HYUNDAI ALCAZAR

We take a quick spin in a pre-production version of the Hyundai Alcazar, the six or seven-seat version based on the Creta

- BERTRAND D’SOUZA

The MPV market in India, vehicles that are able to seat more than five people is a substantially large one. And yet it has few players. Maruti, Renault, Nissan (Datsun) offer 6-, 7-seat vehicles at the lower end for price conscious buyers. Mahindra, Ford, MG, Toyota and Kia have offerings at the middle and top order in both SUV and MPV styles. Each appeals to the traditional Indian family, the ones that live as larger households encompassing more than four members. Hyundai Motor India’s latest offering, the Alcazar is aimed at this family, though it takes the SUV route to bring in a more wholesome experience, because an SUV can do a bit more than a regular multipurpose vehicle.

The Alcazar is based on the bestselling Creta, an SUV that is considered one of the finest in the segment and which has had a phenomenally successful run for well over six years. It has been modified to envelop an additional row of seats, and then tweaked some more in the suspension and engine areas to bear the additional load. What it does not lose is the stance of the Creta, which means you still get the higher ground clearance, the robust build and the drive modes that can take you on a bit of an adventure.