After months of research, test drives, and forum reading, I finally brought home the Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 Turbo Petrol DCT 7-Seater
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Hello fellow BHPians,
After months of research, test drives, and forum reading, I finally brought home the Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 Turbo Petrol DCT 7-Seater. Over the last 15 days, I’ve clocked just over 1,440 kms — covering a bit of city commutes in Bangalore and a 5 day road trip to Belgaum and Goa.
I’m sharing my first impressions and experiences across different driving conditions, hoping it helps others considering this car or something in the same segment.
Variant Details:
Model: Hyundai Alcazar 1.5 Turbo Petrol DCT
Variant: Signature 7-Seater
Color: Robust Emerald Matte
ODO at review time: ~1,440 km
Usage Split: ~100 km city + ~1,380 km highway + ghat/coastal roads
Buying and Delivery Experience
Booked through Trident Hyundai, Bangalore. Experience was smooth — no pushing for unnecessary accessories or extended warranty. Delivery was on time and well-organised. Pre-delivery inspection went without a hitch (thanks to Team-BHP checklist!) as well as an earlier 3rd party Zekardo PDI which was done at the Trident Stockyard. Got a hefty discount as we purchased a Nov 2024 manufactured car.
Design and Build Quality
The Alcazar may share the Creta’s DNA but carries a more mature, premium look ( I think so!), especially with the longer stance and larger rear quarter glass.
Fit and finish are top-notch. Paint quality is good, panel gaps are uniform at most places. Being matte, finger prints are left on the surface need to spend time to keep the car clean.
Doors shut with a satisfying thud. No rattles or squeaks yet, even after a day of driving through Khanapur’s broken patches.
Engine and Transmission
The 1.5L turbo petrol with the 7-speed DCT is a great combo and you can feel the gear changes ever so slightly.
City driving: Smooth, refined, and effortless. DCT behaves predictably in stop-go traffic.
Highway: Feels relaxed at 100-110 kmph. Overtaking is easy, even in eco and normal mode — downshifts are quick and intuitive.
The engine loves to rev but rarely went above 3,000 RPM during the engine running-in.
Eco mode was handy for maximising mileage on flat stretches; Sport mode nor Cruise Control used during the engine running-in.
Ride and Handling
Suspension is well-tuned — slightly on the firmer side, which I prefer. Soaks up bumps without bouncing much but could have been slightly better especially for the mid-row occupants.
Steering is light in the city and weighs up adequately on the highway. Not the most communicative, but better than older Hyundais ( Have owned a Santro Xing XP long ago).
No nervousness at high speeds, though i rarely crossed 105 kms/ hr. Stability on 4-lane highways (esp. NH48) was confidence-inspiring.
On the narrow winding roads of Goa and the Chorla ghats, the car felt surprisingly very nimble for a 7-seater.
Fuel Efficiency
City: ~7-9 kmpl with moderate traffic and AC on.
Highway (Bangalore – Belgaum – Goa – Bangalore): ~16.8 kmpl 70- 90 kmpl and 13 kmpl when average was 80- 110 kmph. Probably another factor could be that there were 2 pax while going and 4 pax while returning.
Not bad at all for a 7-seater turbo petrol automatic!
Cabin and Comfort
Ventilated front seats are okay but could have been better.
3 seater in mid-row have good legroom and recline angle but the thigh support could have been better for 5.11 feet tall person. AC in 2nd row could have been better.
Third row is usable for kids or short adults, we tested with 5 adults + 2 teeangers for a short drive in Belgaum. Access is decent; AC vents and control is very effective + reclining backrest help.
Boot space with all 3 rows up is just adequate but becomes generous with the 3rd row folded.
NVH levels are excellent — cabin is well-insulated, even at 100+ kmph.
Features & Tech
Fully loaded — 360° camera, digital cluster, Bose audio, panoramic sunroof, TPMS, Bluelink, ambient lighting.
The 10.25” infotainment screen is crisp. Android Auto and Carplay works great (though it’s wired, not wireless — a bit of a miss). But I learnt through this forum that there is an adapter now being made available.
Blind View Monitor is genuinely useful in city traffic and highways, a great boon.
Air Conditioning
AC performance is very good, even in Goa’s humid afternoons, especially in the 1st & 3rd row.
Rear passengers (2nd row) remained comfortable throughout the journey.
Minor Niggles
No wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay — truly baffling at this price.
No powered tailgate (a useful feature for a family SUV).
DCT gets mildly warm after long ghat sections but never showed warning lights or symptoms. Not sure how to check the engine temperature. There are so many features and it would take me sometime understand all the features offered!
Condensation seen on outside C column right side and top due to ac working throughout the journey.
First Service
Scheduled for tomorrow, plan to get the engine oil and filter changed even though not recommended by Hyundai.
Final Thoughts
After 1,400+ kms of mixed driving, I’m genuinely happy with the Alcazar DCT. It delivers on comfort, features, refinement, and highway performance. Yes, it’s not an enthusiast’s SUV, but for someone looking for a capable, stylish, and practical 7-seater for city + highway use, it hits the sweet spot.
Hope to post reviews at the regular intervals and also share our travelogues.
Happy to answer any questions. Thanks to the Team-BHP community for helping me make an informed decision.
Cheers,
Narayan
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