Hyundai has finally launched the Alcazar 6/7-seater mid-sized SUV in the Indian market with prices ranging from Rs 16.30 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Although it is based on the Creta, it is bigger in size, gets a more powerful petrol engine, and has cosmetical differences & more features than its 5-seater counterpart. Also, it is approximately Rs 6 lakh more expensive than its smaller sibling. But how does it fare against its rivals? Let's find out: –
Petrol Variants: –
| Hyundai Alcazar | MG Hector Plus |
| – | Style – Rs 13.63 lakh (7-seater) |
| – | Super Hybrid – Rs 15.13 lakh (7-seater) |
| Prestige – Rs 16.30 lakh (7-seater) / Rs 16.45 lakh (6-seater) | – |
| Prestige (O) AT – Rs 17.93 lakh (6-seater) | Smart CVT – Rs 17.50 lakh (6-seater) |
Smart DCT – Rs 17.50 lakh (6-seater) | |
| Platinum – Rs 18.22 lakh (7-seater) | Sharp Hybrid – Rs 18.13 lakh (6-seater) |
| Signature – Rs 18.70 lakh (6-seater) | – |
| Platinum (O) AT – Rs 19.55 lakh(6-seater) | Sharp DCT – Rs 19.18 lakh (6-seater) |
| Sharp CVT – Rs 19.18 lakh (6-seater) | |
| Signature (O) AT – Rs 19.84 lakh (6-seater) | – |
The petrol-powered Hector Plus is quite affordable than the newly launched Alcazar. In fact, it's the most affordable three-row mid-sized SUV available in the Indian market. However, it is important to note that all the variants of Alcazar are very well equipped, so its high price seems justified.
The Alcazar comes with a 2.0-liter petrol engine that generates a maximum output of 159PS/191Nm. It can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. On the other hand, the MG Hector Plus gets a 143PS 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine that has more torque (250Nm) to offer. Also, it gets two automatic transmission options (6-speed DCT & CVT) along with the 6-speed manual unit. Select petrol-manual variants of Hector are also available with the 48V mild-hybrid technology.
Diesel variants: –
Hyundai Alcazar | Tata Safari | MG Hector Plus | Mahindra XUV500 |
– | XE – Rs 14.99 lakh (7-Seater) | Style – Rs 15.03 lakh (7-Seater) | – |
| – | – | – | W7 – 15.52 Lakh |
– | – | Super – Rs 16.13 lakh (7-seater) | – |
| Prestige – Rs 16.53 lakh (7-seater)/ Rs 16.68 lakh (6-seater) | XM – Rs 16.36 lakh (7-Seater) | Super – Rs 16.37 lakh (6-seater) | W7 AT – 16.72 lakh |
| – | XMA – Rs 17.61 lakh (7-Seater) | W9 – Rs 17.27 lakh | |
| – | XT – Rs 17.81 lakh (7-Seater) | Smart – Rs 17.99 lakh (7-Seater) | – |
| Prestige (O) AT – Rs 18.01 lakh (7-seater) | – | Smart – Rs 18.09 lakh (6-seater) | – |
| – | – | W9 AT – Rs 18.48 lakh | |
| Platinum – Rs 18.45 lakh (7-seater) | XT+ – Rs 18.61 lakh (7-Seater) | Select – Rs 18.80 lakh (7-seater) | W11 (O) – Rs 18.80 lakh |
| Signature – Rs 18.93 lakh (6-seater) | – | – | |
| Platinum (O) AT – Rs 19.78 lakh (6-seater) | XZ – Rs 19.51 lakh (7-Seater) | Sharp – Rs 19.60 lakh (6-Seater) | – |
| Signature (O) AT – Rs 19.99 lakh (6-seater) | XZ+ – Rs 20.35 lakh (6/7-seater) | – | W11 (O) AT – Rs 20.03 lakh |
| – | XZA – Rs 20.76 lakh (7-Seater) | – | – |
| – | XZA+ – Rs 21.61 lakh (6/7-seater) | – | – |
| – | Adventure Edition – Rs 20.56 lakh (6/7-seater) | – | – |
| – | Adventure Edition AT – Rs 21.81 lakh (6/7-seater) | – | – |
While the pricing of base-spec Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are pretty close, the Safari XE bears the crown of being the most affordable diesel SUV in the segment.
The Safari retails from Rs 14.99 lakh, around Rs 1.54 lakh cheaper than the Alcazar. In fact, the base pricing of the Alcazar is quite close to the mid-spec variants of its rivals, and also it is better packed than its competition.
While the starting price of Alcazar seems quite high, its top-spec Signature and Signature (O) trims are the most affordable in the segment. The Alcazar's Signature manual variant is Rs 67,000 cheaper than the Hector Plus's Sharp trim, which is the second most affordable diesel-manual variant of the segment.
If we compare only the automatic variants, the Mahindra XUV500 has an edge over its rivals. However, the top-spec Signature (O) variant of the Alcazar beats the W11 (O) AT trim in terms of affordability.
Tata Safari is the most expensive model among all, demanding approximately Rs 1.61 lakh over the Alcazar Signature (O) trim. The difference further increases if you wish to buy the Adventure Persona Edition.
While the Alcazar comes with better-packed features, we can't deny the fact that its 1.5-liter diesel engine is the least powerful among all with an output of 115PS/360Nm. The XUV500's 2.2-litre diesel engine (155PS/360Nm) is the second least powerful but the torquiest engine in the league. The Safari and Hector Plus, on the other hand, gest the same 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that produces 170PS and 350Nm.
All the above-mentioned SUVs come with an optional torque converter automatic transmission save for the MG Hector Plus.
