Hyundai Alcazar

The Hyundai Alcazar is the brand's three-row family SUV, slotting above the Creta with which it shares its underpinnings. The 2024 update brought sharper styling, a bigger turbo-petrol engine and a heavily updated cabin. Buyers choose between six- and seven-seat layouts, two well-proven engines and a long list of comfort and safety kit. It targets families who want Creta refinement but need that extra row of seating without jumping to a much pricier SUV.

On the road, the Alcazar's headline act is the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, which replaced the older 2.0 unit and brings a meaningful 158 bhp and 253 Nm. Paired with the slick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, it feels brisk for a vehicle of this size and is happy to cruise quietly on the highway. The 1.5 diesel remains the sensible long-distance pick: less urgent but torquey, frugal and available with both manual and torque-converter automatic gearboxes. Ride quality is the Alcazar's strong suit, soaking up broken Indian roads with composure, though the soft tune means a little body roll through quick corners.

Inside, the cabin is genuinely plush for the segment. Dual 10.25-inch screens, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a Bose audio system and configurable ambient lighting make the higher trims feel premium. The six-seat captain-chair layout is the one to have if comfort matters most; the second row is spacious and supportive. The third row, as with most SUVs this size, is best reserved for children or short trips, and putting it to use shrinks boot space considerably.

Hyundai has also taken safety seriously here. Six airbags are standard across the range, and top variants add the Level-2 ADAS suite with adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking, plus a 360-degree camera and blind-spot monitoring. The features list genuinely rivals costlier SUVs.

The trade-offs are familiar Hyundai ones. The Alcazar is not cheap once you climb to the fully loaded trims, where it bumps against larger seven-seaters. The third row remains compromised, and enthusiasts may find the steering a touch light and the handling more relaxed than engaging. For its intended family audience, though, these are minor complaints.