any issues in my WRV or 5-year-old Grand i10 as well. But then taking two cars would mean dad would have to drive long distances when we would go out on long road trips and fuel expenses for the additional car as well (My grand i10 gives max 12KMPL when driven with the highest love). Hence the final logical outcome was to buy a 6 or a 7 seater or a 5 seater bigger than WRV (i.e. Harrier / XUV 700 with 5 seater config).

Started with XL6, and almost went to finalize the top-end variant, but then my love for Diesel prevented me to give Maruti that booking amount cheque. Checked out Harrier and Safari, test-drove both, and was blown over by the performance. But steering and handling in the city felt difficult. Almost finalized Safari, with the sheer brand value the name carries, but then, took my mom to sit in the car, and she was not able to get in/out of both cars easily. So another criterion was identified, had to take into account my mother’s knees too. Went to see XUV 700, and this time before taking a test drive asked my mom to see if she is able to get in or come out easily. Same issue. Did not even take a test drive since there was no point in buying a new car with my family members not able to get in and out comfortably.

Finally thought to buy XL6, when my son suggested Carens which I frankly did not like due to its boxy looks (No offence to Carens owners since looks are subjective. I don’t like my Alcazar’s front looks either). My mom could easily sit in and get out of both cars so the first gate was cleared. Carens had an option of Diesel which cleared the second gate (XL6 –Sorry). Was considering the Top variant with all bells and whistles and almost bought it. Then my mom told me- "Ek vaar Hyundai ni jo ne koi 6 ke 7-seater aave che?" (See if there is a Hyundai with 6 or 7-seater available). She loves Hyundai. Then came Alcazar on the consideration list. Called for a test drive, and was arranged at home the very next day!! (This is why I like Hyundai). The signature variant automatic diesel was sent as a test drive vehicle. My mom checked the first gate, she invigilated it and Alcazar passed it with flying colours. Next was diesel or petrol choice. 2L NA petrol from Hyundai (I started calculating 'kitna deti hai' -My heart said to buy it, my brain said-No), test drove the diesel automatic, silent cabin and easier handling in the city roads felt good (I was anyways not going to buy automatic-I am still one of those who prefer Manual over automatics). Went to finalize the base variant which had almost what I wanted, but the car was in waiting (Yes, Alcazar diesel also had waiting). Told the dealer which variant he can arrange the fastest, and he convinced me to go for Signature, I convinced him to deliver in 4 days since I had my Diwali road trip to Ujjain and Indore planned in the new vehicle.

So from not being on the consideration list at all, I became an owner of Hyundai Alcazar in 10 days)

So how is it going?

Having driven it for about 3600 km, I can share the Good, Bad and the Ugly of it:

The Good

1. Easy to move in: In spite of the high GC (200 mm), you don’t feel you are sitting in a high-posture car; Which is why I don’t call it SUV; in fact, I do not even know what segment it comes into!! The Best part is my mother loves sitting on the Caption seats in the second row.
2. Interiors: Interiors feel Premium. Of course, you don’t expect cheap interiors from a car costing above 20L. My point is even though the car has hard plastics everywhere, the way Hyundai has assembled them with the black and brown combo, doesn’t ever make you feel like you are interacting with hard-touch plastics.
3. Gizmos: You get front ventilated seats, 360 camera, EPB and Auto Hold, Full Digital Display with MID, 10.25-inch touchscreen for ICE, Air purifier, Wireless Charger in the front row and middle row, Cooled Glove Box, Panoramic Sun Roof and the list goes on.
4. Engine and Gearbox: Ok, I will see eyebrows getting raised for this since the engine should have been considered the weakest part of this package. But considering it from my perspective where the majority of my driving is in the city, without driving fast and furious, the diesel mill has sufficient power and torque to suffice my daily city and occasional highway needs. The peak torque comes in the range of around 1800 -2000 RPM. I have driven the car with 6 normal average-sized adults and I did not feel any issue in pick-up while driving or overtaking on highways. The gearbox is very smooth, shifts are very easy, and gear ratios are created such that you can pass most of the time in 2 and 3rd gear in cities without much struggle. On highways when u need a punch to overtake and if you are in that torque band, you will be able to easily manage over takings.
5. Handling: As said earlier, you will NOT feel like you are driving an SUV or even a Big car. I had no real issues adjusting to this car coming from my WRV. The Alcazar handles like a cross-over in the city, and frankly, this is very big advantage. On Highways at speeds above 100 you do feel body roll while trying to maneuver it here and there since I feel the steering feedback on highways is not like that in the city. Overall, you won’t be disappointed.
6. Not so famous: So I had a WR-V which was in no way a best seller, I have an Alcazar now which might not be regarded as a best seller for Hyundai as well. I do see many Alcazar’s on the road, but lesser than Harrier’s and Safari’s XUV’s; In-fact lesser than Carens also. Also of the lesser Alcazar’s, Signature edition cars are even less. But then, when I went to buy Amaze (1st dull edition), I was advised against it. When I went to buy WR-V, again most of my friends advised against it, When I finalized Alcazar, again I was advised against it. So, as I have spent pretty 5.5 years with my previous love WR-V, I intend to continue the trend with my current love Alcazar also.
7. Brand Image and Dealership Experience (Peace of Mind): I have been a Hyundai user since the Hyundai i10 was first launched and currently I also have a Grand i10 as a secondary car as said earlier. If I have to judge the best sales and service experience so far, it has to be of Hyundai. I have been fortunate enough not to have encountered any sales and service issues so far (Hope it continues that way), be it Nissan, Honda, Ford and even Maruti (I have had Nissan Micra, Maruti 800, Wagon R, Ford Figo before). But from the best, I rate the overall Sales and service Experience slightly even better for Hyundai. The customer satisfaction experience from the dealership as well as the company is at a different level.
8. Mileage: Am getting around 17 km/l in city drives and around 20 on highways when driven without much fuss.

The Bad

1. Product Image: While the overall package is different from Creta, the uncanny similarities it has with its 5-seater sibling don’t really help it to gain the recognition that it actually as a product deserves.
2. Segment Confusion: With its engine option and price range, in my opinion, there is no segment in which it competes. It is way costlier than typical MUV’s-XL 6 and Carens, if I take a diesel power train only, with the 1.5 Ltr diesel engine, it cannot be compared with Safari and XUV 700 or even the Innova since they are way more powerful. If we talk about pricing, it is a sandwich between Harrier, Safari and XUV 700 with the top end of Alcazar comparable to AX5 or XT of XUV700 and Safari in approx. price ranges.
3. Safety Concerns: The Elephant in the room. This factor now has serious weightage in the entire car buying process. So, with the Creta scoring merely 3 stars and with Hyundai India becoming in-famous for giving not-so-safe cars to us, this was surely a risk. The doors feel heavier, somehow, I felt heavier than Creta so I am having guess that Alcazar’s structural stability might be better. I frankly will not be able to compare it to XUV 700 since I haven’t test-driven it. But you can consider me stupid when I say this- The doors of Safari and Harrier felt had the same weight as those of the Alcazar. It is a risk I have taken but with the safety equipment, it is offering. (6 airbags, TPMS, VSM etc)

The Ugly

• Now there are some evident in-your-face features not available in this costly car which really pains me. They are-
• No Auto down / Auto up for all 4 four power windows (Present Only for Driver)
• No illumination in the power window switches in the driver-side door console (except the Driver side)
• No aero twin wiper blades (Yuck)
• No touch sensor on the passenger side for the door open/close (even more Yuck)
• Manually adjustable co-passenger front-row seat (my wife does not like travelling with me now)
• No door-open lamps (Love the door lamps in Harrier)
• No adaptive cruise control
• No lights in the glovebox
• No Illuminated sun visors
• No rain-sensing wipers
• Lower-sized spare wheel

Issues and Concerns

1. Haven't really come across issues as such but have observed certain things here and there which am mentioning below-
2. Squeaky centre console
3. Blue Link connectivity (in the era of 5G Blue link connectivity sometimes is 1G)
4. High beam not too strong (Uninspiring to drive at night)

Conclusion

For a family of four adults with 1 or 2 kids, who want a car more than a 5 seater, and for people who have a driving ratio of 70: 30 (70% City, 30% Highway), this can be a considerable option.

Cheers!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I intend to keep the vehicle for the medium to long term, and a reliable brand with a proven track record was an essential factor.

BHPian Haldian recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I was on the lookout for a 6/7-seater with a budget of ₹20 lakhs and had initially booked Alcazar Titan Grey 7 STR Diesel Manual with an expected wait time of 3 – 4 weeks. Hyundai dealer identified my booking first in line for allocation for the given variant and colour choice. Here I am sharing the story as it unfolded. It’s a long read so coffee in the hand is highly suggested. Alternatively, one can skip the sections with a trip down memory lane.

Review Index:

My Previous cars

• Hyundai Getz CRDi Dynasty Red
• Maruti Ertiga 1.3 DDiS ZDI Anniversary edition Granite Grey
• Honda Jazz V-CVT Carnelian Red Pearl

Here comes the Alcazar

• Booking experience and Variant re-evaluation
• Buying experience
• Ceramic Coating and PPF
• My first glitch

Parting note

My Previous cars

Reminiscing on past wheels in the family that I had an opportunity to drive. We were a joint tribe, and I was more of a younger one amongst many. Family business required having a mix of vehicles and I ended up riding/driving a lot of them including my fair share of non-conventional ones. Like long nose truck or even a tractor. From viewpoint of family wheels to travel from point A to point B over the years, it was the usual Fiat / Ambassador to Maruti 800 / Zen / Santro / Matiz saga. Throw in a family-owned 4x4 Jeep (Later Mahindra) or an odd Yamaha 350 / Rajdoot / Yezdi / Bullet / Vijay Super / Chetak / Kinetic Honda - followed by Kawasaki/Yamaha RX 100 /Honda CBZ / Activa bikes and that completes the picture with credit to two-wheel variety.

Come 1996 and there was the then-biggest Indian Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Having an avid interest in cars, I was there for the whole 3 days. It was a dream come true with car manufacturers across the globe scrambling for their pie in the Indian market, distributing auto goodies to visitors. I have not heard of brands like Maserati, but their shiny car brochures were drool-worthy and collector’s items. By the next auto expo in 1998, we got to see various 1st generation new car launches like Matiz, and Santro amongst many others including Volvo buses and the like.

Fast forward to the end of 2007 and I was now working for an MNC. Got the opportunity to travel to the UK for 6 months and extensively drove Hyundai Getz in and around Acocks Green – Solihull - Birmingham Business Park region, with a few trips downtown to Bullring and Canal. My UK counterpart, the owner of the car, was happy to let me drive his car. On our way to the office, we used to pass the Solihull JLR plant and hope to see it one day. The fact that Tata will soon be the owner (or it already was) makes us proud Indians.

Hyundai Getz CRDi Dynasty Red

So, when I saw billboards in early 2008 about this car being launched in India – I booked it immediately and was handed over one of the first few Getz CRDi gems Hyundai churned out. Earlier cars were allegedly CKDs, and it took a couple of months for Hyundai to have major localization in place.

After breaking into the car for about a couple of months, I could wait no longer and had my first long drive to Noida – Mussoorie. Then it all began, and I did multiple legs like Noida – Manali – Rohtang, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital - Ranikhet, Binsar, Jaipur etc.

Getz's space and road mannerisms were great. Engine with a meaty torque and power band was always rearing to explode. A step on the pedal will push the car menacingly and as a driver, one is suddenly aware of the need to keep the car in line. Things start moving so fast!

That brings me to a very big miss from Hyundai on that car – No ESC, EBD, ABS or passenger airbag, nothing, nada. Needless to say, I switched to wider tyres, and soft rubber to do what I can do about it. The car used to make short of steep inclines on the mountains and we suddenly started saving an hour (or two) for short 6 hours drives without much effort.

3M Ceramic Coating: I also got 3M ceramic coating and nice alloys which added to the visual appeal of the car. The engine was mostly silent and when driven with a light right foot, bliss for munching early start miles / late night drives when the family is partially having some Zzzzs.

Maruti Ertiga 1.3 DDiS ZDI Anniversary edition Granite Grey

After many souls filling drives on mountains and plains, I parted with Getz in around 5 years, as family + extended family growth necessitated a 6–7 seater. I exchanged Getz with Ertiga 1.3 DDiS with VGT in 2013. Although some engines such as Swift, the VGT and low 2nd gear plus a high 3 gear ratio, gave a different character to Ertiga’s performance.

I also transferred my insurance NCB to Ertiga and used the saved money for door visors and tyres exchange. The anniversary edition cosmetics added a certain flair (both internally and externally) and Ertiga turned out to be quite a looker on the dark grey colour with these additions. Strictly for home-to-office runs, I chose a company-owned Nissan Micra. Both these cars served their purpose well. On a few occasions of self-drive to the office on the Noida - Greater Noida Expressway, I would easily milk 21-22 Kmpl.

Shod Ertiga with Michelin XM2’s and started with a sedate Noida – Kausani – Mukteshwar trip. Ertiga delivered a balanced mixture of comfort, fuel economy and ease of drive suitable to a family. There was no hoopla, and its 3rd row was an instant hit with my kids. My son and daughter will come to like the 3rd row for 90% of the drives that followed.

Work demanded I move to Bengaluru. I was unsure if the move is short-term or long-term at the time. Those were the days when non-KA registered car owners were in constant fear of being flagged down for lifetime road tax plus penalty.

Once I was convinced that my move is reasonably medium-term, I moved my family and invested a handsome amount in the re-registration of Ertiga with Karnataka RTO. The entire process took 4-5 months (end to end with KA number) and finally I was able to drive freely. I had to sacrifice road tax paid to Ghaziabad RTO as there no-one was aware to the concept of a refund!

Ertiga saw a few drives from Whitefield to Ooty, Coonoor & Coorg. Since I then started driving Ertiga for occasional office runs as well, it felt weird initially to drive it solo due to the MPV effect. Gradually I got accustomed to it.

Here are some stats from the lifetime running of Ertiga with yours truly

Due to a 2-wheeler skid incident, my left knee was impacted and post recovery, I was instructed by Doc to let go of the Manual transmission and adopt an automatic for the near term. So an unplanned need arose for a car with city driving dynamics and big on space within a tight budget. This was due to the fact that I did not want to avail loan and the car was supposedly a city car with occasional weekend-long trips. This was while we aimed to purchase a 6–7-seater later when I can possibly go for a manual box again. I needed an immediate delivery so I can resume work post 3 months gap. After deliberating and dropping polo (fun to drive but low on space for my requirement), finalized Honda Jazz CVT Petrol.

Honda Jazz V-CVT Carnelian Red Pearl

I sold off Ertiga with Cars-24 and same day picked up Honda Jazz CVT. I was in crutches to support the left foot and took the service of a DriveU driver to drop the car off at CARS 24 Whitefield. I walked 200 meters to the Whitefield Honda showroom as Jazz, along with all papers and number plate etc., was ready for delivery. The car was delivered with Bridgestone S320 and I did not feel the need for a change this time. Jazz in Carnelian Red Pearl colour looks striking. Its bulletproof reliability could be referred from the fact that even after 2-3 weeks of my overseas tours, it will always start in half a rotation from the shelf. The music system, while adequate on sound, was a big compromise for LCD clarity on the reverse camera, and patchy Bluetooth connectivity if more than one phone is paired to it. The paint was not hard enough and easily scratched with fingernails near door handles. Driving dynamics were completely different not only from oil burners but also from other snappy petrol cars. CVT needs a bit of learning and adaptability – and once there, the refined I-VTEC engine is right up your alley. Driven carefully, one could extract 15-16 Kmpl on long drives. Sports mode comes in quite handy for overtaking manoeuvres or bumper-to-bumper traffic where one wants to set their own quasi-gear using paddle shifters. The car is roomy and has good seating, cabin, and boot space. Suspension is quite sorted, and I have seen ABS being quite liberally used in rough surface braking scenarios. AC could have been better. A noisy blower makes the automatic climate control experience not so great, but maybe I am just nit-picking. Jazz is overall a well-rounded practical car for not only daily city runs, but also long drives. I did a Malpe to Bengaluru 450 Kms run and seat support is fantastic in the front as well as in the rear. There is good under-thigh support in the rear seat. I did quite a few runs with it to Yercaud, Yelagiri, Chikmagalur, and Coorg. On the highway, one will be fine till around the 90-100 Kmph mark. After this, the engine feels lethargic, which might be due to CVT characteristics – but then, it’s not made for speeds in excess of the 90-100 range.

I will let a couple of pics do the talking.

Here are some stats from lifetime running of Jazz with yours truly

Come 2020 Dec, we were all wary of being locked down. It was time to meet family and my favourite mountains were also calling me. So, we flew to my elder sister's place and spend some quality time with family. Thereafter, I picked up my nephew's Vento diesel automatic for a drive to Bhimtal and Nainital and back to Jaipur. The car was well-maintained and joy to drive. This was easily a 1500 Kms near-about trip and never did feel any fatigue. On reaching Haldwani, my brother needed me to take his Toyota Corolla (D) for easy entry to Bhimtal and Nainital due to the local registration number. This was also a very well-maintained vehicle. I had fun driving both of these cars - proving my preference for diesel engines once again.

Here comes the Alcazar

I was on the lookout for a 6/7-seater diesel manual family SUV with a budget of ₹20 lakhs.

Cars considered:

1. Maruti Ertiga / XL6 / Kia Carens: Previous to my current car, I had Ertiga and we were looking for a change from MPV looks – so decided against these choices. I personally don’t like Carens front facia.
2. Tata Safari: This is the car that pulls the strings of my heart (or Hexa, if it was still available), but reliability/service issues pushed me out of it.
3. XUV700: Did not consider due to the long waiting time and also that it's in its first avatar as of now. I would usually wait for a refresh (or two) before finalizing a vehicle to allow the manufacturer to create issues.
4. Finally, I booked Alcazar, Titan Grey, and 7 STR Diesel Manual with an expected wait time of 3 – 4 weeks. Hyundai dealer identified my booking first in line for allocation for the given variant and colour choice. Here are some requirements fulfilled by Alcazar

Likes:

1. Diesel engine - intend to own a Diesel again before it becomes extinct in small engine space. The pull characteristic in the meaty torque band of a Diesel mill is quite addictive, and I kept missing it during the last 4+ years of driving petrol. Alcazar’s 1.5 CRDI engine is quite robust and used across various vehicles in a different states of tune. Having a VGT helps its small size in extracting a reasonable performance while delivering efficiency.
2. Manual – manuals are going out of favour by the masses – but the driving engagement and fun factor one can extract from manuals – could not be matched by automatics IMHO. This is much more applicable to small oil burners as automatics can make a reasonably powered one look lethargic or noisy or both. Moreover, Alcazar’s soft clutch (based on 3 test drives of different vehicles with different odometer readings - all with the same conclusion) provides easy drivability in city driving conditions. Also, my son recently learned driving and IMHO the first connection between Man and Machine must be on a Manual. Moreover, my son reflected the same view and we zeroed in on a manual drive.
3. Manoeuvrability – Being the only/single vehicle in my parking lot, the vehicle had still got to be city-friendly, while providing better creature comforts on the inside. While MPVs also fit this requirement, this time around - my eyes were set on monocoque SUV space for looks of mild SUV and car-like drivability.
4. I intend to keep the vehicle for the medium to long term, and a reliable brand with a proven track record was an essential factor. Having proven its mettle as a market leader with its smaller sibling - made Alcazar a no-brainer in this department.
5. I also had a wish for mostly mechanical vehicles, whereas today, we see increased usage of electronics interfering with driving dynamics and the feel of the vehicle. Though later, I had to reconsider and accept the usefulness and practicality of some new-age features. Also, that no vehicle is now truly mechanical since ECUs found their way into hoods. I can only hope there is no one around the corner with an EMP device or wireless hack !!
6. Safety features - ESP, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, all-wheel disc brakes, etc. make this a capable vehicle
7. Security - While earlier I finalized the 7 STR Prestige Executive variant, I was still on the fence about it having 2 Airbags. Upgraded to 6 STR Executive variants with 6 Airbags for peace of mind. (This contributed 50% to the decision to upgrade the variant)
8. Comfortable seats – Ours is a family of 3 adults and a teenager. But we do need the option of 2 more seats for small city runs while having extended family visiting us. 7 STR Alcazar is strictly 4 adults with perhaps 1 kid in the second row, and two kids (only) in the 3rd row - when driven with full passenger capacity. However, 6 STR can actually seat 6 adults for small city runs as the break in the back of the 2nd row, provides additional knee-room for 3rd-row passengers. With careful planning of the 2nd-row gap (thanks to good fore and aft movement of 2nd-row seats), it is possible to ferry 6 adults in this manner. My daughter’s preference of being a 3rd-row passenger (having previously experienced in our Ertiga) enlightened me on this fact while checking out the 6 STR – even though the purpose of the showroom visit at this instance was to review a different colour for 7 STR. (6 STR offered by Hyundai in base variant – but no availability in sight. Contribution of 30% towards upgrade decision to Signature variant).
9. Features - Panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, Rear and Front parking camera + sensors, Ventilated seats etc. – are some features that one can’t undo once seen and experienced. While these can easily be marked a luxury, these become a necessity in no time at all. (Contribution of remaining 20% towards upgrade decision to Signature variant).

Had to get my hands on it ASAP (once decided, the itch doesn’t go away)

Though there are some moans on what could have been better, Alcazar is the most all-rounded offering in its price bracket per my requirements.

Dislikes:

1. Frequent gear change from 2nd to 1st. If speed drops below 10 km/h, even though the car is in motion, 1st gear needs to be engaged for pick-up. This wasn't the case on Ertiga and other vehicles I had driven earlier. In fact, I’ve never had to think about using 1st gear unless moving a vehicle from a standstill. I will still have to get my head around that one. Downshifting from 2nd to 1st in a moving car is also a completely new concept for me.
2. Poor headlights and their throw. While white lights are inadequate in the glare of all-around traffic, their coverage is narrow and just in front. Turns on unlit streets are purely based on instincts or owl vision.
3. While the clutch pedal is soft, travel is deep – moreover, the bite point takes some time to get used to.
4. The rear of the car gets soiled very easily. A few Kms drive in wet conditions will ensure a good amount of Sunday time cleaning it up.

Some small observations:

The ‘Auto Hold’ feature gets engaged only when opted via the push of the button AND pressing the brake pedal a little hard when planning to stop before the next movement.

Once used, the 360 views are constantly missed. Especially at junctions where people are coming close to 2 inches on the side, and one is kept wondering about their safety. Oh, what I will give for it to turn automatically on, for a choice of view, while decelerating from x km/h to x km/h. This is where opting for the 'Signature' variant came in handy. Due to front parking sensors, one has a fair idea of space aft of the bonnet.

My first experience with 120 Kmph constant irritating alert. Though I am not revving hard yet, I was on a particular overtaking manoeuvre when I needed speed to safely come out ahead. Will have to learn to bow down and come back within the limits enforced.

I lived in constant fear of pulling up the EPB and did not utilise Auto hold until the correct switch became a habit of muscle memory - after constantly looking down at the switch for reaffirmation before using it. (see image below)

Side view on the main console while changing lanes or turning is a quick glance stolen - and I keep forgetting that. So it's there, but I don’t get to use it too often. Don’t want to take my eyes off the glass.

After driving a hatch, body roll is taking some time to get accustomed to.

The full flooring mat from Hyundai / Mobis interferes with the fore and aft movement of the front seats as the wiring and pipe harnessed to the seat for motor and air circulation, are restricted for movement. IMO the accessory must have a pipelined cut, in the region to allow that free movement. I intend to get this manually fixed during the first service.

Continue reading BHPian Haldian's ownership review for more insights and information.

The fuel efficiency during the latest 2,500 km trip averaged around 16 km/l.

BHPian callmeneo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed another long trip - Hubli to Itarsi and back.

24xx kms in total.

Got the 2nd service before leaving on this trip.

The SA was curious about what I do for a living when he realised that the 2nd service came in within 2.5 months of ownership.

The fuel efficiency while going was 15.6 km/l and while returning was 16.5 km/l.

The suspension behaves much more maturely if you have some load in the last row and boot.

The rear mudguards are useless. The entire rear overhang catches a lot of muck because of the poorly designed mudguards.

The headlights are still a huge pain in the rain and on unlit highways.

Passed the Samruddhi Mahamarg couple of times but did not use it.

Had some really bad roads after crossing into MP until Itarsi.

MP is a different ball game when it comes to roads, they are lagging by at least 5 years compared to South and West India in terms of roads to Tier 2 cities.

The below one was clicked somewhere on the border between Maharashtra and MP.

Odo - 12,9xx at the end of 2.5 months of ownership.

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Its usage has been a good 50-50 mix of city and highway runs.

BHPian Naetik30 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It has been 8 months and 15,000 km up on my Alcazar D AT 6 seater. I am happy with my decision to go with the Alcazar.

Some important updates:

1. It has been almost 50-50 between the city and highway usage for 15,000 km. The city is our pothole-ridden Bangalore roads (Bannerghatta road to Whitefield as the daily drive crossing Silkboard, ORR and Marathahalli - so you get the feel).

2. The overall mileage has been 12.5 km/l as per the tankful method using the Fuelio app. The dash shows at least 2 km/l extra.

3. The highest mileage was in my recent BLR-Kumbakonam trip. It returned an amazing, 20+ km/l, as the roads were almost empty and I stuck to about 100-110 km/h for most of the 7-hour trip.

4. The inbuilt TPMS was finally put to good use. I started at 7.30 am from home for my solo trip to Kumbakonam. As soon as I got out of the gate, I somehow had a feeling to check the TPMS. Not sure why I got the feeling though. Lo and behold I saw the front left tyre showed low pressure. But there was no warning for this on the dash. Not sure why. Went straight to a puncture shop and there was a small screw sticking out. Was fixed within a minute and I was on my way.

5. In November at about 13,900 km on the ODO, I was driving back home from work. As I crossed Silkboard, I noticed the warning - "Diesel filter regeneration required" on the dash. This was the first time I had faced this. It was also surprising as I had done a 400 km highway run about 3 days back. But anyways, I drove home (about 7kms away) and did not face any loss of power.

As soon as I reached the parking, referred to the manual and followed the steps to start regeneration:

• Opened up the hood.
• Switched on rear defogger.
• Turned AC on at full speed/blower.
• Then rolled down the windows
• Used the options button on the steering wheel to switch on the regeneration. As soon as I did this, the engine rpm went to 2000rpm and stayed there, and a count timer for about 27 minutes showed up on the screen.
• The regeneration was completed in about 24 minutes and the rpm came back to normal with a message on the screen that the regeneration was successful.
• I have driven 1000+ km since then and seems good.

Some niggles:

1. The wiper which was super silent has turned into a screeching machine. It makes so much noise that my son closes his ears every time it is on. Need to get this checked.
2. The outer plastic cladding on the hatch door and the boot lock system makes some noise on uneven bad roads. Nothing major. But in a silent cabin, it does cause some irritation.
3. I feel the overhang of the Alcazar should have been a little longer for a specific reason. When it rains the tyres throw out so much muck on the back hatch, that it gets dirty as hell so very quickly. If driving in the rain, it will be a pain.

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The fuel efficiency indicator on the cluster has a positive error of ~2.8 to 3 km/l when compared to tankful-to-tankful calculations.

BHPian callmeneo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Came back after a 3500 km trip through Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Had been to the border posts at Nadabet (Gujarat) and Tanot (Rajasthan) to see the neighbours on Diwali.

The Diesel engine just pulls and pulls and reaches triple-digit speeds easily.

The economy was however a bit low to my expectations considering I was driving alone and was mostly cruising at 100 to 120 km/h.

Filled 4 tank fulls and got an average of 17.1, 17.5, 16.9 and 17.6.

And each time the mileage indicator on the cluster has a positive error of ~2.8 to 3 km/l when compared to tankful-to-tankful calculations.

The best mileage was achieved with diesel filled in from Reliance BP bunks.

Using cruise control hurts the mileage if the terrain isn't flat. Because the cruise control system downshifts and accelerates rapidly to achieve or maintain the set speed. It is really really aggressive as if it has time to keep.

The Dark knight looks gorgeous and has a cool gangster vibe to it at night. People do give a second look at petrol bunks. Guess they are not aware of this model from Hyundai. Some even walked over, peeked in and asked a couple of questions about the car.

Many were impressed by the all-digital instrument cluster and the theatrics it does when it switches the drive modes.

I feel the quality of plastics, switches, and dashboard layout is leagues ahead of the XUV700 (which I had in the comparison list). Keeping the belief that Hyundai does make /have the best quality plastics/dashboard out there.

The 360-degree did prove its mettle when I entered Pathan (Gujarat) and all the roads were choked. While other SUVs struggled to get through the lanes and were leaving huge gaps with pavements, I could easily reduce the gaps by looking at the 360-degree camera feedback on the screen and moving on.

The brakes are good for 1 or 2 passengers but I believe they could have been better. I believe the Apollo also plays a part in the stopping power.

The drive modes do make a difference in the way the vehicle accelerates too.

The auto hold feature is a boon in stop-and-go traffic. If the wait is too long then I also switch to Neutral while the auto hold is still on. One does not need to press the gear shift lock when switching between Drive and Neutral so it's easier though it's a danger too because I once accidentally switched it to neutral when I was coasting at 20km/h.

Odo stands at 75xx at the end of 25 days of ownership.

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Before purchasing my current SUV, I also had shortlisted the Hector Plus, Tata Safari, Jeep Compass & the Mahindra XUV700.

BHPian sauravkumar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After driving over 6K KM across several South Indian states, I feel comfortable sharing my experience with Hyundai Alcazar Signature Petrol Automatic (DT).

On October 15th, I started my road trip across South India with my three-month-old Alcazar. My first break was in Adiyogi, Booluvampatti, Tamil Nadu. At a distance of around 400 km from Home (BLR).

After taking some shots at Adiyogi, I started for Munnar. A distance of approx. 200 km through narrow hilly terrains.

So far I have encountered steep hill climbs and very narrow roads with both-way traffic. This made me realize if I didn't have a car with 360 view camera and perfect dimensions I would have taken much longer on the route. Alcazar's dimensions are not only perfect for narrow hilly roads but also great for heavy traffic city lanes with stop-and-go traffic.

Before selecting Alcazar - I drove Hector Plus, Safari, Jeep Compass, and XUV700.

What made me select Alcazar?

Perfect finish of every feature, just the right dimensions for all common conditions in India, lack of panel gaps, near-perfect interiors, and a tried and tested petrol engine. One of the key factors for selecting a Hyundai product has also been its reliable and vast service network.

After a couple of days exploring Munnar, I started driving toward Varkala. A distance of approx 250KM. Again encountered some of the narrowest roads with traffic. However, driving was a pleasure on flawless Kerala roads with perfect road markings. Also, one could notice that most drivers in Kerela followed traffic rules and exhibit great driving sense.

In Varkala, after a pleasant stay and a visit to the Jatayu Earth Center, I started driving toward Kanyakumari. A distance of approx. 150KM. I drove throw non-NH routes, as post-Trivendrum, the NH-66 was mostly under construction. The state roads were in good condition.

After a couple of days exploring Kanyakumari, I started driving toward Rameswaram. A distance of approx. 210 KM. The drive was scenic and it was mostly NH, so proper 4 lanes highway.

So far on the trip, I encountered a mix of heavy rains and extreme sun. I found Alcazar to be very comfortable to drive in all conditions. During heavy rains the wipers did the job well, in the burning sun the AC and ventilated seats made the journey a pleasant experience.

In Rameshwaram, the view at Dhanushkodi was simply breathtaking.

After a pleasant stay at Rameswaram, I started toward Pondicherry. A distance of approx 450 KM. Mostly 4 lanes highways made it easier to cover the distance. Driving in Pondicherry is not so fun during heavy traffic hours, as bikers are all over the place. However, Alcazar's front sensors made it easier to negotiate poorly managed traffic.

After a couple of days exploring Pondicherry, I started driving toward Kodaikanal. A distance of approx 410 km. The route is a mix of 4/2 lane highways and narrow single lane 2-way traffic hilly roads. Here, the auto-hold feature helped a lot as the traffic near Kodaikanal is not managed and one could find bikes and cars parked all over the place, even in the middle of the highway.

Driving in Kodaikanal was not as painful, as most roads are dedicated to one-way traffic only. However, the lanes are very narrow and one often had to reverse due to poorly managed traffic. Here 360 view camera came to the rescue, as one would often find the car near the edges of the road.

After a couple of days exploring Kodaikanal, it was time to head back home. A distance of approx. 460 km. After descending from the hills, it's all 4 lanes of NH44, one of the well-maintained highways in the country. Hence, I reached home in just 7 hours.

Here are some of the questions one could ask:

1. Would I have taken any other car in the same segment and price range? No, it wouldn't have survived the poorly managed traffic and extremely narrow highly roads.
2. What could be improved about Alcazar? From this travel, I couldn't identity anything that needs to be changed/improved. However, I would prefer to upgrade my tires from Apollo to Bridgestone. I have used Bridgestone for my other cars and I have more confidence in their tires than Apollo.
3. Did the car struggle on any of the roads? No. Although for the Munnar hotel, the climb was very steep on a narrow path and the road was muddy, using mud traction control, one could easily negotiate any climb.
4. What are some of the accessories and maintenance utils? does my car carry it? A dashcam - 70MAI: it has both, front and rear cameras - a must-have for Indian driving conditions and legal systems. A tire inflator - Michellin. A couple of microfiber cloths and a dashboard cleaner. Distilled water, in case the coolant level drops significantly. Wiper fluid mixed with distilled water. A toolkit set and a vacuum cleaner.

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