Hyundai Alcazar Pros and Cons: Is It Better Than The Kia Carens?

Launched in 2021, the Hyundai Alcazar is the extended wheelbase version of the Hyundai Creta, stretched to provide a third-row seat to one of India's favourite cars. Apart from inheriting the Creta DNA, it packs several luxurious features, which justify its high price. Initially, it competed with the MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari, and Mahindra XUV700, but in 2022, the Kia Carens arrived and turned the MPV industry 180 degrees. Now both these cars compete to provide the best value for money, and justifies their price.

Today, I am going to tell you about the Hyundai Alcazar and its pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision about this 7-seater. So, without further ado, let's start. Make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss out on automotive updates.

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Hyundai Alcazar Powertrain

Two powerful and efficient engines let us enjoy the drive of the Hyundai Alcazar: a turbo petrol engine and a diesel engine, both of which we have already seen in the Creta. Now, let's talk about its specifications in a table to better understand them.

Hyundai Alcazar Pros

Elegant Design

Hyundai Alcazar appears more premium than Creta, supported by chrome fitted front grille, and redesigned bumper. Face looks more rich and eye-catching, and customers can also opt for the black grille, for people who preffer sporty aesthetics. Talking about the rear, its a mix of ruggedness and elegance. Honey comb LED tail lights looks handsome and the chrome bar on Alcazar is written agains adds up to the rich elements.

To conclude, the Alcazar may fool you into thinking it's an off-roading SUV, thanks to its muscular body style, twin-tip exhaust, and side foot steps. However, at heart, it is an MPV. Therefore, it is advisable not to take it on extreme off-roading adventures and challenge its strength.

Competitor Check: At first glance, the Kia Carens looks like a beautiful MPV, and even Kia doesn't market it as an SUV. Plus, there is a big reason why taxi drivers use it a lot, and you'll never see an Alcazar as a taxi.

Powerful Engine

These engines are tested and loved by everyone who drives them. Considering its massive size, Hyundai didn't add the naturally aspirated 1.5L petrol engine, which is a great decision. Out of the two engines - the 1.5L turbo petrol and the 1.5L diesel - the diesel one makes more sense, as it offers the right amount of grunt and achieves over 20 km/l mileage with a light foot. The turbo petrol engine is for enthusiasts, but in the long run, the diesel will turn out to be the smart choice.

Competitor Check: As the world knows, Kia is the sister company of Hyundai, so there are no changes in the engine specifications. However, Kia offers a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and uses the older 1.4L turbo petrol engine. That said, experts say the ride quality of the Carens is much better because the suspension is tuned perfectly. Once again, the diesel engine makes more sense in this vehicle too.

Feature Rich

The maximum price customers have to pay to get the Alcazar before taxes is Rs 20.64 lakh, and there are several features included that make it a luxurious car. Heads of companies or people in higher positions prefer it because Hyundai has put a lot of focus on the second row. Now, let's check out at all the features:

• 64 Colour Ambient Lightning
• Power Driver seat - 8 way
• Front row seatback table with retractabl cup-holder and IT device holder
• Auto healthy air purifier with AQI display
• Rear window sunshade
• 10.25 Inch multi display digital cluster with personalized themes
• Bose premium sound system (8 speakers)
• Voice enabled smart panoramic sunroof
• Premium dual tone cognac brown interiors
• Premium all black interiors with light sage green coloured inserts
• Front Row Ventialted Seats
• Blind spot monitor
• Dash cam with dual camera
• Drive mode select (comfort | eco | sport)
• Traction control modes (snow | sand | mud)
• Puddle lamps with logo projection

Competitor Check: Almost every feature in the Alcazar is also present in the Carens. However, Kia has many hidden spaces to keep your stuff, such as pop-out cup holders, an under-seat parcel tray, cooled cup holders, and roof-mounted AC vents. These features may not be visually striking, but in daily use, they elevate your Carens experience.

Hyundai Alcazar Cons

Light Throw

A plethora of customers who own the Creta (2nd generation) and the Alcazar complain about the ineffectiveness of the LED headlights. They say the headlights don't have the required throw in very dark conditions, and they have to be extra cautious in such situations. Eventually, they visit the aftermarket to get a more powerful set of lights, but considering its 20 lakh price, this is a big disappointment.

Competitor Check: There are no problems regarding the Kia Carens lights, and the LED lights are bright enough in every condition.

Not Fun To Drive

This is a common downside of owning a big car: the fun-to-drive factor diminishes unless you own an Audi RS Q8 or Porsche Cayenne. The body roll deteriorates confidence, and the driver tends to slow down. Understeer issues persist, so the 1.5L turbo petrol doesn't have enough room to express its power. A big reason why it's not fun to drive is that it's a front-wheel drive; a 7-seater pulling all the weight through the front wheels will not be able to handle the burden when its throttle response is high.

Mileage

Don't expect good fuel economy during city drives, as it takes a lot to pull a 1435 kg machine. On the highway, when cruise mode is set, you can expect around 20 kmpl from the diesel engine, which is the best you can get. On the other hand, the turbo petrol engine's best is 16 to 17 kmpl with the lightest foot, but then what's the point of owning a powerful engine?

Competitor Check: This is the same issue with the Kia Carens, and people who are going to buy either of these 7-seaters shouldn't expect high fuel economy.

Also Read: Kia Carens VS Hyundai Alcazar: Which 7-Seater Offers The Most Value?