Fuel prices are getting higher and higher at an alarming rate- more so apparent when you are tanking up before a road trip. Both diesel and petrol fuel prices are at a record high which begs the question as to whether diesel still makes sense for large SUVs instead of fuel-guzzling petrol. Diesel sales are going down but in SUVs, personally, I feel diesel makes more sense in terms of the fuel economy and the torque that it gives plus the higher range. To test this again, I recently went to Jaipur and back for a day-long trip involving the Hyundai Alcazar diesel. It is the newest three-row SUV from Hyundai and was the perfect choice to see whether diesel still makes sense for big SUVs.
The diesel in the Alcazar is also 1.5l which might seem smaller than rivals but the Alcazar is lighter which should prove to give ample performance as a highway cruiser. An SUV like the Alcazar is bound to be used for long trips and luggage hence we needed to see whether the 1.5l diesel is up to the job. The figures read as 115bhp and 250Nm while we had the 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox version.
The Alcazar was loaded with luggage/passengers yet at first in the city, the performance at low speeds was quite effortless being more to do with the gearbox. There are various modes but whatever it might be, the Alcazar diesel was smooth plus felt more at ease with its car-like driving manners. Getting out of Delhi we settled into a cruise and here the Alcazar diesel can sit at triple-digit speeds all day. Is the diesel slow? No, the performance is linear with less of a powerful kick like in the 2.0l Alcazar but is suited to a relaxed comfort-oriented SUV. The ride too is soft but we feel the diesel Alcazar is slightly more firm than the petrol but at high speeds, it is reassuring as you would expect from an SUV of this class- with a light yet direct steering.
Let us talk about the main highlight of diesel and it is fuel efficiency. The Alcazar diesel easily achieved 22kmpl with highway cruising at steady speeds while the in city mileage would be 18 kmpl. Compared to the petrol which would at best be 10kmpl and you see the savings. Compared to petrol, diesel is more efficient and requires less stopping for fuel with more range- ideal for road trips. Sure in this case, the petrol Alcazar offers more performance with more power but the diesel is not far behind.
This top-end Signature version also comes with rear tables and a floor-mounted console having cupholders plus a cushion along with window shades. I found these features adding to the comfort which its rivals do not offer. Up-front there are ventilated seats, a massive panoramic sunroof and tan upholstery. But coming back to diesel vs petrol, a modern-day diesel is suited to a big SUV like the Alcazar especially if you do long journeys as simply put, the efficiency is better. Hence even today, the rising fuel prices make a diesel SUV still suitable if you drive a lot and a road trip does bring back advantages of diesel. The top-end diesel auto Alcazar is roughly Rs 20 lakh plus and while it might be lacking the power figures of its rivals, it is more efficient, more feature-packed and offers decent performance. With petrol having less efficiency, EVs still being way off in terms of being usable, diesel still seems to be the right choice for big SUVs for incurring lots of mileage.
What we like- Efficiency, range, comfort, features, easy to drive, better priced than rivals
What we do not- Not as powerful as petrol Alcazar
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