Hyundai’s new seven-seater SUV is off to a good start in South Africa

Hyundai’s newest seven-seater SUV is off to a solid start in South Africa, selling 164 units in its first two months.

The Korean automaker recently launched the new Alcazar – essentially the facelifted version of the Grand Creta – which is the brand’s cheapest three-row vehicle.

According to industry sales data provided by Naamsa, the Alcazar sold a total of 78 units in April and 86 units in May, leading to a final result of 164.

It’s a reasonably good turnout for a model that doesn’t have a large profile in South Africa, and it’s not hard to imagine that sales will pick up once motorists familiarize themselves with what the Alcazar has to offer.

The new SUV isn’t just the cheapest seven-seater Hyundai, as it also happens to be one of the only ones that can be bought for less than half a million rand.

Admittedly, it’s right on the cusp of this threshold, as prices for the Alcazar start at R499,900.

For context, there are only five other SUVs in South Africa that can take more than five people, including the Citroen C3 Aircross, Honda BR-V, Jetour X70 Plus, Mahindra Scorpio, and Proton X90.

Consequently, the Hyundai is a standout entry in a limited segment, which no doubt adds to its appeal.

What people are buying

The Alcazar is available in three specifications spread across two trim levels – the Executive and Elite.

There are two engines to choose from, the first of which is a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol mill good for 117kW and 191Nm.

This is sent down to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in an average fuel consumption of 7.5l/100km.

Alternatively, there’s a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel option, which has a higher output of 85kW and 250Nm.

The diesel engine is found on the mid-range Executive and top-end Elite, and uses roughly 5.9l/100km.

The Hyundai also comes with a fair amount of kit, including automatic LED lights, daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather multifunction steering wheel, air conditioning, artificial leather upholstery, cruise control, USB ports for all three rows, and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety additions comprise rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, tyre-pressure monitoring, and six airbags.

Anyone who picks up the range-topping Elite can also look forward to automatic climate control, keyless entry and start, an electric driver seat, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and front parking sensors.

The assistance features are upgraded, too, as the top-end Alcazar has access to adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and driver attention assist.

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km vehicle warranty with an additional 2-year/50,000km engine warranty, and a 3-year/45,000km service plan.