Hyundai 7 Seater Cars in India

Hyundai has been present in the Indian market since before the turn of the century. In all these years, the South Korean carmaker has been focused towards delivering cars for the masses by making nifty hatchbacks that punch far above their weight such as the Santro, i10, Getz and i20. In the last decade, the brand pivoted quickly and focused heavily on SUVs, giving us gems like the Creta and Venue. In recent years though, the market for 7 seater cars has been rapidly expanding, with more and more buyers leaning towards buying cars with three rows of seating. While Hyundai has offered a 7 seater option before in India, it is only just starting to sink its teeth in the segment. Currently, Hyundai sells only one 7 seater and it is the Alcazar.

Hyundai Alcazar

The Alcazar was developed by Hyundai as it saw the demand for 7 seater cars in India increasing. While engineering a new car can be expensive, Hyundai mitigated this challenge by basing the Alcazar on the Creta’s platform. While the Creta’s platform was initially designed to be a 5 seater SUV, the South Korean carmaker managed to stretch it enough that it could spawn a 7 seater SUV.

On the inside, the Alcazar is like how you would expect any modern Hyundai to be – functional and premium. The touchscreen setup has been borrowed from the Creta, like all other features, and the panoramic sunroof in this 7 seater avatar makes the cabin feel utterly spacious. However, while the Alcazar is in its first generation, it has recently received a facelift.

The pre-facelift model, which is now only available in the used car market, was sold with a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5 litre diesel engine. The petrol engine was quite relaxed in the way it revved, but there was an absence of low down torque, meaning that acceleration from slow speeds could often feel tepid. Furthermore, the weight of the Alcazar also bogged it down a little. The 1.5 litre diesel engine was more responsive but felt a little out of breath when pushed to the maximum.

In the Alcazar facelift, Hyundai has replaced the 2.0 petrol engine with a 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine. It solves the slow-speed acceleration problem and has enough power when you rev it out as well. The diesel engine remains a 1.5 litre unit, and it feels, more or less, the same as before. Hyundai offers the option of an automatic transmission with both engines, which was also the case with the pre-facelift model of the Alcazar.

As a 7 seater, the Alcazar’s third row seats are comfortable. However, it is not comfortable for adults over long journeys as the knees dig into the second row seats. Adults also have to sit in a ‘knees-up’ position which makes it further uncomfortable. However, children will be able to adjust in the third row of the Alcazar for city trips, but even they will need regular breaks on highway journeys.

Hyundai Alcazar Specifications

• Engine: 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine, 1,5 litre diesel engine
• Transmission: 6 speed MT, 7 speed DCT (petrol), 6 speed AT (diesel)
• Mileage: 15 km/l – 20 km/l
• Airbags: 6
• Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 6 seater / 7 seater
• Body Type: SUV

7 Seater Hyundai Cars in India Summary

As of now, Hyundai sells one 7 seater car in India in the form of the Alcazar. That too, the Alcazar is based on the Creta’s platform, so it was going to have limitations as a 7 seater from the get go. However, the Alcazar is also a Hyundai and that means features, refinement and even performance are all great. Thus, the Alcazar makes sense for those buyers who occasionally want to seat 7 people in the car, but mostly, will be driving it with passengers in the first two rows only. This will have the added advantage of the Alcazar offering great boot space as a 5 seater, making it the perfect recipe for those who love to go on a road trip and pack in a lot of luggage.

FAQs about Hyundai 7 Seater Cars