If you've experienced Creta's cabin, Alcazar will feel at home. The layout is easy to navigate and familiar with. There is no difference in quality, fit or finish, and it feels well made and premium. The difference is in the color palette, where you get a full range of brown and black dual tones. This makes it stand out from the usual gray / black, gray / black, and all-black cars in this price range game. There's also a glossy black panel for the center console, you'll find in the Creta instead of the matte gray finish.
For the driver's convenience, the steering wheel gets both rack and reach adjustment (Creta Reach lacks adjustment) and 8-way adjustable power seat. Overall visibility is also good, and while this is a 7 seater SUV, you won't find it more difficult to get used to than a compact SUV.
Second row
It is in the back rows that Hyundai has done a commendable job of packaging the Alcazar well, even with a relatively small change in dimensions. The rear entrance is nice and wide which makes it very easy to get in and out of the car. One side step is available for older users, but strangely enough, it only comes with two automatic types.
Two seating arrangements are available: 7-seater with a middle-row bench seat (60:40 split) and 6-seater with a middle-row captain's seat. Whichever version you choose, the middle row offers One Touch Tumble Forward (both sides) for access to the third row, with slide and recline functions. Now, with the 150mm increase in wheelbase, is there more room in the second row than Creta? Well, not at all. While sliding seats will offer more flexibility, the actual knee room on offer is almost identical.
FYI: A foldable table for the second row with tablet / iPad slot and flip-out type cup holder. Although this is an added convenience, the panel on the front seats of this table eats about an inch of knee room food.
For context, two 6-foot-tall occupants can easily sit behind each other. And if you push the front seat in Alcazar and Creta forward and pull the middle row seat backwards (in Alcazar), the available space is almost the same. In particular, the headroom with standard panoramic sunroof is impressive, and you will be fine even if you are over 6 feet tall.
FYI: The rear sections in the middle row of the Alcazar are smaller in height than the back seat of the Creta.
Seat support is good with both seating options, but understandably, the captain's seats are the ones we lean towards. Seat contouring improves your overall support. And special for the 6-seater is a central console that works as an armrest with two bottle holders and a wireless phone charger for storage. Both versions have a rear USB charger and a slot to hold your phone with it, as well as retractable window blinds.
Third row
First, the bad news. Thanks to the 6-seater Alcazar's console between the middle seats, you can't walk backwards. good news? Standard Tumble Forward With the second row, the last row is very easy to get, even for someone who is not particularly athletic.
Can adults use this third row? For average sized customers, of course! It is not difficult to adjust the front seats to make each one reasonably comfortable, provided the front seat users are also less than 6 feet tall. With tall occupants in front, it is best suited for children. As you might expect, the base of the third row seat is very close to the floor, so you won't have much lower support to talk to. However, there are some good facilities. The last row features its own set of AC vents with fan speed control, cup holders, and USB chargers.
We also asked the question, "Will you be a 5 seater middle passenger like Creta or the only third passenger in the third row of the Alcazar?" And the passenger between us chose Alcazar without any hesitation.
With all the rows, we have about 180 liters of boot space in the Alcazar, enough for two small trolley bags / a few duffel bags. Compared to Creta's 433L, the third row is completely flat, freeing up 579 liters (approximately) of cargo volume.
Technology
Here's a look at Alcazar's technology packaging:
Auto AC with rear AC vent: AC performance is strong, and cooling is efficient in all rows. You will see an additional button on the AC console (vs. Creta) that reads 'Previous'. This button must be turned on to activate the third row AC. We want Alcazar to offer crystal speed control in the middle row as well, especially since the 6-seater will be used by many driver-driven owners.
BOSE 8-Speaker Music System: Offers a sweet balance of setup punch and clarity. With some soothing music playing on these speakers, the sun's eye closes, and the sunroof closes, you can enjoy a nap in the back seat on the way back from work.
Other features
Air Purifier Cruise Control Blue Link Connected Car Tech 64 Color Ambient Lighting (Extended to Back Doors) Electronic Parking Brake with Auto Hold Front Seats Drive Modes Traction Mode with Push Button Start and Remote Engine with Smart Key / Mid) Pedal Shifters (Automatic Only) Wireless Phone Chargers Cold Glow Box