Meet the new Hyundai Alcazar, technically a face-lifted version of the seven-seat Hyundai Grand Creta (read our road-trip review here) at a more affordable price, promising family-friendly functionality without abandoning your fashion sense. But does it deliver? I spent a week with the 1.5D Executive model to determine if this newcomer deserves a spot in your driveway, especially when so many Chinese competitors are promising buyers the world, on a budget.
Search new and used Hyundai Alcazar models here.
Styling
First impressions count, and the Alcazar makes a great one. Its distinctive H-style LED light signature makes oncoming traffic take notice, while that bold grille with silver accents gives it a premium edge that belies its price tag. (These headlamps are excellent if your vision is not great at night.)
In our "Guess the car?" social media post with a few close-ups of the Alcazar's lights and grille, many of our followers commented that it's a Jetour or an Omoda. They were pleasantly surprised to discover that this attractive new SUV is a Hyundai, because of its reputation for reliability.
Standing 60mm longer than its 5-seater Creta sibling, the Alcazar doesn't suffer from the awkward proportions that sometimes plague vehicles stretched to accommodate an extra row. The 17-inch alloys (on Executive models) fill the arches nicely, and those connected LED tail lamps give following traffic something pretty to look at.
Interior
Step inside, and it's immediately clear that Hyundai's interior designers deserve a raise. The dashboard is dominated by an 8-inch infotainment screen paired with physical buttons for climate and audio controls. This is a welcome sight in an age where manufacturers seem determined to hide everything behind touchscreens, making things unnecessarily finicky for the driver.
You'll find the digital driver's display instead of an analogue instrument binnacle next to it. The two screens form a cohesive unit, mimicking the elongated dual screen in its pricier Kia cousins.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard (100% glitch-free!), as are Bluetooth connectivity and the steering wheel's satellite buttons. Everything feels solidly put together, with no creaks or rattles that can sometimes be a bugbear in this price bracket. Two USB ports as well as a wireless charging pad can be found below the air-conditioning controllers. My 16-year-old commented that the sound system was decent enough to make out the subtle background nuances of his favourite neo-rock bands like Linkin Park, which his old lady also listened to in her youth.
Search for Hyundai Grand Creta models here.
Space and Comfort
The vegan leather upholstery won't fool a connoisseur. Still, the design is stylish, contemporary, and durable enough to withstand family life's inevitable messes and spills. The steering wheel is also wrapped in faux leather, and most touch points feature materials that would make it feel at home in cars which cost significantly more. Throughout the cabin, clever storage solutions abound. There are cup holders galore and enough nooks and crannies to hide all manner of family detritus, and the front binnacle's armrest is extendable.
Hyundai has cleverly elevated the third row slightly (they call it "stadium seating"), providing better visibility for those banished to the back. There are even dedicated USB ports and air vents back there – a thoughtful touch that your teenagers will silently appreciate while still maintaining their outward disdain for family outings.
Unlike some 7-seaters, where the rearmost seats are suitable only for contortionists or particularly vindictive mothers-in-law, the Alcazar's third row can accommodate vertically challenged adults on shorter journeys. However, it's still pretty tight, even when the second row is moved forward as far as it can go. Getting in and out of the third row (see below) is pretty easy, because the second row tumbles forward completely. This also means you can transport a bicycle upright, if needed.
With all seven seats up, the boot offers a decent 180 litres – enough for two to three overnight bags or a week's worth of groceries, but you'll need to be selective about what comes along for the ride (see below).
If you drop that third row, however, you'll be rewarded with more usable 580 litres (see below). Need more space for your trips to the nursery? Fold both rear rows flat for a generous 1 670 litres of space.
See full specs of all three Hyundai Alcazar models here.
Performance
Under the bonnet, you'll find Hyundai's reliable 1.5-litre turbodiesel engine, producing 85kW and 250Nm of torque. These numbers won't set your pulse racing, but they're adequate for family duties and feel more energetic in real life. The torque comes in early at 1,500 rpm and hangs around until 2 750 r/min, providing a usable surge of power precisely when you need it for everyday driving. In fact, at first, I thought it might be the 2.2-litre turbodiesel, also found in many of its other Korean relatives.
The 6-speed automatic transmission deserves special mention for its smooth, intelligent operation. It rarely puts a foot wrong, seeming to intuitively know when to hold a gear for overtaking or when to shift up for efficiency. There is no dual-clutch drama here, just smooth, fuss-free progress.
For most urban families who occasionally need to tow a small trailer or camping gear, the Alcazar's towing capabilities of 900kg (braked) and 700 kg (unbraked) should prove adequate – don't expect it to haul your horse box to the next polo match, though.
The Drive
The Alcazar strikes a commendable balance between comfort, power, and control. The suspension soaks up road imperfections nicely, yet body roll is kept within acceptable limits when cornering. With 200mm of ground clearance, speed bumps and dirt roads hold no fear. The Alcazar feels especially home on rained-out country roads, and roadholding scores top marks.
Three driving modes, Eco, Normal, and Sport, alter the vehicle's character somewhat to suit your mood or fuel budget. Eco mode doesn't feel like the car has suddenly developed anaemia and rewards with improved fuel economy.
Sport sharpens responses nicely when you have to overtake slow-moving traffic on the highway. Most drivers will find the Goldilocks-approved Normal mode just right for everyday use; I stuck to Eco because when you're caught in traffic or toodling about town, there's no point in not conserving diesel.
The steering is predictably light, making parking manoeuvres an absolute breeze, but it weighs up a bit at higher speeds to prevent nervous wandering. There's not much feel, but in a family SUV, that's about as relevant as a sunroof in a submarine.
Road and wind noise are sufficiently suppressed, making the Alcazar a surprisingly refined long-distance cruiser.
Fuel Consumption
Here's where the diesel engine makes its strongest case. Hyundai claims 5.9 L/100 km, and while manufacturer claims are typically as reliable as a politician's promise, I recorded 5.9 to 6.1 L/100 km during my mixed urban and highway driving (approximately 35 km) to the kids' school and back – truly impressive for a seven-seater with this much space.
Even more remarkable was its open-road efficiency, where consumption dropped as low as 3.8 L/100 km in some stretches – numbers that would make a hatchback blush! On a more hurried airport run, an average of 6.9 L/100 km over 105 km was nothing to be sneezed at.
Its 50-litre fuel tank translates to a theoretical range of over 700 - 800 km between fill-ups on a mixed cycle, and potentially up to 1,000 km on a highway run, if you take it slow.
Safety
On the safety front, the Executive trim comes well-equipped with six airbags scattered throughout the cabin (see their placement on this Indonesian-sourced image below with tan seats), ABS with EBD, stability control, hill-start assist, and downhill brake control. Rear parking sensors and a rearview camera make manoeuvring this sizeable SUV less of a lottery.
Parents will appreciate the ISOfix child seat anchors on the outer seats of the second row.
You'll need to upgrade to the Elite model for the more advanced driver assistance systems, such as blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist.
Price
At R599 900, the Alcazar 1.5D Executive occupies a sweet spot in the market, offering significantly better value than most SUVs in this price range.
The deal is sweetened considerably by Hyundai's warranty package – 5 years/150,000 km for the vehicle, a very generous 7 years/200,000 km for the drivetrain, and a 3-year/45 000 km service plan with 15 000 km intervals.
Factor in the standard equipment, seven-seat versatility, and frugal diesel engine, and the Alcazar looks like a very shrewd purchase.
The Verdict
The Hyundai Alcazar is a welcome addition to the 7-seater SUV segment. This mid-range diesel model hits the sweet spot for families seeking space, comfort, and efficiency without breaking the bank. It proves that practical and affordable doesn't have to be boring and average.
