By Sala Masindane

We are sure we are beginning to sound like a stuck record, but the market is now packed with several Chinese manufacturers offering competitive pricing and endless options. Established brands have had to find creative ways to stay in the conversation and keep their share of the market. One manufacturer that has consistently managed to do this is Hyundai.

Their latest move is the Alcazar, a seven seater that slots above the Creta and comes in around 20k lower than before. While it is new to South Africa, the rest of the world sees this as a facelift. We recently spent some time behind the wheel of the newcomer.

Exterior

The Alcazar now sports fresh styling with bold daytime running lights inspired by the Exter and Santa Fe. We liked its design, especially the H shaped daytime running lights that resemble those of its smaller Exter and larger Santa Fe siblings. The matte paint, however, will require extra care when washing.

Interior

Inside, the Alcazar is well specced with a dual screen setup, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats and second row fold out tables. The third row gets its own air vents and USB ports, plus fold flat rear seats for extra practicality.

We enjoyed the Alcazar’s practical interior, which offered plenty of door pockets, fold out tables in the second row, a good number of USB ports, even in the third row, and decent boot space. We did miss having heated seats as this model only comes with ventilation.

Performance and drive

Power comes from a 1.5L turbodiesel engine making 84 kW and 250 Nm, paired with a 6 speed automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 5.9 L/100km. Safety features include six airbags, stability control and optional ADAS on Elite trims.

On the road, the 1.5 litre diesel feels solid and the ride quality is quite good. In real world driving we managed 7.9 L/100km.

Final word

The Alcazar offers a comfortable drive, great styling and a capable engine. The third row is not the best, but it is still a strong contender for families shopping for a new SUV. Pricing for the Hyundai Alcazar s1.5 CRDi Elite AT starts at R669,900.