The Hyundai Alcazar, or as I like to call it, the ‘Creta Pro Max’, has joined the Autocar India long-term fleet. While it has been around for a while now, this is our first proper opportunity to live with it, use it like an owner would and see how it fits into everyday life rather than a tightly controlled test schedule. And in just the first few weeks, it has already been put through a fair mix of duties.
What stands out immediately is how distinct the Alcazar now feels from the Creta. That was not always the case, but with the updated design, the front and rear have a very different identity. The connected LED tail-lamps and the sharp LED DRL signature give it a more sophisticated look, and its longer proportions make it appear like it belongs to a segment above. It has presence, and in a city like Mumbai, where SUVs are everywhere, that does count for something.
Inside, the experience is familiar but well executed. The overall fit and finish is good, and the cabin feels solidly put together. However, there is no getting away from the fact that it shares a lot with the Creta, especially the dashboard. While that is not necessarily a drawback in terms of usability, it does take away from the sense of occasion you might expect when you step into a three-row SUV positioned above it.
Where the Alcazar begins to carve out its own identity is in the way it is configured. Ours comes with captain seats in the second row, and these have quickly become one of its highlights. They are genuinely comfortable, with enough support to make longer journeys easy, and they also make the car feel like a good chauffeur-driven option. Access to the third row is noticeably easier too, which is something that often gets overlooked in three-row SUVs.
There are some thoughtful touches here as well. The second row gets a sturdy tray table with a slot for a phone. It is strong enough to hold a laptop, and I did find myself using it as a makeshift workspace on a couple of occasions. That said, it stops just short of being truly practical for that purpose, as a slightly larger surface would have made it far more usable as a proper mini office setup.
The third row itself is usable, but within expected limits. It is not a space you would want to spend hours in, but for short trips or occasional use, it works well enough. What really adds to the Alcazar’s appeal is what happens when you fold those seats down. The boot becomes large, flat and genuinely useful. Compared to the Creta, the difference is immediately noticeable. In fact, during a recent house move, the extra space came in extremely handy, swallowing luggage and boxes with far less effort than expected. It is this kind of everyday practicality that tends to matter more over time.
On the road, the Alcazar has been easy to get along with for the most part. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine feels strong and effortless when you are up to speed, and it handles highway runs without breaking a sweat. However, in typical Mumbai traffic, the experience is not as seamless. The 7-speed DCT can feel jerky at low speeds, and on inclines, there is a slight rollback before it moves forward, which takes some getting used to in bumper-to-bumper conditions.
Ride quality is another area where the Alcazar shows a slightly different character compared to its smaller sibling. At moderate speeds, it remains comfortable, but sharp-edged potholes tend to unsettle it more than expected. There have been instances where the suspension feels like it has been caught out, especially over the kind of broken patches that are hard to avoid in the city. You also tend to feel a bit more of the road surface inside the cabin than you do in the Creta.
That said, none of these traits have taken away from its usability so far. If anything, they are the kind of characteristics you begin to understand and adapt to over time. What stands out more is how easy it is to live with. It is spacious, practical and versatile enough to handle everything from daily commutes to more demanding tasks without feeling out of its depth.
Over the coming months, the Alcazar will continue to take on a variety of roles in our fleet, from city duties to longer highway runs and everything in between.
| Hyundai Alcazar test data | |
| Odometer | 7106km |
| Price | Rs 21.06 lakh (ex-showroom, India) |
| Economy | 9.5kpl (this month) |
| Faults | None |
| Previous reports | None |
