If you’re as a lot of a Tintin fan as I’m, you’ll know of Normal Alcazar, the knife-throwing navy dictator who hits his goal with exceptional accuracy. The Hyundai Alcazar too has been exactly aimed between the Creta and Tucson, to plug an enormous hole that existed in Hyundai’s SUV line-up. No, the Alcazar hasn’t been named after the Tintin character, however after the royal and resplendent Moorish Castles in Spain, which the corporate says has been the inspiration for its all-new SUV. That perhaps advertising waffle for which some company should have been paid hundreds of thousands, however the corny title aside, the Alcazar, now globally unveiled, factors on the seriousness with which Hyundai is concentrating on the SUV house. The automobile I drove was a camouflaged prototype, not completely to production-spec nevertheless it gave me a style of what to anticipate.
Hyundai Alcazar: exteriors
Hyundai has extensively re-engineered and stretched the Creta’s platform on which the Alcazar relies, to primarily slip in an additional row of seats. This meant stretching the wheelbase to 2,760mm, the longest in its class and an enormous 150mm greater than the Creta, to unlock sufficient house to supply snug 6- and 7-seat configurations. However earlier than we dive into the cabin, it’s value highlighting the raft of exterior design adjustments which have given the Alcazar a definite identification of its personal. The Alcazar’s chrome-studded grille appears to be like much more premium than the Creta’s and whereas the headlight cluster is the same, redesigned fog lamps with chrome surrounds, a slimmer entrance scuff plate distinguishes it from its smaller sibling. The massive change, in fact, is on the aspect, which will get an extra-long part and a separate quarter glass, which considerably improve the rear overhang. Upsizing to 18-inch wheels (from the Creta’s 17-inchers) has made a world of a distinction. Not solely do the bigger wheels give the Alcazar a properly planted stance however they assist in watering down the cumbersome impact of that huge overhang. The thick, double character traces on the rear fender and the blacked-out D-pillar give some reduction as properly and properly steadiness the tail part.
Bigger 18-inch wheels over the Creta’s 17-inchers, look good.
The built-in footstep appears to be like neat too however don’t actually serve any helpful goal, because the Alcazar is sort of low and the huge rear door makes getting out and in fairly straightforward.
The horizontal rear tail-lights, linked with a metallic strip and beefy scuff plate, are once more distinctive to the Alcazar, however bits just like the bonnet, entrance doorways, rear-view mirrors are frequent with the Creta. General, the Alcazar appears to be like far more grown up than the Creta however nonetheless doesn’t have the identical street presence as the broader and general longer Safari or the Hector Plus, for that matter.
The rear of the Alcazar appears to be like distinctive when in comparison with the Creta.
Hyundai Alcazar: interiors
And width isn’t one thing the Alcazar has in abundance. Although considerably longer than the Creta, it’s simply as huge (or slender) because the automobile it’s derived from, and that provides it a little bit of an obstacle in opposition to different three-row SUV rivals. However Hyundai designers have used each millimetre of inside house to make the cabin as snug as attainable. Every row of seats, has a spread of changes that enable passengers to juggle house between all three rows and discover a blissful compromise. The entrance buckets are cozy sufficient nevertheless it’s the best way the center row has been designed that’s really spectacular. The 7-seater model with a 60:40 cut up bench will get good under-thigh help, adjustable again rests, and if there’s nobody within the third row, it may be slid again for extra knee room, which is in any other case compromised by the flip up tray tables. Sitting three abreast is a little bit of a squeeze and accentuates the slender width of the cabin. So, for those who don’t want the additional seat, it’s higher to go for the 6-seater variant with captain’s seats, that are much more snug and include distinctive floor-mounted central armrest with cupholders and additional space for storing.
Some bits, just like the wing mirrors and entrance doorways, have been carried over from the Creta.
The one-touch tumble operation, which flips and folds the center seats for straightforward entry to the third row, is actually slick. Nevertheless, wiggling into the rearmost seats does take some effort and it’s best for youths, although it might probably utilized by adults at a pinch. You sit low down however not fully on the ground, and for those who slide the center row ahead for extra knee room and recline the again relaxation, quick journeys are tolerable. A set of devoted air conditioning vents to maintain you cool and a way of airiness from the big rear quarter glass make the third row simpler to endure too. You additionally get a pair of USB ports.
Boot house, with all with all three rows in place, is sort of spectacular. A largish bag, together with a number of smaller mushy ones, might be squeezed behind the third row, and an underneath flooring compartment offers you some further storage. Flip the final row down and boot house will increase considerably to swallow a mountain of baggage.
Entrance parking sensors and 360-degree digicam anticipated on the Alcazar.
Hyundai hasn’t shared the Alcazar’s ultimate gear listing, and with the dashboard additionally camouflaged, it was onerous to inform what the Alcazar will include. It’s protected to say, nevertheless, that the Creta’s 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, together with Hyundai’s linked automobile tech with wi-fi charging and a 360 diploma digicam, might be carried over. The Alcazar can even get a number of extra goodies than the Creta, like an even bigger digital instrument panel with a number of modes and configurable ambient lighting. What we do know for certain is that the Alcazar will get the Creta’s panoramic sunroof and rear disc brakes, that are normal throughout all variants.
Hyundai Alcazar: driving impressions
The Alcazar will get two engine choices –the tried and examined 115hp,1.5-litre diesel from the Creta, which has been recalibrated for the larger and heavier 7-seater, and a petroleum, which isn’t the identical 140hp 1.4-litre TGDI unit however a bigger and extra highly effective 159hp 2.0-litre naturally aspirated motor, consistent with the Alcazar’s increased positioning and worth level. This petrol is actually the identical 2.0-litre ‘Nu’ engine discovered underneath the hood of the Tucson and Elantra, however the Alcazar will get the newest, third-generation model, which is extra environment friendly, refined and will get a slight bump up in energy (by 7hp). Each, the diesel and petrol Alcazar include 6-speed handbook and 6-speed torque converter computerized gearbox choices. There’s no DCT out there.
For our transient take a look at drive, we have been provided solely the petrol variant with the 6-speed handbook. First impressions threading via the labyrinth of slender lanes exterior Fort Alila in Bishangarh is of a clean however barely heavy clutch and a pleasant and correct short-throw gearbox. On the primary open stretch I acquired, I found an engine that’s clean and really versatile. It pulls cleanly from 1,000rpm to just about 7,000rpm in a single seamless, sturdy surge. Like most long-stroke engines, it’s not very free-revving however has a large and really useable energy band and enough torque to compensate for the tall gearing (it does virtually 60kph in first gear). You do miss the mid-range punch and the enjoyment of using a wave of torque you solely get in a turbo-petrol and, in distinction, the linear energy supply of the Alcazar’s 2.0-litre engine masks its pace. However be in little doubt, regardless of being round 150kg heavier than the 1.4 TGDI Creta, the Alcazar is faster and, in actual fact, after we lastly get to strap our VBOX on it, it might be the quickest accelerating SUV in its class.
159hp, 2.0-litre petrol engine provides brisk efficiency.
Tuned extra in direction of consolation than sporty dealing with, the Alcazar has a soft experience and bumps are properly rounded off. The lengthy wheelbase and stiff physique (made out of 75 % high-strength metal) offers you a whole lot of confidence at excessive pace. There’s a good bit of physique roll via corners and although the dealing with isn’t sharp or agile, the mature dynamics make this automobile straightforward to manage. While the experience consolation within the first and second row is exceptionally good, the identical can’t be mentioned concerning the third row. The difficulty is that the rear most seat passengers are sitting on the rear axle line and might really feel the bumps a good bit extra.
Hyundai Alcazar: first verdict
As pure 7-seater the Alcazar works properly for those who restrict the third row to young children, nevertheless it makes a greater case for itself as a roomy and cozy 4-or 5-seater. The Alcazar’s center row is especially cozy, particularly the variant with the captain’s seats, which is more likely to account for the majority of Alcazar gross sales. Anticipated in showrooms on the finish of April, the Alcazar is more likely to be priced a notch underneath the Tata Safari and Hector Plus, or round Rs 1.5 lakh greater than the Creta. That’s a candy spot out there that Hyundai hopes to seize.
Additionally see:
Hyundai Alcazar prototype video assessment
Hyundai Alcazar revealed in manufacturing guise
