Hyundai Alcazar vs MG Hector Plus vs Tata Safari: Spec Comparison

Looking for a six- or a seven-seater SUV? You have a choice between a Korean, a British, and an Indian SUV. While we wait for the stars to align for a physical comparison test, here is an on-paper comparison of the three.

Hyundai India has officially reentered the seven/six-seater SUV space with the launch of the Alcazar. The Korean SUV has been priced between Rs 16.30 and 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The drivetrain options available with this SUV include petrol- and diesel-powered engines, along with a choice of an automatic or a manual gearbox. The Hyundai Alcazar has been placed alongside the MG Hector Plus and Tata Safari in the Indian car market.

Following is an on-paper comparison of the three SUVs in terms of specification, features, and pricing.

Drivetrain

The Tata Safari misses out on a petrol option. It only comes with an option of an FCA sourced 2.0-litre turbo-diesel motor, which also powers the MG Hector Plus’s diesel variants. The Alcazar gets a choice between a petrol and a diesel motor, both of which come mated to a manual or an automatic transmission.

The MG Hector Plus is offered with a petrol powertrain – four petrol variants also get a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. And if you want to opt for an automatic drivetrain, you can choose between two automatic transmissions – a dual-clutch automatic or a CVT. The automatic variant, however, misses out on the mild-hybrid system.   

The Alcazar gets a larger 2.0-litre petrol motor with a higher power output than the MG Hector Plus petrol. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Following is a spec chart of all the diesel variants of the three SUVs:

Features

Hands down, the Hyundai Alcazar is the most feature-loaded SUV in the comparison. The second row gets a drop-down utility table with a cup and tablet holder. The passengers in the middle-row will also benefit from a wireless charger along with a headrest cushion – it's a first in the segment. An all-digital instrument cluster is a segment-first too, which includes a live feed from wing cameras around corners to minimise blind spots. Another interesting feature is the sliding sun visors.

While the MG Hector Plus gets a screen for instrument cluster layout, the speedometer and the tachometer have analogue needles. The instrument cluster in the Tata Safari is a part digital and part analogue system, which has been carried over from the Tata Harrier.

The Tata Safari misses out on front-row ventilated seats, which the Alcazar and Hector Plus offer. The Alcazar offers a panoramic sunroof in all its variants.

The MG Hector Plus gets a vertically stacked infotainment screen, equipped with MG’s i-Smart tech. The Alcazar’s infotainment screen sits flush with the dashboard, whereas the unit in the Safari protrudes out of the dashboard. All the SUV’s get connected tech, which can be accessed via the user’s smartphone application.

Pricing

The MG Hector Plus is the most affordable product among the three, as the starting price of the seven-seater SUV is Rs 13.63 lakh (ex-showroom). The prices of the MG Hector Plus diesel variant go up to Rs 19.81 lakh (ex-showroom). The Tata Safari has an opening price of Rs 14.99 lakh (ex-showroom); the range-topping Tata Safari Adventure Persona costs Rs 21.83 lakh (ex-showroom). The Hyundai Alcazar has a higher entry point in the segment; however, the range-topping variants have a price tag that's lower than that of the Tata Safari.

While the other two SUVs offer a substantially low entry point in the segment, the higher variants of the Hyundai Alcazar offer more value for money for buyers looking for tech and features. Hyundai also mentions that these prices are introductory and that the Alcazar could see a price marginal hike in the coming months.

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Hyundai Alcazar Review

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