2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift review: The ultimate family

Hyundai’s updated Alcazar is the perfect family SUV, but is it? Let’s dig into the details and see how this facelifted model lives up to its hype.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift: new look

The revamped Hyundai Alcazar features a sleeker design inspired by its sibling, the Creta. The updated model gets new H-shaped LED daytime running lights and revised headlamp clusters, giving it a modern and attractive look. The safety features have been enhanced with the addition of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with integrated radar in the revised bumper.

Around the sides, high-spec models now come with stylish 18-inch alloy wheels, while lower-spec models retain the 17-inch wheels. More pronounced roof rails and an updated rear design, complete with a pronounced bumper and connected LED light bar, further enhance the SUV’s appearance. The rear showcases a bold ‘Alcazar’ badge, adding to its upscale feel. While the extensive LED lighting may not be to everyone’s liking, boot space is practical, offering 180 litres with all seats raised and 480 litres with the third row folded.

It’s worth noting that Hyundai has removed the panoramic sunroof and spare wheel from the diesel models. Instead, the diesel models come with a tire repair kit, while the petrol models come with a 17-inch steel spare wheel. The absence of a windshield is understandable, but the removal of the spare wheel may be controversial.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift: interior innovations

The Hyundai Alcazar’s cabin design continues to impress. The new two-tone brown and navy interior exudes a premium feel, even though it features mostly hard plastic surfaces. Soft-touch materials are limited to small areas on the door trims.

The dashboard design is inspired by the Creta, including the slim air-conditioning vents and a unified 10.25-inch touchscreen and driver display. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but lacks wireless connectivity. The piano black finish around the climate controls adds a touch of elegance, although switching to touch-sensitive controls while driving may not be very user-friendly. Storage space is still ample, and the front seats are 8-way electrically adjustable. The 8-speaker Bose sound system is a notable addition.

The second-row seats are a standout, especially in the 6-passenger configuration with captain’s chairs. These seats offer ventilation, recline, and plenty of adjustability, but may feel tight for larger passengers. Headroom and legroom are adequate for those under 5 feet 10 inches tall. The Alcazar also comes with a handy button that allows the front passenger seat to move forward for more legroom. Rear passengers have access to a wireless charger, two Type-C USB ports, and rear air conditioning vents.

Accessing the third row is a bit of a hassle, making it best suited for kids or short trips. However, the third row comes with cupholders, a Type-C charger, and large quarter windows for increased comfort.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift: safety first

The upgraded Alcazar is equipped with a comprehensive range of safety features including six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), hill start assist, rear parking camera, sensors, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and rear disc brakes. The facelift introduces Level 2 ADAS, electrochromic IRVM and hill descent control. Although the crash test results are yet to be announced, the Alcazar is expected to perform well in the safety assessment.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift: Driving performance

The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces 160 hp and 253 Nm of torque, offering strong performance and smooth acceleration. The 7-speed DCT gearbox enhances driving comfort, but due to the test conditions we were unable to verify Hyundai’s claim of a 0-100 km/h time of 9.5 seconds.

Ride comfort is slightly less than the Creta due to the larger 18-inch wheels. It is still comfortable on most city roads but can easily hit large potholes if going too fast. The steering is light in city settings and firm on highways. Body roll is well controlled but it is advisable to avoid cornering at high speeds with passengers.

Hyundai claims fuel economy figures of 17.5 km/l (manual) and 18 km/l (DCT) for the turbo petrol models. Our observations showed fuel consumption of around 6.5 km/l, and we expect city fuel consumption to be closer to 10-12 km/l, and higher fuel consumption under normal conditions on the highway.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift: Final thoughts

While the absence of a sunroof, spare wheel and LED reading lights on the diesel version may disappoint some, and the entry-level automatic model starts at Rs 21 lakh, the 2024 Alcazar facelift remains a strong contender for urban families. If you are looking for a feature-rich, family-friendly SUV, its combination of style, features and performance is worth a try.