Out of 1776 kms, completed multiple highway round trips of 360kms each, totaling 1080 kms to my hometown. Got 18.3-18.6kmpl mileage while going and around 16-17kmpl while returning

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Driving Experience:

1. Out of 1776 kms, completed multiple highway round trips of 360kms each, totaling 1080 kms to my hometown. Got 18.3-18.6kmpl mileage while going and around 16-17kmpl while returning. Speed was between 85-95kmph, mostly on cruise control. While going I was alone in car, AC continuously running at 22 degrees and small suitcase. While returning, my father was with me, AC continuously running between 22-23 degrees, including rear AC and 3rd row was down to create space for lots of luggage.
2. In city, where I live and does short drive of 10km every week for groceries, I get around 10kmpl.
3. Current average mileage since the date of purchase is around 12.7 kmpl. The average mileage does not increase a lot even if the running mileage hovers at 18kmpl for highway trips. Looks like Hyundai has tuned the software like this. I have tried a lot to increase average mileage but max it could reach was 12.9kmpl.
4. Pickup in 2nd gear still plays tricks with me. On downshifting from 3rd gear, the car crawls in 2nd gear till the time clutch is not pressed but if I press it once and the car goes below 10 kmph and 900 rpm, it jerks. So, to keep it moving either I drop down to 1st gear or accelerate hard to get into rev range. As per my experience, these are the gear ratios:

I am yet to fully adapt to this turbo engine tuning and have to be heavy on accelerator to keep the car moving in traffic or downshift to 1st to prevent stalling. Still, I would say, my Duster had better gear ratios and it was easy driving in 2nd gear with no need to downshift to 1st gear unless car comes to halt.

• Car upshift indicator on console is very aggressive and even if I reach 1500-1600rpm at certain speed, car notifies to upshift. I try to be as close as possible to have good shifting and rather than relying on upshift indicator, I also rely on engine sound.
• Car does have downshift indicator. Yes, I know I mentioned in my first review that this does not have compared to my Duster but it's not completely true. In my recent drive, I saw downshift indicator displaying down arrow with 4 when I was in 5th gear. I tried to reduce the speed and rpm to 30kmph and 1000rpm in 4th gear, but did not get a downshift indicator for 3rd gear. I tried to go even to single digit speed and <1000rpm in 3rd gear but did not get any downshift indicator for 2nd gear. Twice I got only for 4th gear downshift. So, upshift indicator is aggressive but downshift indicator is not aggressive and not available for any other gear (atleast I did not get it). Could not get any pic as I was driving and did not want to compromise safety. Don't know the reason for such weirdness by Hyundai in providing downshift indicator only from 5th to 4th gear and not for any other gear. If anyone else is able to get the downshift indicator for other gears in new Alcazar Manual or new Creta Manual, please let me know and I will try to recreate the scenario.

Windshield Crack:

So, I was going to my hometown early March and was doing around 90kmph. I was on extreme right, in overtake lane on highway near Pilakhuwa. Suddenly heard a loud bang. Thought my sunroof glass broke, looked up (sunroof curtain was open) but could not see anything and since I was on highway and doing high speed, did not stop. After half an hour or so, I saw crack in front of me on windshield coming from right hand side. Stopped for a tea break after Garhmukteshwar and to my horror, it was a major chip to the extreme right, just adjacent to black dots (frits). It was not directly in my sight, so I drove down cautiously to home and parked the car outside for the night. Next day, could not check the car due to work and it was under direct sunlight. When I checked it the following day, the crack got extended and now it was directly in front of my eyes. As the outside temperatures were quite high during the day, I kept the windows rolled down a bit to manage cabin temperature and to let the hot air escape. Once I got back to Indirapuram, started search for reliable windshield change.

1. Called Hyundai Capital, Noida and they asked for car to be left for 4 days atleast, if I go for insurance, had to pay around INR 1800 for admin fee and rest will be taken care off.
2. Called Windshield Experts and they connected me to their Vaishali, Ghaziabad branch. The person quoted around INR 1600 for admin fee and around 4 hours job which included approval time of 2-3 hours from ICICI Lombard and rest is glass change time. Glass is AIS and Without insurance, if they show in bill, glass is for Creta, cost is INR 8500 else for Alcazar, cost is INR 9200. The reason for this is engine size. As per their procedure, Creta's engine is less than 1500cc whereas Alcazar's is greater than 1500cc. Actually, windshield glass size is exactly same for both cars. Also, turbo engines are same for both the cars. Could not understand the reason for discrepancy.
3. Went to my trusted FNG with whom I used to get my Duster checked for minor fixes. Rais bhai is a genuine person and since I am visiting him from 2012, I had full trust on him. I told him the problem and he suggested me Windshield Hotspot in Vaishali, Ghaziabad.

On 15th March afternoon, I went to both Windshield Experts and Windshield Hotspot. Windshield Experts had a good shop and the person there was quite knowledgeable. He told me that while taking out glass from car, especially in Creta and Alcazar, the left and right side panels are plastic which covers the end and have plastic clips to securely hold them. They don't take responsibility for those plastic panels and there are chances that they might crack and each cost INR 2500. So, there is a risk. Also, he told that glass change cost would be INR 8500 as they can show it Creta.
I left their shop and went to Windshield Hotspot. Met Mr Shobhit and whatever knowledge I got prior, asked all questions. Shobhit ji was very kind to give more than an hour explaining me everything and assured me that they have changed windshield in hundreds of Cretas and till date no plastic panel got broken. Mr Shobhit had automobile background and was Service Engineer/ Manager at Honda, Vaishali in past before deciding on opening this shop. I was very relieved and as Rais bhai recommended him, decided to go with them. They deal in Saint Gobain glasses and are authorised franchise. They use Urathen Norton as adhesive instead of Silicon bond as recommended by Sait Gobain.Final price quoted was INR 6475. Booked an appointment of 11am for next day.
Next day, I was there sharp on time and was attended by Mr Shobhit's father. He is a humble man from Kerala and we had great discussion. Meanwhile, Santosh, the person who replaced the glass, arrived and started the process. Mr Shobhit brought the new glass from their warehouse. They both first removed the side plastic panels very carefully but still one plastic clip at the bottom on left side panel broke. The panels though were perfectly out. Santosh then used a tool to run it all along the sides of glass to break/cut the original adhesive. Shobhit removed the IRVM connector for Day/Night shift and Bluelink features from windshield. They both cautiously removed the old glass. Car was covered from inside using large cloth to prevent any glass or debris spillage. Once the glass was removed, Santosh vacuumed the dashboard to make sure nothing is there. He removed any extra adhesive bond from body panels. He then prepped the new glass and applied Urathen all around. MRP of one tube Urathen is INR 1500 aprox. In my view, they applied almost 60-70% of the tube. The compound is quite thick and the gun required lot of pressure. Finally, using vacuum cups, they both lifted the glass. There are two holes on the top left and right corners of car where two small knob like pieces from glass inserts. This makes sure that glass is in perfect spot. After fitting the glass, they pressed it lightly from outside all around. Santosh meanwhile, used hot gun to remove HSRP and Pollution stickers from old glass and afixed them on new glass. After waiting for around 45 mins to an hour, Mr Shobhit shot an ownership experience video of mine. He suggested to drive slowly, preventing jerks as much as possible and once at home leave the car for 4 hours to let the glass settle down completely. Followed his advice and left the car in basement parking for the whole night.
Drove the car next day and could not hear any sound of air seeping inside cabin. have not done water test but I am 100% sure there will be no challenge. In all, I am very much satisfied with the quality of workmanship, neat and clean work area and very courteous owner. Would recommend others, if they want to change the windshield, try them.

12V Battery issue:

While going to Aligarh on 18th March, got call from Capital Hyundai that technicians have arrived from factory and would want to check the car. Since, I was not available so told Ms Simran that I will contact them once I am back. So, called them again on 29th March asking whether the software update has arrived and Ms Simran confirmed the same. Booked an appointment for today, 30th March and went there. Mr Pawan, GM Service was personally looking in the matter as earlier I wrote an email to Hyundai. He assigned a technician and the whole process is as follows:

1. He connected the diagnostic tool to OBD port and using Hyundai Software in tablet collected current details of ECU and Battery.
2. The software did not give correct details so he then disconnected the -ve terminal of battery and waited for approx 5mins before reconnecting it.
3. Reconnected the software to read the car via OBD port. Ran same scan and this time everything came ok.
4. He then initiated the ECU Upgrade. Old software version was 2461 and new software version is 2521 (pic attached).
5. It took 5-10 mins to update the ECU software. During this time, all lights flashed on dashboard, cabin lights went ON.
6. Post update, he re-scanned the car to make sure nothing broke and it all passed.
7. Checked radio, lights, horn, AC and all were working. Engine was running ok.
8. Observed that during upgrade, remaining km range shot up from 84km to 101km, don't know the reason but it settled later to 83km when I drove back home.

So, it was just a 15-20 mins job which can either be done at service centre or the technician can visit home but it cannot be done via OTA. I hope that with this update, 12v battery issue will get resolved. I asked the technician what fix has been done, but he was not aware.
Hyudai has officially communicated the service centres to call owners with cars manufactured between 06/2024 to 02/2025 and apply the update. I will monitor the car for some days by keeping it idle and checking for the 12v warning occurrence. I have full faith on Hyundai that they have resolved the issue.

Will try to keep the thread alive as I enjoy this beautiful car. Till then, Bye.

After 1776kms, this is what I get. Should have been better but still ok.

Rais Bhai Shop, if anyone around Indirapuram can visit, good knowledge of cars

Windhsield Hotspot location in Vaishali, Ghaziabad

Crack in the line of sight

After Panel removal

Right panel being carefully removed

After both panels removal

Look how major the crack was

Applying the bond

Cleaned surface before applying glass

Suction cups for lifting

Placing securely

Old windshield showing anchor points

ECU Upgrade process (Apologies for horizontal pics as I was sitting on passenger side)

ECU Upgrade successful

Rescanning to confirm

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Had a little tiresome drive to Kollam from Bengaluru on Saturday. Overall took 12:38hrs drive time for 661Kms and the remaining time of 1:22hrs for 3 breaks

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Route taken was as below.

Blr (Old Airport Road) - Hosur - Rayakottai - Palacode - Dharmapuri - Salem - Dindigul - Tirumangalam - Rajapalayam - Shenkottai - Thenmala - Punalur - Kottarakara - Kollam.

Took 14 hours door to door including breaks for breakfast, lunch and one short one for tea/coffee. Started at 5:35AM and reached Kollam at 7:44PM. The last stretch from Kottarakara - Kollam of 25Kms took more than 1hr due to long weekend traffic. This was the most tiresome stretch.

Got stuck in Thoppur ghat for some 20 mins, near Salem (bypass construction) for another 20 mins, crossing Salem itself took some good amount of time due to traffic, got stuck near Thenmala Eco Resort due to some road blocks for 15 mins and then crawled all the way from Kottarakara to Kollam.

Hosur to Salem via Rayakottai was a good drive due to less traffic and some newly opened 4 lane highway.

Drove 207Kms from home to A2B at Rasipuram for breakfast break. This took around 4 hours.

Next 226Kms from A2B to Temple City Restaurant (for lunch) at Triumangalam - Rajapalyam road took around 2:45hrs. This was the fastest stretch.

From here to Puliyarai in Shenkottai (TN-KL border) around 143Kms took 2:43 hours.

And the last stretch from Puliyarai to my home in Kollam city, 85Kms took 3:10 hours. The slowest and the most tiresome.

Am able to provide this exact time due to the Bluelink app of Hyundai. It shows the drive time, idle time, Kms driven and the avg speed for each stretch.

Roads are good from Blr to Salem, but some roadworks and flyover constructions happening, that will slow you down. Excellent drive from Salem to Tirumangalam, roads are good throughout. From Tirumangalam to Rajapalyam, road widening happening big time, some small stretches are open and overall you cant speed here.

Roads are good from Puliyarai to Kollam, but the traffic is very heavy from Punalur to Kollam.
Only good thing was able to cross all toll booths pretty fast.

My feeling is drive in this stretch is never going to be easy for the rate at which the vehicles on the road is increasing to the rate at which the infra developments are happening. I always used to think when this stretch becomes 4/6 lane it would be faster, but I never see that happening as Blr to Salem is now choked, crossing Salem is a nightmare despite many flyovers, and the very heavy truck traffic. Hopefully Tirumangalam - Rajapalyam will become 4 laned in couple of years, but by that time I believe Salem Tirumanagalam stretch will become choked . Hopefully Ernakulam to Trivandrum 4 lane will open as in due time, but Thrissur - Ernakulam is already choking.

Overall took 12:38hrs drive time for 661Kms and the remaining time of 1:22hrs for 3 breaks. Its still a very time consuming drive and one needs lot of patience and time to drive. I still venture out driving this stretch due to the passion, but its slowly diminishing after every one of those.

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One thing I learned over the whole journey was that there is nothing like a perfect car. You need to make some compromises.

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Introduction

I have been a fan of cars, as most boys are, and have been following Team-Bhp for many years. My association with cars started when my father purchased Alto in 2008. I learnt to drive as we were expecting our first baby and took my father’s car to take my wife for shopping, groceries, etc. Alto was a no nonsense super trusted car which was easy on the pocket. Our whole family travelled a lot in it.

In 2016, I decided to purchase a car of my own and was looking for a comfortable 5 seater with a budget of Rs 10-11 lakhs. I looked at Creta, Honda City, TUV300, Scorpio because all these were falling in my budget. And this time I wanted a diesel as diesel was cheaper than petrol and since I was getting it within my budget, why not.
One day, my BIL asked me to check the Duster and we went to Renault’s showroom to check it out. The car was big and very comfortable. Asked for TD and they arranged it at home. 4 people (Father, Mother, Wife and my 6 year old daughter) sat in the back seat and I was in the driver's seat with a sales guy as my co-passenger. Initially, I drove like I was driving my Alto, very cautiously, not to hit the underbelly, but then the sales guy said, you are driving an SUV, drive like one. And then I drove it over potholes, at speed and the handling blew my mind. I asked my family and they all said, leni to yehi hai ab. That sealed the deal.
Welcome Big Bear, White Renault Duster RXL Diesel 85PS on 27th July 2016 and everyone loved it. My office was not so far and that’s why my running was not too much but I enjoyed every day driving it. Took it to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mendipur Balaji, Lansdowne, Mussoorie, Gwalior, Lucknow, Ayodhya and many other places and it is always such a comfortable journey.

I always made sure that all the preventive maintenance services of both Alto and Duster were done only at authorised service centers religiously.

Why the new car?
Fast forward to 2024. As Big Bear completed 8 years in July, the itch to replace it started as the infamous NGT rule of 10 years was looming large on me. Also, the GRAP 4 rule in winters prompted me to start the search mid year as I knew it would take time. I was in the market with below conditions:

1. Budget - under or around 20 lakhs on road. Less would be better
2. Safety - 4 to 5 star, with stable body shell and atleast 4 airbags
3. Rear Seat and Boot - Should accommodate 3 adults in rear with shoulders touching the back of the seat and should have a big boot, just like Big Bear. Last year, I shifted my house in Big Bear (except furniture)
4. Petrol and Manual only - NGT rule in NCR, only Rs 7 per litre price difference b/w petrol and diesel, BS6 DEF challenges because of very low running (I am fully WFH), ban looming large on diesels from 2027. No Automatics for me. I feel disconnected from the car
5. After Sale Service - Witnessed stark difference b/w Maruti and Renault A$$, Maruti being good
6. Resale - Prefer model with great market appeal, decent to good present day sales numbers will lead to good resale later
7. Engine and overall reliability - Reliable engine, 4 cylinder. I don’t like 3 cylinders

Alternatives considered
With a budget of around 20 lakhs looking at all the possible C2 and D1 segment SUVs, I prepared a detailed comparison sheet including dimensions, features, mileage, cost of ownership, pros and cons of each. My baseline in driving dynamics was Duster and we had a strict guideline to buy something which should better Duster in most of the aspects. Below are the alternatives considered. Please consider these as my personal views with no intention to hurt anybody’s feelings. The cars listed are in no particular order and do not represent any preference.

1. Maruti Grand Vitara - Comes with Maruti’s trust of after sales service but the product was a big let down for us. The interiors felt as if they were lifted from Ritz. Yes, my BIL owned Ritz in 2010 and every knob, button, lever, plastics, everything felt so dated and bored in Grand Vitara. Black interiors were a big NO for me considering how hot it becomes in Delhi/ NCR in peak summers. It felt claustrophobic. The sunroof was big but the curtain was so thin that we could feel the heat from the sun in July. Boot was non-existent in the hybrid version. Even the non-hybrid's boot was way smaller than Duster’s. So, it was striked off the list. Dealer was giving a great deal but the product was not able to excite us.
2. Toyota Hyryder - Almost similar to Grand Vitara except that the interiors were a mix of black and tan, a bit of a savior. However, the bones were from Maruti and every part has Maruti stamped on it except for the hybrid system. So, there was nothing Toyota in it which would have pushed us. Dealer was giving a good deal but not comparable to the Grand Vitara. Still it got off the list.
3. Kia Carens - One of my good friend purchased it at an on-road price of 14 lakhs and recommended it to me. Took a test drive, was pretty impressed with the drive, comfort and airy cabin. It had loads of space and had many places to keep water bottles and other knick-knacks (remember, I was coming from Duster which had bottle holders only in front doors). Carens is an MUV and its face looks drooping rather than upright like an SUV or even Ertiga. I have seen it running on Noida-Agra and Agra-Lucknow Expressways and it did not give me any confidence against my Duster. It could be a good city car but my occasional drives on highways forced me to write it off.
4. Honda Elevate - One of the biggest contenders if I consider size. Comes very close to Duster in boot space, comfort and even plain interiors. In 2024, what on Earth was Honda thinking about launching a product with dated interiors. I understand, Japanese philosophy of practicality but they need to sell the product in India where buyers look for maximum value for their money. And this is evident in their sales numbers domestically and abroad. However, I still took its test drive and the sales agent was quite knowledgeable. But the NA CVT combo was a bummer for me. A slight tap on the accelerator was sending the rev needle to its peak and there was so much cabin noise. Honda’s engine was peppy and CVT super-reliable but I did not enjoy the highway drive because of poor insulation and cannot live with so much noise everyday. In the city, it's a better car. Convinced my wife to keep it in our wishlist, though.
5. Mahindra Scorpio N - As with the current craze of SUVs, Mahindra’s top the list with their macho machines. Scorpio N was a great contender because of its look and stance. Both Wifey and I went to check it in showroom but were put off by the callous attitude of sales person. Their attitude was take it or leave it, said it all. Mahindra is having buyers willing to pay any money in cash and take it. Coming back to the car, it was so big and tall, I almost had to stand on the footboard to step in. A thumbs down from both of us as my father will be travelling with us and I don’t want him to do this exercise everytime. Also, being ladder on frame meant that 2nd row comfort is compromised. There was no test drive given so 2nd row comfort is bookish observation. Sales person never called back and so we lost interest and struck it off.
6. Mahindra XUV700 - Craze of India, as we call it. Everyone is after it. Such a great value for money. I was looking for diesel even though 80% of my driving would be in the city because I have read many horror stories of mStallions going bad on team-bhp. Also, mileage is almost non-existent for petrol, so only diesel. MX vs AX5 was the tussle as former was giving me full value for money in 17 lakhs whereas latter was giving the oomph factor with sunroof and screens but was going above 21 lakhs. Took test drive and was amazed by the NVH refinement of both the engines. Test drive vehicles were showing the single digit mileage figures in the city, petrol was pretty poor in the two. I did some calculations that even with my sedate driving style, will I be able to cross single digit, I could but very barely. Then the horror stories of DPF and the regen process started creeping in. The more I read about BS 6 diesel cars, the more I drifted from diesels. I did not want a car to be taken every week on highways just to burn the soot. It must have been a task in itself. I also visited Mahindra Service centre to get a feel of it and I could see it as no different than Renault. The chalta hai attitude of service guys was a No-No. I could still read many stories on the internet where reliability of XUV700 has been questioned even in recent batches. So, with a heavy heart we dropped it.
7. Tata Safari or Harrier - Never considered it considering poor product reliability and after sales service.
8. Volkswagen and Skoda - Never considered it considering cramped 2nd row space, smaller boot and not so good after sales service.
9. Hyundai Creta - Albeit a bit smaller than Duster but it ticked all the boxes. Budget, space, comfort, interior, everything was on point. We selected the S (O) Petrol Manual variant and got a great deal from Capital Hyundai. Sales agent, Deepak, was very courteous and helpful in answering all our queries. Took almost an hour-drive in twisty winding lanes of Sector 63 Noida and then stretched its legs on FNG highway. Initially, I was not able to find my driving position but after multiple attempts I was able to find it. The drive was satisfying and at 16.30 lakhs on-road all inclusive was the deal offered which was best considering there were no offers on this hot selling car. Both Wifey and I were certain that this would be the car.
10. Hyundai Alcazar - Was in the showroom to check the car on the next day of launch in September. Had a detailed look at the Signature variant which was parked just opposite to Creta and was able to compare feature by feature directly. Outside except the grill and DRL style, everything is Creta. Inside except the tan color, it's Creta. Rear is where the difference lies for me. With the 3rd row in, it looked longer and bigger. I must say, the overhang and rear was not very SUVish as it is rectangular rather than curved at the edges. With the 3rd row down, the huge boot was the cherry on cake. After a bit of row adjustments, we were able to sit comfortably on all the 3 rows. It was hitting all the checkboxes which Creta was ticking plus the added advantage of premiumness, 7 seats and huge boot. Now, we were in a real fix against Creta. We were sure it would be a Hyundai only but which one.

Booking Experience, Variant and other price details

I wanted reliability, features, safety and great after sales service and my wife wanted my peace of mind plus an uplift from mundane interiors of Duster. After weighing in all our must-haves, we settled on Alcazar. I was considering the Executive (base) variant as it was fitting my budget. The only downside was I had to retrofit the infotainment system and speakers, either from Karol Bagh or from the dealership. I watched numerous Karol Bagh videos of base variant Creta being stripped and fitment done. Watching these videos was such a pain for both me and my wife. We both want our car to be perfect and do not want any aftermarket fitment. So, I had a relook at the variants and I found the Prestige variant which had everything we were looking after, without anyone touching anything. Sales Agent Deepak was very courteous and helpful. He made sure that whether it's Creta or Alcazar, we take the correct decision. He offered me multiple drives of Creta and Alcazar and made sure that I am satisfied completely. I have not seen sales agents going extra lengths and helping customers. In my 6 months search, I interacted with almost 8-10 sales agents and none of them can match Deepak’s help and support. We negotiated hard and could get the Insurance almost matched. Spoke to VP Sales even to get an extra 5K discount. It was a tough bargain considering it was a recent facelift. Below are the final details of the car:

• Make : Hyundai
• Model : Alcazar
• Variant : Alcazar 1.5T MT Prestige 7S
• Transmission : Manual
• Engine : Turbo Petrol 1.5
• Mfg Year : Nov 2024 (Facelift)
• Fuel : Petrol
• Colour : ATLAS WHITE
• Booking Date : 01/12/2024
• Delivery Date : 22/12/2024
• City : Noida
• Registration : Ghaziabad, UP
• Dealer : Capital Hyundai, Sect 63, Noida
• Accessories (Dealer) : 3D Mat, Mud Flap, Perfume, Divinity
• Additions: Extended Warranty (4th and 5th Year), Seat Covers
• Price : Rs 19,50,000 (On-Road), Extended Warranty (Rs 21,239), Seat Covers (Rs 12,300)
• Included in OTR: Insurance (RTI, EP, ZD, CM, PB, KP) + Dealer Accessories
• Discounts: Insurance 43K
• Booking Amount : Rs 25k
• Goodies (surprise) at the time of delivery : Curtain raiser, chocolate cake, two key chains, chocolate box with car shaped mini chocolates, framed pic of car delivery
• Loan : PNB New Car loan of 15 lakhs at 8.8 Floating ROI for 5 years

Pre-Delivery Inspection and Pre-Delivery Work

As the White color was not in stock, so booking was made and the car was dispatched on 5th Dec from Chennai with a tentative arrival date of 15th Dec. Deepak gave me the VIN number and screenshots of the DMS system to track my car on regular intervals. However, to our surprise, the car arrived at the dealer's yard on 12th Dec and we planned to take delivery on 15th Dec. However, my wife’s grandfather passed away on 13th Dec and we had to defer everything till the rituals were done. Finally, we decided on the 22nd Dec delivery date. On Friday, 20th Dec, asked Deepak that I wanted to do PDI in their stockyard and he gave me the location and connected me with the person responsible. Their stockyard is at Multi-level basement parking of Botanical Garden Metro Station, Noida. Reached there at 1pm and the person there took the car out in the sun and assisted me in checking everything. With My Team-Bhp PDI checklist with me plus my past experience, I was able to complete it in 1 hour. The odometer had 21 Kms which was ok with me. Gave a green signal to dealership and on 21st Dec paid balance amount of 4.5 lakhs plus Rs 21,239 for extended warranty. Also, asked bank officials to release the loan amount so that tax invoice and other formalities can be done. As 21st Dec was Saturday, Deepak and I completed all the formalities of signing of documents, demo, RTO invoice, Tax invoice, Fastag, etc. I wanted 22nd Dec to be free so that my family can enjoy the Car Delivery moment.

Delivery Day

Asked Deepak to get the Hyundai Alcazar seat covers installed which I confirmed to him last night. As I wanted the fitting to be done in front of me, I reached the dealership at 10:30am. Got the fitting done and was happy with the helpful nature of the people. They made sure work is perfect. In the meantime, Deepak handed over all the receipts to me, got the Bluelink activated. I was also coordinating with my wife and sister about their arrival at the showroom. They reached around 1:30pm and everything was ready by then. Car was thoroughly cleaned, parked in the delivery bay. Deepak was making sure that everything was perfect and it was indeed perfect. We exchanged pleasantries. We gifted Deepak a Ganesha idol and sweet box. He was overwhelmed with the gesture. Clicked lots of pictures as memories and departed by 2:30pm. Went straight to the nearby Indian Oil Petrol pump and got 5 litres petrol free. Also, got the full tank done. It was after so many years that I had to ask the attendant to fill petrol

Likes

1. Driving dynamics, stability and handling are on-par with my Duster. I am super impressed and proud of our decision.
2. Product package in itself. Parts from Creta’s bin means great fit and finish, consistent panel gaps and durability. Good quality plastics all around. Superb paint quality. All the colors look great. Atlas White looks like Nirma White
3. 1.5L Turbo Petrol is smooth like butter. Neither free revving nor too slow to pick.
4. Headlights and Connected DRLs are a big uplift for me coming from Duster. Did not miss the fog lamps. Huge windscreen just like Duster. All window glasses do not look fully transparent. They have some amount of blackishness.
5. Doors do close with a reassuring thud. Bonnet is super heavy. Full Safety suite, 6 airbags and use of high strength steel should atleast give it 4 stars if not 5 in GNCAP (hope it gets tested). I will be more interested in reading “body shell stable” rather than anything else. 3 point seat belts are a welcome addition for all the 7 occupants. 4 wheel disc brakes assure of a straight line on point stop.
6. Gadgets, gizmos and huge screens consisting of an infotainment system and driver’s cluster. Touch screen response is superb. After spending an hour with all the features of the infotainment system, I am able to set it based on my liking. Now, it is super convenient and feels a big uplift from Duster. Cruise Control and other buttons on steering are such an uplift for us. Reverse parking camera is a boon. I am not an audiophile so infotainment and speakers are decent for me. Whatever my daughter plays, I enjoy it.
7. Loads of space to place water bottles, cooled glove box, wireless mobile charger, 2 cup holders, huge under-storage armrest, 2 snack trays with pop-out cup holders and much more.
8. Sliding 2nd rows means usable 3rd row. Pull-up seat tumble feature is on both sides of the 2nd row. Getting to 3rd row in the 7 seater variant is super easy. My height is 5’7” and my BIL’s height is 5’10”. Behind us sat my wife and my sister in the 2nd row who are 5’2”. The 3rd row can then still sit my daughter who is 5’3” and my nephew who is 4’. 6-7 people of these sizes can sit comfortably with everyone getting decent shoulder room with ACs in all 3 rows. Car cools down pretty quickly as Auto AC or Manual AC both work like charm.
9. Sunroof was the main attraction among everyone in the family. Even opening the curtain, brings so much light in. Now, the sunroof curtain always remains open and the cabin feels so bright during the day while we get the starry ceiling of Rolls Royce for free during the night.
10. With all rows up, the boot can still carry 3-4 backpacks and other small stuff. If you put the 3rd row down, then the boot becomes 580 litres. Short trips or 1-2 day trips in summers can be done with all 7 occupants and very light luggage. But if you want to go for a long trip, then it is for only 5 passengers and the boot can swallow large cargo.
11. Good looking alloys. Looks like lotus petal design. All 5 tyres in Executive and Prestige variants come with 215/60 R17. So, no need to upgrade the spare tyre to match the other 4. However, Platinum and Signature variants come with 18 inches and 17 inch as spare.
12. Hyundai’s after sales service is considered one of the best and on par with Maruti.

Dislikes

1. Product is not a big seller. Probably after Maruti launches Grand Vitara Max in 2025, Alcazar might get more notice and will sell better. Creta dominating and cannibalising its sales. I believe Hyundai never wanted it to sell in huge numbers to keep it differentiated. Like the TUV300 Plus, Hyundai should have cashed in on Creta’s name and named it Creta Max.
2. Missing Naturally Aspirated engine. I believe it was a conscious decision by Hyundai to differentiate it from Creta.
3. No Crash Test of facelifted Creta and Alcazar puts a doubt in buyer’s mind about the safety of the product. Upgrading to high strength steel and 6 airbags as standard on older platform does not guarantee better test numbers than Mahindra, Tata, Volkswagen or Skoda.
4. Finding a comfortable driving position is difficult. After trying multiple settings, I am able to find a good position but still I feel there is some more improvement which I can have. However, ergonomically there is no challenge in reaching to controls. Everything is placed very thoughtfully.
5. Magnet pad. Why Hyundai Why. No one is able to explain what to put there. In India, we don’t put pictures of our loved ones or gods on magnet pads. I could not find any other use of it. It’s a dead area for me. Instead Hyudani could have given cold drink tray just like Honda Jazz.
6. Difficulty in pickup in 2nd gear in traffic due to turbo lag. Duster has better gear ratios and better low end torque. I have to downgrade to 1st gear every time as it feels jerky in 2nd gear.
7. Reverse parking camera quality at night is not so good and is grainy.
8. As the headrest is missing for the middle passenger in the 2nd row, even if Hyundai gives a seat belt, in my opinion, the car is technically a 6 seater. It’s very dangerous for an adult to sit there. In my view, only a 4’ kid should sit who can have head support from the seat.
9. IRVM and ORVM are decently big but, the right side ORVM creates a big blind spot across the A-pillar and I had to stretch my neck like an ostrich.
10. Would have loved the spare tyre in boot just like Creta. Had a tough time replacing the tyre in the Duster but I know it's not possible.
11. Tyres came with 47 psi pressure from the dealership.
12. So much glossy plastic in the interior is fingerprint and dust magnet.
13. In a car marketed as premium, except one switch on the driver side door, none of the switches are backlit making it very difficult for passengers to locate them.
14. Car notifies upshift of gear but does not notify downshift which becomes tricky as one has to rely on revs and sound of engine to judge whether to downshift or not. My Duster had both.

Exterior and Interior Pics

Before Delivery Day at the dealership

Good Morning. Waiting patiently for seat covers fitment.

Seat covers being fit. Don't want fabric seats to get soiled.

Cleaning and decoration done, waiting to be parked in delivery bay

Look at the smiles on everybody's face

Gifting Ganeshaji to Deepak for the good luck

I am hungry

Mandatory Pooja. Same Panditji who did Pooja of our Duster in 2016.

Chrome and Request Sensor only on Driver Side

Clean lines at the rear and the three quarter look

H-shaped DRL design and turn indicator below it

Full under bonnet insulation results in superb NVH

Huge Panoramic Sunroof which is the star of the show

Great infotainment screen with superb touch response

Only one backlit switch on all the doors. Hyundai why spoil the party

Petal shaped alloys. They are direct pick from last gen Alcazar

Quad White LED headlamp setup is decent for night driving. Yet to test in foggy conditions

Engine and Transmission

1.5 litre turbo petrol is butter smooth and Hyundai has done a fabulous job. Clutch is very light and smooth and the gears are slick. The gears have short throws. Putting it in reverse gear is different for me and I am always fearful that I should slot correctly. Upshifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd is tricky as I am getting used to the new gear lever. Downshifting is easy however, absence of downshifter on screen does put a bit of strain and dropping gear from 6th to 4th or 3rd is something I need to learn. So, it's a mental thing which I am pretty sure I will get used to in a few days.

In the city, driving is easy and comfortable. However, I have felt that as speed comes in single digits and revs hover around 900-1000 rpm, the car gives jerks when picked in 2nd gear, so I have to drop to 1st gear to keep revs in check. Even though I have never stalled the car, it gives me a feeling and I have to press the accelerator pedal a bit more to keep moving. Turbo lag is thus very evident in 2nd gear.

On highways, the engine comes to full glory. It can touch speeds of 80+ km/hr in a short while in 3 gear and one has to quickly upshift to 6th gear to keep the revs under 2000 rpm. In 6th gear at speeds of 90 km/hr, revs settle at 1900 rpm and the engine keeps chugging smoothly. It is very easy to pick the car back from speeds of 50 to 90 km/hr and 1100 to 1900 rpm in 6th gear without any fuss. No drama, whatsoever.

There is so much power available for pulling loads and overtakes and I never felt uncomfortable and different than driving my Duster. I am very confident that being a turbo engine, the car has enough power to pull a full load on hills without any hesitation. Only a visit to Mussoorie or Nainital will confirm it.

Fuel Economy

Right now, the car speedo hovers at 450 kms out of which 360 kms are highway, 43 kms are before taking delivery of the car and rest in the city.
In the city, I am getting a mileage of around 11 kmpl with 100% AC on Auto.

Also, I went 180 kms each way to my hometown. While going I was alone with just one bag. While returning, it was a boot full with the 3rd row down and my father by my side. While going, I got an average of 18.8 kmpl and while returning got 16.5 kmpl. These figures are when I was driving with AC on Auto for the whole journey and doing 80-90 speeds. Occasionally, I did use Cruise Control at 85 or 90 speeds which definitely helped in better mileage.
I believe these are decent numbers as of now, considering the car is still in breakin period and I am sure the numbers will go up after 1st service.

Driving, Handling, Suspension and NVH

I have driven many cars like I said and watched countless videos and can say that Duster is on top of my list when it comes to driving, handling and suspension. Now, after driving Alcazar, I can say that it matches the Duster very closely in all three aspects. Being Hyundai, NVH levels are so good that it's hard to hear anything from outside. Due to great insulation, both wind and road noise are cut-off.

Steering feels one size smaller compared to Duster’s but gives great feedback. Being EPS, at slow speeds, steering is light enough to assist in tight situations and parking is also very easy. On highway speeds, it gets enough weight to bring confidence but it’s not on-par with Duster’s steering weight at highway speeds. The Duster's steering is heavier and gives more confidence.

Car swallows bumps and potholes easily at slow speeds and does not unsettle but I could feel rumble strips on my pedals. Also, I have noticed that if I have to change gear while going on white rumble strips, I find difficulty in slotting gears and the gear change is not smooth. So, I wait for some more seconds and then change them. Turning radius is a bit large compared to the Duster and I have to do 3 point turns unlike in my Duster but due to light steering, it becomes very easy to take u-turns.

The car is stocked with 215/60 R17 JK Lux tyres and I believe they are doing a very good job. The car has good highway manners and the tyres offer good grip. However, I still believe 16 inches on the Duster gives me more confidence, probably because Duster’s height is lesser than Alcazar and it feels more planted. Still, in my 360+ kms highway trip, I never felt uncomfortable and the car was always behaving as per my input.

While driving my Duster, I always felt confident even if I have to go over big bumps or potholes and it's the same for Alcazar. Ground clearance is not an issue.

The car comes with all four discs and they have great bite as they are new and sometimes we get jerk when I press the pedal a bit more while in city conditions. I remember I had a similar experience when I bought the Duster even though it had front discs and rear drums. Should settle down in few hundred kms.

Conclusion

One thing I learned over the whole journey was that there is nothing like a perfect car. You need to make some compromises. The search lasted more than 6 months and in the end, we are satisfied with our decision. Many might argue, why Alcazar, it's not selling in numbers, you don’t need a turbo engine, etc. My only answer to everyone would be - it suited our needs and gave us the best value for our money. Buying it was an aspirational decision and we desired to have something which has everything we wanted.

I will keep the car stock and will not do any modifications to it except installing a dual channel dashcam (will post a review when done and tested extensively). I will now enjoy driving the Alcazar with my family and have a total peace of mind with respect to the reliability and ownership experience. On this note I'm ending it here and will update the thread as and when I do trips or get regular maintenance done.

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Pretty smooth, and silent drive in city and highway - easily gobbles small pot holes, low speed breakers.

BHPian suryakamal recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I got my Signature DCT 7S about 3 weeks back.

It definitely made me a sedate driver too.

Have been more in exploratory mode - been driving in mix of city, highway driving. Few observations so far -

1. Was told boss mode is only in 6S - but, it is in 7S too - may be I read it wrong.
2. Don't see too much of rattle from central console - knee rubbing against the console.
3. Pretty smooth, and silent drive in city and highway - easily gobbles small pot holes, low speed breakers.
4. Very decent audio system - tried all types of music. It appears different sources have different default sound settings.
5. Headlights are decent - heard lots of negative comments about out going model.
6. Decent ADAS - used only on highways. LKA is nice.
7. With the adaptive cruise, mileage drops a bit - Over a stretch of about 150km - one direction only my wife and I and on the other legs, 2 young boys returning from the hostel with boot full of stuff, there was a mileage difference of about 3km/L (20.1 vs 16.8). Nothing to crib about - just an observation.
8. Brilliant and clear camera views.

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It’s the compilation of travelogues of my recent drives I had in my Hyundai Alcazar Diesel AT.

BHPian CrazyToDrive recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

It’s the compilation of travelogues of my recent drives I had in my Hyundai Alcazar Diesel AT.

Drive to Amboli

During Diwali, I planned a quick drive from Pune to Amboli. The plan was to go on a long drive, relax at the resort, and then drive back home. Amboli is a small hill station and a favorite picnic spot during the monsoon season, known for its majestic waterfalls. However, during Diwali, it is considered the off-season.
The trip was scheduled for November 8th, with the return on November 9th. I booked a one-night stay at Dark Forest Retreat.
We started at 5:00 AM from Baner, Pune. It was a good decision as we didn’t encounter any traffic and made good progress. We crossed Karad around 8:00 AM and stopped for breakfast. After a hearty breakfast, we continued our journey. The two-wheeler traffic had increased considerably, slowing us down. We crossed Kolhapur around 9:45 AM, then passed Nipani and took a right towards Amboli, continuing on the Nipani-Ajara road. The road is a single lane with intermittent potholes. After crossing Uttur, we encountered ongoing cement road construction, with incomplete bridge work causing diversions. However, the route was scenic, with trees and farms on both sides. We reached the resort by noon.

Sunrise enroute

After completing the check-in formalities, we freshened up and had lunch at the restaurant. Post-lunch, we rested for a while and then enjoyed some time in the resort’s pool. In the evening, we visited the famous Amboli Waterfall and Sunset Point. To my surprise, the waterfall was crowded. Somehow, we managed to find a parking spot and walked towards the waterfall.
Although there was only a little water, we still enjoyed the visit. Later, we drove down the ghat, enjoying the twists and turns until we were about halfway down, witnessed the sunset, and then headed back.

Waterfall

Amboli Ghat

There was a nice line written on board -

The Animals are not crossing the road, road is crossing the Jungle

Since we had plenty of time to spare, we decided to visit the Hiranyakeshi Temple. However, the road leading to the temple was secluded, narrow, and full of potholes, so we decided to turn back halfway. We then returned to the Sunset Point and stayed there to admire the night sky. The kids were excited to see the sky full of stars—it was a unique experience to witness the night sky in complete darkness.
Afterward, we had dinner and returned to the resort. Late at night, we took a stroll around the property.
The next morning, we woke up feeling refreshed. We took some drone shots, had breakfast, got ready, and started packing for our journey back home. We left the resort at 11:00 AM.

Resort Aerial view

After reaching Kolhapur, we decided to visit the windmills near Thoseghar. However, before reaching Karad, we encountered a massive traffic jam. Fortunately, some locals guided us through village roads, and after driving for 20–25 minutes, we rejoined the highway. From there, the drive was smooth, with minimal traffic. Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a Kamat outlet.
Before reaching Satara, we exited the highway. Google Maps directed us through small internal village roads. I was a bit skeptical about the route since the roads were narrow, but they were in good condition. Eventually, we reached the windmills. Seeing the massive structures rotating with the wind was a wonderful experience. On my last visit in my Ford Aspire, I was able to park my car right at the base of a windmill, but this time, the road was blocked. Walking up to the windmills was an option, but we decided not to go all the way.

On the way back

Towards Thoseghar

Windmills

After enjoying the sunset and a cup of tea, we decided to visit Sajjangad Fort on the way back. By the time we reached the parking lot, it was around 7:30 PM. Climbing the fort at night was a unique experience—though there were streetlights along the way, making it easier.
At the Sajjangad fort, we were lucky to witness the evening aarti that was in progress. We had darshan of Shri Ram and Samarth Ramdas Swami before starting our descent.
On the way back, we took the same village roads to reach the highway. From there, it was a non-stop drive to Pune.

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I would rate my first service experience 6/10 my with the ASS.

BHPian Passion2explore recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Had my first service done today at Dee Emm Hyundai Sec14, Gurgaon. Coming from Maruti ASS benchmark service, this time was a bit let down. No proper Lounge area for waiting. SA was not very attentive and environment was bit unprofessional. There was no urgency to listen to customer problem.

Reported following problems to SA:

1. Centre console rattle.
2. Drive seat belt getting stuck sometimes while putting on.
3. Intermittent Bluelink connectivity issue.

Actions:

1. SA acknowledge the centre console rattling and put a liquid spray lubricant around the console provided by company for similar issue in previous gen Alcazar. In earlier model they used to put foam also inside the panels. But in the new model, the space is not that much to add foam. Hence, only put the spray lubricant.
2. They diagnosed the issue of bending seat belt and placed an order for new one to be replaced.
3. Frankly SA was not having any clue. He was just clicking here and there. Then called few folks over phone to check. Not able to narrow down to root cause and resolution. Finally, did the jugaad of disconnecting power supply cable from battery for few mins and reconnected. This time it worked. They have asked me to monitor it and create video if it happens again.

The car was not cleaned properly which I highlighted to SA and left.

Out of total 3 hours spent in service center, Almost 2 Hrs was taken for car cleaning as there was huge rush.

I had Hyundai car earlier in 2000s and had good experience with ASS. But this time, I would rate my first service experience 6/10 my with the ASS. Will definitely check another service center for next service. Any recommendation for good Hyundai service center in Gurgaon would help.

Q- Does anyone else encountered similar issue and have any solution?

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During starting, I let go of the brakes and let the car creep for a few meters before pressing the accelerator.

BHPian jkaushik recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

DCTs and Turbo engines make one a better driver.

Apologies for the blanket statement, but it certainly made me a better, sedate driver.

How u ask?

I had heard about DCTs being a bit laggy in city conditions n during slow initial pickup speeds. Now I m experiencing it first hand in my new Alcazar Signature DCT.

So to protect my precious twin clutches, I am following certain best practices:

1. During starting, I let go of the brakes and let the car creep for a few meters before pressing the accelerator. This will prevent slipping of clutch. Outcome: no agressive pickups

2. No sudden acceleration in the initial 10-15 meters. DCTs anyway are laggy, so no point. If I want to have fun, I do it in speeds above 20kmph. And boy this 1.5 turbo petrol just flies. Also overtakings are so effortless and push it harder, it will push u back in ur seat. Anyway, that's not the point.

3. Turbo petrols are extremely sensitive to driving style. So normally to extract the most efficiency, I have started driving even more sedately and this engine n gearbox has surprised me in that regard. I can easily extract ~20kmpl in highway conditions at speeds around 75-80kph. Outcome: even more sedate highway n city driving because I constantly monitor the efficiency and feel like extracting more and more. It became a compitition with self to better myself. (See pic)

Pics of the mileage I achieved with an expert right foot

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In an SUV, you have to optimize the cable route as much as possible.

BHPian sraghavan recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

In a SUV (mine is an Alcazar), since the rear glass is mounted on the tailgate, it is obviously situated at least a couple of feet farther than compared to a saloon car. So you have to optimise the cable route as much as possible. I resolved this issue by routing the cable from the camera down the A-pillar, bottom past B-pillar, up the rear door and across the C-pillar, and finally on to the tail-gate glass. The pics below will illustrate:

Camera to A-pillar

Down the A-pillar

Across the B-pillar

Past the 2nd row of seats

Up the C-pillar and into the car

Finally, to the Rear camera

View from under the tailgate

View from the rear.

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Hyundai Alcazar's competitors like the Carens, Mahindra XUV700, Scorpio N, Tata Safari & MG Hector Plus offer more spacious cabins.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

BYD eMax7

What you'll like:

• The only electric full-size 7-seater MPV in the market with potentially no direct rivals
• A well-rounded product that looks good and has decent cabin space
• 201 BHP motor packs a punch. Does the 0-100 km/h dash in just 8.6 seconds!
• 400-450 km real-world range is great; forget urban commuting, this is enough for road-tripping with the family
• Both battery options (55.4 kWh & 72.8 kWh) are available with 6 and 7-seater configurations
• Good low-speed ride quality, zero emissions, cheap running costs, no gears, and light controls make it an ideal city car
• 8-year / 1,60,000 km battery warranty, 8-year / 1,50,000 km warranty on motor, 6 years of roadside assistance
• Features such as the vehicle-to-load function (A/C power for appliances), powered tailgate, panoramic glass roof, NFC key card, 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen & more
• Safety features include 6 airbags, TPMS, hill-hold, 360-degree view camera, ESP and level 2 ADAS

What you won't:

• At ~Rs. 30 lakh on-road, there is price overlap with the mighty Innova Crysta as well as the even mightier Innova Hycross. Also, there are cheaper 7-seater ICE rivals offering better value
• Conservative exterior & interior design may not appeal to everyone. Doesn’t have a lot of standout elements
• Interior quality is mediocre; seats and some plastics feel budget-grade
• 6-speaker sound system is ordinary at this price point. No subwoofer at 30-lakhs is surprising
• Missing features such as connected car tech, a spare wheel (please buy one yourself), wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, auto wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, dead pedal, sunshades, etc.
• BYD's dealership & service network is currently very small
• The usual EV challenges (charging infrastructure, range anxiety, setting up home charging etc.)

Review Link

Toyota Innova HyCross

What you'll like:

• A great-looking MPV. SUV’ish styling packs appeal
• Nicely designed interiors, good comfort in all 3 rows and usable boot (even with 3rd row up)
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable rear ottoman seats, multi-zone climate control, connected car features, leather upholstery, drive modes, etc.
• Hybrid powertrain makes it lighter on the pocket than a diesel and future-proof too. Very good fuel efficiency (expect city FE of 15-17 km/l)
• Impressive performance with a sub-10 second 0-100 km/h time (Toyota claims 9.5 seconds)
• Monocoque construction results in sorted handling and comfortable ride quality
• Brilliant NVH levels result in a quiet and serene experience inside the cabin
• Toyota's bullet-proof reliability, excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences
• Safety features such as 6 airbags, Toyota Safety Sense (ADAS), ABS, ESP, TC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, TPMS, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all

What you won't:

• Expected to be even more expensive than the already-pricey Innova Crysta. Will be premium-priced
• Top-end variants are only available with captain seats in the middle row. No bench option is inexplicable!!
• 18" wheels with 50 profile tyres compromise the overall stance; they look very small
• Monocoque construction won’t be as rugged & abuse-friendly as the Crysta's body-on-frame build
• Interior plastic quality is very mediocre, some parts feel budget-grade
• Rear seat ottomans are useless for taller passengers
• Average sound quality from the JBL system, poor camera resolution and a basic infotainment system display
• Missing features such as rain-sensing wipers, lumbar adjustment, boss lever on the front passenger seat...
• The already-good ride quality could be even better with higher profile tyres (e.g. on craters). 225/50 sidewalls are on the shorter side

Review Link

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 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

Review Link

Here's what BHPian GTO replied:

With no limitation on spends, the Innova Hycross Hybrid. It's the best MPV out there, with extremely high practicality & user-friendliness. Not too bad to drive either. In fact, I would buy an Innova Hycross Hybrid over many 40-50 lakh SUVs (including the Fortuner).

If I was looking at pure VFM, then the Kia Carens. Love that car and its masterclass packaging. Have recommended the Carens to many people who call me for advice and they're all super happy.

Here's what BHPian mgastor2022grey replied:

I would probably pick the competitors over these cars. Reasons:

• Tata Safari: The car looks simply awesome and is paired with an amazing engine. TASS's service is a hit or miss, but not a problem for me. Space inside is good and feels like a premium product, truly punches above its weight.
• Mahindra XUV700: This is one heck of a car. Blisteringly fun petrol, equally good diesel and all paired with a big bodyshell is what it is. This is a stonking H-O-T machine!
• Skoda Kodiaq: Slightly above the capped budget, but definitely a chief competitor. With all the discounts, this makes itself a good opposition. The new one is a icing on the cake, hope Skoda India prices it right.

With all that aside, if I were to pick one, I would probably go ahead with the eMax 7 as it is a very niche product, EV = somewhat good future stability and finally, good pricing. I would also take the Hycross, but definitely not the Korean Twins.

Here's what BHPian Sensible_Speed replied:

I picked the Innova based on space and longevity. It is the biggest inside by far, and very cheap to run and maintain. Rides reasonably well too.

Here's what BHPian abs182 replied:

Being a Kia Caren Diesel AT owner I voted for the Kia. For my purpose of ferrying the family comfortably in the city and on the highway is fulfilled. Hycross Hybrid would be my next choice.

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Doesn't feel huge in driving, very manageable. Cameras and blind view monitors work great.

BHPian utkarshgoel recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Took delivery an Alcazar Signature DCT 6 seater on last day of Navratra. Did ceramic coating and have been loving the car since then.

 There are few things in favour and against the car.

Pros:

• Good Silent engine.
• Great cushioning on all seats.
• 8 way powered passenger and driver seats.
• Great sound quality from Bose speakers.
• Doesn't feel huge in driving, very manageable.
• Cameras and blind view monitors work great.
• Steering is great.
• Mileage is fair with 9 kmpl in slightly bad traffic and 10 kmpl in light traffic.

Cons:

• Bad paint quality, lot of orange peel.
• Cost cutting like ambient light is now single color.
• Window buttons of all passengers not illuminated.
• No powered tail gate.
• Little squeaky console.
• Less use of soft leather.
• Not so enthusiastic as my diesel Ecosport (I know that will be a con in all cars).

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