Hyundai Alcazar revealed in production guise

UPDATE: Hyundai Alcazar prototype review, test drive

The Hyundai Alcazar has been revealed in its production-ready guise, ahead of its launch in our market in the coming weeks. While the new three-row SUV is based on the same platform as the  Creta, there are a number of differences between the two models.

• 2,760mm wheelbase is 150mm longer than Creta's
• Gets new-gen version of Elantra, Tucson's 2.0-litre petrol engine
• 1.5-litre diesel carried over from Creta but tuned differently

2021 Hyundai Alcazar: platform and design

While the new Alcazar shares its platform with the Creta mid-size SUV, Hyundai has worked on it to give it a longer wheelbase – 2,760mm to be precise (150mm more than the Creta). As a result, the Alcazar has the longest wheelbase in its segment, beating the Tata Safari (2,741mm), MG Hector Plus (2,750mm) and Mahindra XUV500 (2,700mm). This has been done in order to open up more room for the second-row passengers as well as to accommodate the extra row of seats. Hyundai has also equipped it with a longer rear overhang to aid the latter.

In terms of design, the production-spec Alcazar quite evidently shares a number of key elements with the Creta, along with some body panels like the front fenders, bonnet and even the front doors.

However, there are a variety of design elements that help distinguish the Alcazar, such as a tweaked grille with a studded pattern, slightly updated front bumper design, and a prominent rear quarter glass. The rear of the SUV features all-new styling as the Alcazar gets new wraparound taillights that extend on the slightly more upright tailgate, faux dual exhaust tips and a faux brushed aluminium skid plate. Hyundai has also equipped the Alcazar with a larger set of 18-inch alloy wheels (compared to the Creta’s 17-inchers), similar to how Tata gave the Safari larger 18-inch wheels when compared to the Harrier’s 17-inch wheels.

2021 Hyundai Alcazar: interiors and features

The main talking point on the interior is the added row of seats. The Alcazar will be available with both a 6- seat (with captain’s seats in the second row) and 7-seat (with bench seating in the second row) configurations. In both configurations the second-row seats feature a one-touch tumble mechanism to give access to the rear seats as well as a sliding function to either free up more space for the second or third row passengers. Speaking of the third row, the seats get a reclining function and they also fold down completely flat to provide better boot space. With all three rows in place, the Alcazar has 180-litres of boot space, which yet again is more than the Safari (73-litres), Hector Plus (155-litres) and XUV500 (93-litres).

The interior also gets a dual-tone colour scheme and the captain's seats version gets a unique floor-mounted central armrest with cupholders and extra storage space.

On the equipment front, the Alcazar is expected to come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Hyundai’s connected car tech, a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof, ISOFIX seats mounts, wireless phone charging, automatic climate control and much more.

2021 Hyundai Alcazar: powertrains

Under the hood, the Alcazar will be available with both petrol and diesel engine options. Being a larger vehicle, the Alcazar foregoes the Creta's two petrol engine options - the 115hp 1.5-litre petrol and the 140hp 1.4-litre turbo-petrol, in favour of an updated and more powerful version of the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine seen in the Elantra and Tucson, that now produces 159hp and 192Nm (7hp more than Elantra and Tucson). This will also help provide further differentiation for customers, many of whom view outright engine displacement proportionally to a car's positioning.

The diesel engine on the other hand, is the same 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit from the Creta that produces 115hp and 250Nm, though it has been tuned differently.

Both engines are available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

2021 Hyundai Alcazar: rivals

Once launched, the Hyundai Alcazar will take on the likes of the MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV500. Though, the competition in the segment will only get hotter with the arrival of the next-gen XUV500 later this year.