Hyundai Alcazar 2021-2023

The best ‘good car’?

What makes a car, a good car? Is it the comfort with which it transports its passengers? Or is it the way you feel when behind the wheel? Perhaps it’s the features on offer that really make for a good car. Manufacturers, I am assuming, have been trying to blend all of these together for years with each car they make. And the same goes for SUVs. They’re either too big or too small. Either have too much tech or are as barebones as a Maruti Suzuki from the 2000s. 

Hyundai too have been trying to make ‘a good car’ each time they launch a new model or facelift. The Hyundai Creta is an excellent (Subcompact? Compact?) SUV, but doesn’t quite have the space that larger SUVs do. It’s a car that someone who likes sedans, but wants the practicality (not space) of an SUV, gets. The Hyundai Venue is also a great car but is little more than a bloated hatchback, in a good way. And a very fun-to-drive bloated hatchback when it comes to the turbo variants. 

Then, there is the Hyundai Alcazar—not quite a full-size SUV like the XUV 700 or Toyota Fortuner, but also not like the Creta which lacks the expansive interiors a larger SUV offers. So is the Hyundai Alcazar ‘a good car’? Let’s find out in this review.  

Hyundai Alcazar Pros and Cons 

Hyundai Alcazar Exterior Design 

The Hyundai Alcazar continues to divide opinions when it comes to its exterior styling, much like the Creta it is based on. However, given its longer dimensions, the front grille (which is finished in chrome and won’t be to everyone’s liking) doesn’t feel out of place on the Alcazar, and the curves throughout the body lend themselves to a handsome silhouette. The cladding on the wheel arches are neither overdone, nor do they make the wheels seem out of proportion for the Alcazar. In fact, the 18 inch alloys on the Hyundai Alcazar look excellent in their two-tone gunmetal and black avatar. The lights are integrated well in the front fascia, with the DRLs looking particularly good. The headlights, although they look good, really don’t do an adequate job of lighting up the road at night. In the rear, the car is compact and functional, and doesn’t look as busy or overstyled as a lot of cars these days. 

Hyundai Alcazar Interiors 

The interior is where the Hyundai Alcazar absolutely shines. From the dual-tone cognac brown and black seats, to the dashboard, everything is thoughtfully done. The 64-colour ambient lights add a classy touch, and combined with the digital driver instrument cluster and 10.25 inch infotainment system, it’s a lovely space to be, especially at night. The middle and third row get AC vents as well, keeping the cabin cool no matter how much heat Indian summers throw at it. There is also ample storage in every row for your knick-knacks and bottles, ensuring the cabin stays clutter-free. The panoramic sunroof can also be fully opened, or used just to let some light in by retracting the electric sun blind. However, don’t do this during sunny summer days unless you are working on your tan. 

Hyundai Alcazar Comfort 

The Hyundai Alcazar may be an SUV, but it is based on Hyundai-Kia’s K2 platform that is used in a variety of models, including sedans. It shows in the way the car is to drive and be in. Ingress and egress is easy, and elderly people will find this much easier compared to some other higher SUVs on the market. The cooled front seats are the absolute best place to be; that is until you get into the captain seats in the middle row, assuming you get the six seater variant, which I would personally recommend you do. The middle row also gets foldable tray tables to dock your phone or tablet, or to have a quick snack. The third row is strictly for shorter adults or children, with little to no under thigh support on offer and negligible knee room. The ride is not bouncy unlike ladder-on-frame chassis SUVs, and you’d be forgiven if you thought you were in a sedan with three rows. Long road trips in this will be an absolute breeze. Quick tip: Folding down the third row gives you a cavernous boot to load up with all your luggage, or two-three dogs. The latter has been personally tested by this writer. 

Hyundai Alcazar Performance and Handling

The 2023 Hyundai Alcazar now comes with either a 1.5 litre Turbo or 1.5 diesel, with Hyundai doing away with the 2.0 naturally aspirated petrol. Although the power on offer is the same at 158 bhp, the torque on offer is now 253 Nm, up from 191 Nm in the 2.0. The petrol can also be paired with a dual-clutch gearbox that is buttery smooth, but won’t be as reliable as the torque converter that was previously available with the 2.0. The diesel engine remains the same. 

The Alcazar handles like any other sedan although the SUV characteristic makes itself known with more body roll compared to, say, the last-gen Verna. The 200 mm of ground clearance makes handling broken roads or big potholes stress-free, and with a good set of all-terrain tyres, you could even do some light off-roading. Behind the wheel, the Hyundai Alcazar is easy to manoeuvre and the size doesn’t take any getting used to. The turbo petrol engine is similar to the older 2.0 in the city, except with much smoother gear shifts. However, out on the highway is where that extra bit of torque really makes overtaking an absolute breeze. The engine is smooth and hardly audible in the cabin, and while the dual-clutch is smooth, the manual transmission is typically Hyundai—a light clutch paired to a gear stick that you can change with a single finger. The Alcazar hums along city streets and highways with the RPMs hardly crossing 2,000-2,500 RPM (in the petrol), allowing you to extract some good mileage if you don’t have a heavy right foot.  

Hyundai Alcazar Key specifications 

Hyundai Alcazar Safety Features

Given that the Hyundai Alcazar is one of the best cars you can buy for road trips, it would need to come equipped with safety features, and it does just that. The top of the line Signature variant comes with six airbags, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX, traction control, and speed warnings. The car itself feels well-built and planted on highways. The Prestige variant only gets two airbags, for the driver and co-passenger, which is a shame given the car can seat up to seven occupants in three rows. Hyundai really should have made six airbags standard on the Alcazar. 

Hyundai Alcazar: Technology and Infotainment

Hyundai has always been known for selling feature-packed cars, and the Alcazar is no different. The top-of-the-line Signature variant is packed to the gills with every practical and good-to-have feature you could think of, with the exception of ADAS. Step in from the driver’s side, and the first bit of tech you’ll notice is the electrically adjustable driver’s seat, however, there is no memory function on offer here. The digital instrument cluster is crisp with analogue-looking digital dials, with all relevant information such as fuel level and consumption, engine temperature, current song playing, etc. scattered around the dials. 

The wireless charging pad in the centre console is a nice touch, and if you opt for the six seater, you’ll get an armrest with a wireless charging pad in the middle row as well. The six speaker setup from Bose is excellent, and it’s unlikely you’ll want to play around with aftermarket speakers here, with the 10.25 inch infotainment system allowing you to tune the sound just the way you like it. Other features include automatic climate control, 360 degree camera, blind spot cameras, cruise control, automatic headlights, and Hyundai’s connected car technology. That last one is especially useful during particularly hot days, as it allows you to start and cool the car in advance, ensuring you aren’t greeted by a scorching cabin. 

Is the Hyundai Alcazar for you?

The Hyundai Alcazar is the kind of car that doesn’t excel at one single thing, rather doing a host of things better than most.  It’s the essence of the motor car—it gets you from point A to point B, be it a 20 km office commute or a 2,000 km road trip. You may not get there with a huge grin on your face, because that’s not what the Alcazar is about. It is ‘a good car’ but it’s not a driver’s car. What the Alcazar will almost always ensure is that you get to your destination with a smile, and rested. And most of all, it’s a Hyundai, and with that comes reliability,  ensuring you always get where you want to be.