Hyundai is preparing to launch a new seven-seater SUV in South Africa known as the Alcazar.
Admittedly, this vehicle isn’t actually new, but is the latest version of the Grand Creta already on sale here.
The SUV made its initial debut in India back in 2021 under the name “Alcazar,” but the manufacturer elected to use a different naming convention for the models imported to our market in 2022.
In South Africa, this car is known as the Grand Creta, which is a rather straightforward name that tells consumers it is the larger version of the Creta crossover.
Even so, Hyundai has evidently decided against this name for the facelifted version, which will take up the Alcazar nomenclature when it appears in local showrooms next month.
What’s in store
The Grand Creta is one of the most affordable seven-seater SUVs on the market, largely thanks to the fact it is essentially a long-wheelbase version of the R449,900 Creta.
Hyundai has yet to officially state how much the new Alcazar will cost, but we expect it will start closer to the R500,000 mark given its larger dimensions.
What we do know is that it features two different engines, starting with a 2.0-litre petrol block.
This unit produces a total of 117kW and 191Nm, and consumes approximately 8.9l/100km.
The higher-spec models are treated to a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel mill, which puts out 84kW and 250Nm while averaging 6.5l/100km.
In South Africa, the Grand Creta was also sold with a choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, but it remains to be seen whether the former will still be included with the new version.
In terms of its design, motorists will be able to tell the new Alcazar apart from the Creta thanks to a number of visual tweaks.
This includes a new front end with a larger bumper, slim LED headlights, daytime running lights, and new alloy wheels that start at 18 inches in size.
At the back, there is new a singular horizontal LED strip connecting the taillamps on either side.
Looking inside, the interior shows many of the same hallmarks seen by the recently updated Tucson.
Most notably, the Alcazar has a new dual display for the driver and infotainment screens, in contrast to the Grand Creta, which had a separate touchscreen in the centre console flanked by physical buttons.
Those buttons have been dropped entirely, and the climate control system has ditched its large rotary knobs for a much sleeker aesthetic.
Once it touches down in South Africa, the Alcazar should also come with the brand’s standard 7-year/200,000km warranty, comprised of a 5-year/150,000km warranty and an additional 2-year/50,000km powertrain warranty.
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