Launched on June 18, 2021, the Creta-based Alcazar packs the Creta’ strengths with the flexibility of a six- or seven-seater. While combined domestic market and export sales have surpassed the 100,000-unit mark, demand is expected to rise when the facelifted Alcazar is launched later this year.
18 Jun 2024 | 8873 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
The Alcazar, Hyundai Motor India’s flagship, is three years old in the Indian market today. Launched on June 18, 2021, the three-row Alcazar midsize SUV is based on the company’s best-selling product, the Creta and packs the strengths of India’s No. 1 midsize SUV along with the flexibility of ...
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The Alcazar, Hyundai Motor India’s flagship, is three years old in the Indian market today. Launched on June 18, 2021, the three-row Alcazar midsize SUV is based on the company’s best-selling product, the Creta and packs the strengths of India’s No. 1 midsize SUV along with the flexibility of six or seven seats.
Prior to its launch, the company had received over 4,000 bookings with a 50:50 split between the automatic and manual gearbox versions. Additionally, 60% of the bookings were for the six-seat layout and the remaining 40% for the seven-seat layout.
The Hyundai Alcazar has, since launch, sold a total of 102,682 units comprising 75,506 units in the domestic market and 27,176 units as exports from India. Over 36 months, Hyundai Motor India’s manufacturing plant at Sriperumbudur, Chennai has cumulatively produced 103,243 units. FY2023 was the Alcazar’s best fiscal year yet – 38,394 units produced (up 34% YoY), 26,696 units sold in India (up 3.1% YoY) and 11,334 units exported (up 292% YoY). However, the next fiscal (FY2024) saw domestic market sales reduce by 22% to 20,753 units, exports by 4.49% to 10,825 units and in turn production was down by 17% to 31,873 units.
Wholesales in the first two months of FY2025 in India are also down: the 2,163 units in April-May 2024 are down 52% YoY (April-May 2023: 4,480 units). Exports though have jumped by 45% to 2,130 units YoY (April-May 2023: 1,466 units).
Feature-rich midsize SUV targeted at family buyers
At launch, the Alcazar was Hyundai Motor India’s fifth SUV after the Creta, Venue, Tucson and Kona. Since then, Hyundai’s SUV portfolio has expanded to seven with the addition of the Ioniq 5 EV and Exter compact SUV.
The Creta-based Alcazar is aimed at family buyers keen on a modern, stylish and feature-rich six- and seven-seater SUV, which is high on space and comfort, and safe too. At 4,500mm, the Alcazar is 170mm longer than the Creta, width is the same at 2790mm, and height at 1675mm is 40mm taller than the Creta. Wheelbase at 2760mm is 150mm more than the Creta.
The Creta-based Alcazar gets subtle design changes to help differentiate it from India’s best-selling SUV. These include a new grille, an updated front bumper, a prominent rear quarter glass, new wraparound tail-lights, a slightly more upright tailgate, and faux dual exhaust tips.
The Hyundai Alcazar is powered by a 1.5-litre, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 160hp and 253 Nm of torque and enables the SUV to achieve a 0-100kph time of 10.21 seconds. The diesel is Hyundai’s 1.5-litre turbocharged U2 CRDi unit from the Creta rated at 116hp and 250 Nm torque but slightly retuned to manage the Alcazar’s higher kerb weight. Both engines come with a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission options.
Hyundai at present has 18 variants on offer for the Alcazar – eight petrol and 10 diesel – with pricing starting at Rs 20.12 lakh for the base 1.5 Prestige 7-seat variant and going upwards to the 1.5 CRDi Signature (O) Rs 25.20 lakh (both prices, on-road Delhi).
Facelifted Alcazar to be launched around September-October 2024
Hyundai Motor India, which launched the new Creta in mid-January 2024 and has seen demand accelerate further for its best-selling model, was originally slated to launch the Alcazar facelift by mid-2024, and possibly on the Alcazar’s third anniversary which is today.
However, the launch of the updated Alcazar, which has been snapped testing on Indian roads, has been deferred by a few months to around September-October 2024 just ahead of the festival season, as per Autocar India.
Compared to the new Creta, which is currently averaging monthly dispatches of over 15,000 units, the current Alcazar is less than a tenth of that. It is likely that with high dealer inventory levels of the Alcazar, Hyundai would have preferred to clear existing stocks of the current model and then introduce the facelifted model.
Expect the upcoming new Alcazar, which will retain the same petrol and diesel powertrains, to get updates similar to the new Creta, like the split headlamp setup, an all-new front grille as well as bumper, a redesigned tailgate and horizontal connected tail-lamps. Inside the cabin, the new Alcazar is likely to get the new dashboard from the facelifted Creta. The features list will include tech like the twin 10.25-inch screens, ADAS suite, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, and ventilated seats carried over from the Creta, and the cabin space and seating will also remain unchanged. However, there could be some changes to the upholstery and interior shades to keep things fresh.
When launched later this year, the new Alcazar will continue to rival the Mahindra XUV700, Tata Safari and the MG Hector Plus in the midsize SUV market.
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