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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. I drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under real-world South African conditions. Many of the vehicles driven are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you get where you live.

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Bigger but not huge: 2022 Hyundai Grand Creta 2.0 Elite a/t

Known as Hyundai Alcazar in some markets

Rated R for responsible

Posted: September 28, 2022

The numbers
Base price of test vehicle: R547 900
Engine: 1999 cc, DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Power: 117 kW at 6500 rpm
Torque: 191 Nm at 4500 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 10.5 seconds
Top speed: 190 km/h
Real life fuel consumption: About 8.4 l/100 km
Tank: 50 litres
Luggage: 180 – 561 – 1670 litres
Ground clearance: 200 mm
Turning circle: 11.2 metres
Standard tyre size: 215/55R18
Towing ability: 750 kg unbraked, 1000 kg braked
Manufacturer’s warranty: Five years, 150 000 km.
Powertrain warranty: Additional two years and 50 000 km.
Roadside assistance: Seven years, 150 000 km
Service plan: Four years, 60 000 km at 15 000 km intervals.


Wikipedia sums it up neatly: “The Hyundai Alcazar is a three-row compact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai in India. Introduced in April 2021, it is a long-wheelbase version of the subcompact Creta with additional third-row seating, styling changes, and different powertrain options.”

We call it Grand Creta, but what’s in a name?

One cannot really compare the two; Grand Creta is bigger, heavier and uses different engines and gearboxes. Five South African offerings use either the 2.0 Nu petrol engine or Hyundai’s D4FA 1.5-litre turbodiesel, and come in two trim grades; mid-level Executive and top-notch Elite. Four are fitted with six-speed torque converter automatics while an entry-level petrol Executive uses a six-cog manual shifter.

The autobox isn’t fancy; no paddles and manual override only via the stick shifter in S mode. S stands for Fun, but in day-to-day use the car might be rated R - for responsible – comfortable, spacious, decently easy on fuel, but no ball of fire.

Differences between trim grades include ventilated and electrically adjustable driver’s seat; 18” wheels; electric parking brake that sets manually but releases automatically; map pockets and aircraft-style tables on the backs of the front chairs; push-button starter; automatic front screen defogging; automatic climate control rather than plain aircon; 10.25-inch, vs seven-inch, instrument cluster; rear side window blinds; ambient mood lighting; sun roof; privacy glass and wireless phone charging. This package adds either R48 000 or R51 000, depending on engine choice, to the deal.

A few words on the bigger instrument cluster: It offers four selectable virtual-instrument ‘views’ that can either be keyed to the drive mode selected or kept static until you change it. Another Elite feature is a combination dial offering terrain control - Snow, Mud and Sand - or drive modes Eco, Comfort and Sport. These range from “somewhat soft” to “actually rather nice” when accelerator- and gearbox responses become decently quick.

It's a fact of life in the car world that everybody now produces good engines, (mostly) decent gearboxes and suspension systems that work - anywhere between competently and brilliantly. The only available differentiators are features, apps and electronic doodads. A shortcoming of virtual instruments is that basic functions like zeroing the trip meter and fuel computer can become lost in a maze of confusing menus. Grand Creta is no exception to this malady, unfortunately.  

Apart from that it’s mostly straightforward. All versions have six airbags, plain cruise control, all the usual safety aids and powered bits and pieces, conventional suspension that works well on gravel roads, disc brakes all around, LED lights, roof rails and artificial leather seats. These feel rather hard on first acquaintance but one gets used to them.

Space-wise the third-row chairs, while mainly for little people, are more accessible than some and leg space depends on how generous those in the second row happen to be. Those seats can be shifted fore- and aft by a few inches and the backs can recline by a few degrees. Despite that, the wee folk have their own courtesy lamp, cupholders, USBs and a fan speed controller for the body-side vents.

The standard-on-Elite sunroof works as well as most – keeping out the worst of wind turbulence but getting a bit noisy around 90 km/h and verging on uncomfortably so at 100-plus.

The boot loads at an easy 70 centimetres and offers four lashing rings, two bag hooks and a bay light. The spare is slung pickup-style beneath the body because the third-row chairs occupy space that might otherwise have accommodated it.

Finally: Grand Creta is competent if not exciting, has most of the gadgets people believe they need, as well as some that can easily be ignored by buying down. It does its assigned job as a five-to seven-seat family car without taking up a city block to do so and, as bigger people-wagons go, is competitively priced.

Test unit from Hyundai SA press fleet


See the launch report here

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is thoroughly researched, given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

Comments or questions?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you completely disagree with what I say? If you want advice or have a genuine concern, I will be happy to hear from you. All I ask is that you write something in the subject line so I know which vehicle you're talking about.