If you are as a great deal of a Tintin lover as I am, you will know of Normal Alcazar, the knife-throwing armed forces dictator who hits his focus on with extraordinary precision. The Hyundai Alcazar way too has been specifically aimed involving the Creta and Tucson, to plug a major gap that existed in Hyundai’s SUV line-up. No, the Alcazar has not been named right after the Tintin character, but right after the royal and resplendent Moorish Castles in Spain, which the company suggests has been the inspiration for its all-new SUV. That perhaps internet marketing waffle for which some agency have to have been paid tens of millions, but the corny title apart, the Alcazar, now globally unveiled, factors at the seriousness with which Hyundai is focusing on the SUV place. The car I drove was a camouflaged prototype, not completely to output-spec but it gave me a flavor of what to expect.
Hyundai Alcazar: exteriors
Hyundai has thoroughly re-engineered and stretched the Creta’s platform on which the Alcazar is dependent, to essentially slip in an added row of seats. This intended stretching the wheelbase to two,760mm, the longest in its class and a substantial 150mm additional than the Creta, to unlock sufficient place to provide comfortable six- and 7-seat configurations. But right before we dive into the cabin, it is well worth highlighting the raft of exterior design alterations that have supplied the Alcazar a distinctive identity of its own. The Alcazar’s chrome-studded grille looks a large amount additional top quality than the Creta’s and even though the headlight cluster is the related, redesigned fog lamps with chrome surrounds, a slimmer front scuff plate distinguishes it from its scaled-down sibling. The major modify, of class, is on the aspect, which will get an added-extended segment and a separate quarter glass, which substantially raise the rear overhang. Upsizing to 18-inch wheels (from the Creta’s 17-inchers) has made a planet of a big difference. Not only do the larger wheels give the Alcazar a nicely planted stance but they assistance in watering down the bulky impact of that substantial overhang. The thick, double character traces on the rear fender and the blacked-out D-pillar give some relief as perfectly and nicely balance the tail segment.
More substantial 18-inch wheels above the Creta’s 17-inchers, search awesome.
The integrated footstep looks neat way too but never seriously serve any practical purpose, as the Alcazar is pretty reduced and the large rear doorway will make receiving in and out really uncomplicated.
The horizontal rear tail-lights, linked with a metal strip and beefy scuff plate, are again distinctive to the Alcazar, but bits like the bonnet, front doors, rear-perspective mirrors are typical with the Creta. Over-all, the Alcazar looks a great deal additional developed up than the Creta but even now does not have the identical street presence as the broader and total for a longer time Safari or the Hector Furthermore, for that issue.
The rear of the Alcazar looks distinctive when when compared to the Creta.
Hyundai Alcazar: interiors
And width is not a little something the Alcazar has in abundance. Though substantially for a longer time than the Creta, it is just as large (or narrow) as the car it is derived from, and that provides it a little bit of a disadvantage towards other three-row SUV rivals. But Hyundai designers have employed every single millimetre of inside place to make the cabin as comfortable as possible. Every row of seats, has a array of changes that allow passengers to juggle place involving all three rows and obtain a satisfied compromise. The front buckets are comfortable sufficient but it is the way the center row has been built that is truly extraordinary. The 7-seater model with a sixty:forty split bench will get good beneath-thigh support, adjustable again rests, and if there is no just one in the third row, it can be slid again for additional knee area, which is or else compromised by the flip up tray tables. Sitting three abreast is a little bit of a squeeze and accentuates the narrow width of the cabin. So, if you never will need the added seat, it is improved to go for the six-seater variant with captain’s seats, which are even additional comfortable and appear with distinctive floor-mounted central armrest with cupholders and added storage place.
Some bits, like the wing mirrors and front doors, have been carried above from the Creta.
The just one-touch tumble operation, which flips and folds the center seats for uncomplicated access to the third row, is seriously slick. Even so, wiggling into the rearmost seats does take some hard work and it is most effective for youngsters, though it can employed by adults at a pinch. You sit reduced down but not absolutely on the floor, and if you slide the center row ahead for additional knee area and recline the again rest, limited trips are tolerable. A established of focused air con vents to keep you great and a perception of airiness from the massive rear quarter glass make the third row less difficult to endure way too. You also get a pair of USB ports.
Boot place, with all with all three rows in area, is pretty extraordinary. A largish bag, along with a handful of scaled-down gentle types, can be squeezed behind the third row, and an beneath floor compartment provides you some added storage. Flip the very last row down and boot place raises substantially to swallow a mountain of luggage.
Front parking sensors and 360-diploma digicam anticipated on the Alcazar.
Hyundai has not shared the Alcazar’s remaining devices listing, and with the dashboard also camouflaged, it was tough to notify what the Alcazar will appear with. It’s risk-free to say, having said that, that the Creta’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment method with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with Hyundai’s related car tech with wi-fi charging and a 360 diploma digicam, will be carried above. The Alcazar will also get a handful of additional goodies than the Creta, like a more substantial electronic instrument panel with several modes and configurable ambient lighting. What we do know for positive is that the Alcazar will get the Creta’s panoramic sunroof and rear disc brakes, which are common throughout all variants.
Hyundai Alcazar: driving impressions
The Alcazar will get two engine possibilities –the attempted and examined 115hp,one.five-litre diesel from the Creta, which has been recalibrated for the more substantial and heavier 7-seater, and a petrol, which is not the identical 140hp one.4-litre TGDI unit but a larger and additional strong 159hp two.-litre by natural means aspirated motor, in retaining with the Alcazar’s larger positioning and cost place. This petrol is essentially the identical two.-litre ‘Nu’ engine found beneath the hood of the Tucson and Elantra, but the Alcazar will get the newest, third-technology model, which is additional efficient, refined and will get a slight bump up in power (by 7hp). Both equally, the diesel and petrol Alcazar appear with six-pace manual and six-pace torque converter automatic gearbox possibilities. There is no DCT available.
For our temporary test generate, we were offered only the petrol variant with the six-pace manual. First impressions threading via the labyrinth of narrow lanes outside the house Fort Alila in Bishangarh is of a smooth but a little bit significant clutch and a awesome and accurate limited-toss gearbox. On the 1st open extend I received, I discovered an engine that is smooth and really versatile. It pulls cleanly from one,000rpm to just about 7,000rpm in just one seamless, sturdy surge. Like most extended-stroke engines, it is not really cost-free-revving but has a large and really useable power band and enough torque to compensate for the tall gearing (it does almost 60kph in 1st gear). You do overlook the mid-array punch and the joy of driving a wave of torque you only get in a turbo-petrol and, in contrast, the linear power shipping of the Alcazar’s two.-litre engine masks its pace. But be in no doubt, despite remaining all around 150kg heavier than the one.4 TGDI Creta, the Alcazar is more quickly and, in fact, when we finally get to strap our VBOX on it, it could be the speediest accelerating SUV in its class.
159hp, two.-litre petrol engine presents brisk effectiveness.
Tuned additional in the direction of convenience than sporty dealing with, the Alcazar has a comfortable ride and bumps are nicely rounded off. The extended wheelbase and rigid human body (made from seventy five percent large-power metal) provides you a large amount of self-confidence at large pace. There is a truthful little bit of human body roll via corners and though the dealing with is not sharp or agile, the mature dynamics make this car uncomplicated to control. Even though the ride convenience in the 1st and second row is exceptionally good, the identical simply cannot be stated about the third row. The issue is that the rear most seat passengers are sitting down on the rear axle line and can come to feel the bumps a truthful little bit additional.
Hyundai Alcazar: 1st verdict
As pure 7-seater the Alcazar operates perfectly if you limit the third row to little small children, but it will make a improved case for by itself as a roomy and comfortable 4-or five-seater. The Alcazar’s center row is specially comfortable, specifically the variant with the captain’s seats, which is probably to account for the bulk of Alcazar gross sales. Expected in showrooms at the close of April, the Alcazar is probably to be priced a notch beneath the Tata Safari and Hector Furthermore, or all around Rs one.five lakh additional than the Creta. That is a sweet place in the market that Hyundai hopes to seize.
Also see:
Hyundai Alcazar prototype video evaluation
Hyundai Alcazar revealed in output guise
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