Owning an SUV is about stamping your presence on the road while travelling in comfort. This is part of the reason why SUVs have slowly gained prominence across the globe. In India, the launch of the Hyundai Alcazar has ignited the competition in the 7 seater SUV segment. With challengers in the form of the new Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, there is plenty to compare between these 7 seater SUVs and find the overall best.
Dimensions, boot, and seating
Hyundai Alcazar
Toyota Fortuner
Tata Safari
Ford Endeavour
MG Hector plus
The size of an SUV is one of its vital USPs, as the very idea of an SUV brings a beefy and big car into the mind. Let’s see how much all of these cars offer dimension-wise.
Dimensions | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | Tata Safari | Ford Endeavour | MG Hector Plus |
Length | 4,500 mm | 4,795 mm | 4,661 mm | 4,903 mm | 4,720 mm |
Width | 1,790 mm | 1,855 mm | 1,894 mm | 1,869 mm | 1,835 mm |
Height | 1,675 mm | 1,835 mm | 1,786 mm | 1,837 mm | 1,760 mm |
Wheelbase | 2,760 mm | 2,745 mm | 2,741 mm | 2,850 mm | 2,750 mm |
Ground Clearance | 200 mm | 225 mm | 205 mm | 225 mm | 192 mm |
Boot space | 180 L | 296 L | 447 L | 450 L | 155 L |
Seating Capacity | 6- & 7-seater | 7- Seater | 6-&7-Seater | 7-Seater | 6&7 -Seater |
If we examine the overall size, then Ford Endeavour is the champion as it’s the longest (4903 mm) and has the biggest wheelbase (2850 mm) which is utilizable space of any car. Both the Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner also have the best ground clearance of 225 mm to keep the cabin amply elevated from the road level. Fortuner is the runner up, holding the second-best length of 4795 mm and impressive width and height. Safari is the second runner-up and its tallest height (1894 mm) compensates for its relatively shorter wheelbase (2,741 mm) which also helps its stability. MG Hector Plus is 4th in the competition. Apparently, the Hyundai Creta platform has been stretched lengthwise to make the Hyundai Alcazar platform (4,500 mm), but they haven’t altered the width (1,790 mm) at all. And that has translated to Alcazar being relatively less spacious than its rivals.
Note- Boot space of Alcazar and Fortuner can be expanded by folding the 3rd row. In Safari, the boot space with all 3 rows up is 73 L, without the 3rd row is 447 L, and without 2nd and 3rd rows is 910 L. In Endeavour, you expand the boot space up to 2010 L by folding the 2nd and 3rd rows. MG Hector provides the boot space of 530 L without 3rd row.
Engine and performance
Along with the bigger size, a car needs to possess an impressive performance for it to become the pick of the litter. Let’s dig a little deeper and understand how technically sound these SUVs are.
Petrol Engine
Engine specifications | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | MG Hector Plus |
Type | 2.0 L MPi | 2.7 L TR-FE I4 Dual VVT-i | 1.5 L Turbocharged intercooled |
Power | 156.9 bhp | 164bhp | 141 bhp |
Torque | 191 Nm | 245 Nm | 250 Nm |
6 Speed | 6 Speed | 6-Speed (With hybrid tech variants also) | |
Automatic Transmission | 6 Speed Torque converter | 6 Speed Torque converter | 6-Speed DCT and CVT |
Mileage | 14.2 kmpl | 11.5 kmpl | 16.6 kmpl |
The absence of petrol engines excludes Tata Safari and Ford Endeavour from the competition. Since mileage is given much significance in India, MG Hector plus (16.6 kmpl) should be the first choice as it is not too far behind Alcazar and Fortuner in terms of power. Moreover, the 250 Nm of torque of MG Hector that too at the engine’s speed of 1600 rpm does make it stand out. Torque defines how well your car can accelerate and at what engine speed. Among the rest two, Toyota Fortuner delivers better power and Hyundai Alcazar provides comparably better mileage (14.2 kmpl) than Fortuner (11.5 kmpl).
Diesel Engine
Engine specifications | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | Tata Safari | Ford Endeavour | MG Hector Plus |
Type | 1.5 L CRDi | 2.8 L Turbocharged | 2.0 L Kryotec | 2.0 L EcoBlue | 2.0 L Turbocharged intercooled |
Power | 113 bhp | 201 bhp | 168 bhp | 167 bhp | 168 bhp |
Torque | 250 Nm | 420 Nm | 350 Nm | 450 Nm | 350 Nm |
Manual Transmission | 6-Speed | 6-Speed | 6-Speed | NA | 6-Speed |
Automatic Transmission | 6-Speed Torque converter | 6-Speed Torque converter | 6-Speed Torque converter | 10-Speed automatic | NA |
Mileage | 20.4 kmpl | 14.22 kmpl | 16.14 kmpl | 13.9 kmpl | 16.6 kmpl |
Toyota Fortuner comes across as the most powerful (201 bhp) of the lot along with an excellent torque of 420 Nm. However, if torque is your preference then Ford Endeavour (450 Nm) should be your car. Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus have some mid-level figures overall, including the mileage, but what is notable is, the MG Hector Plus diesel isn’t available with automatic transmission. Hyundai Alcazar is available with automatic-transmission and has the best mileage (20.4 kmpl) as well.
Features
Hyundai Alcazar interiors
Toyota Fortuner interiors
Tata Safari interiors
Ford Endeavour interiors
MG Hector plus interiors
SUVs not only have the bigger size, they also promise you a comfortable and convenient ride experience. And for that, they are installed with a plethora of features that differ from car to car. Let’s see what kind of features these SUVs have.
Features | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | Tata Safari | Ford Endeavour | MG Hector Plus |
All Wheel Drive | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Infotainment | 10.25-inch touchscreen | 9-inch touchscreen | 8.8-inch touchscreen | 8-inch touchscreen | 10.4-inch touchscreen |
Automatic Climate Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Dual Zone | Yes |
Powered Boot | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Cruise Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Parking Sensors | Front and Rear | Front and Rear | Rear | Front and Rear | Front and Rear |
Hands-free tailgate | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Panoramic sunroof | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Powered Driver seat | 8-Way | No | 6-Way | 8-Way (front passenger seat also) | No |
The availability of the All-Wheel-Drive function has secured the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour a slightly leading position to the other rivals. While all five cars are feature-packed, only the Toyota Fortuner features a hands-free tailgate along with a powered boot. The Hyundai Alcazar and MG Hector Plus only get a powered boot while the Tata Safari and Ford Endeavour miss out on this feature. On the other hand, the Toyota Fortuner is the only 7 seater SUV that does not come with a panoramic sunroof. On the list of omissions, the Tata Safari misses out on front parking sensors while the others are equipped with both front and rear sensors. Overall, all five 7 seater SUVs are well-featured and the final decision will come down to what features are important to you.
Safety Features
Safety is one of the most important priorities when buying a car and SUVs are some of the most safe cars on the road. All of these SUVs sport some vital safety features to mitigate all the risks in your car ownership.
Safety features | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | Tata Safari | Ford Endeavour | MG Hector Plus |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Number of airbags | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 |
Brake assist | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Traction Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tyre pressure monitor | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Automatic headlights | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Hill assist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hill Decent control | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
In these measures, Toyota Fortuner does lag behind other cars due to the absence of a Tyre pressure monitor, ESC, and some other imperative safety features. Among the other four competitors, Tata Safari and Ford Endeavour feature hill descent control that enhances their safety on hill terrains.
Pricing
As your budget to purchase a car is the most vital of all the considerable factors, let’s look into the prices of all these SUVs.
Variants | Hyundai Alcazar | Toyota Fortuner | Tata Safari | Ford Endeavour | MG Hector Plus |
Entry level (Ex-Showroom) | 16.30 Lakhs- 18.01 Lakhs | 30.34 Lakhs- 31.93 Lakhs | 14.99 Lakhs- 17.81 Lakhs | 29.99 Lakhs- 33.80 Lakhs | 13.62 Lakhs- 15.12 Lakhs |
Mid-level (Ex-Showroom) | 18.22 Lakhs- 19.55 Lakhs | 32.84 Lakhs- 35.20 Lakhs | 18.61 Lakhs- 20.20 Lakhs | 35.60 Lakhs | 16.13 Lakhs- 17.49 Lakhs |
Top level (Ex-Showroom) | 19.78 Lakhs- 20.14 Lakhs | 35.50 Lakhs- 38.30 Lakhs | 20.35 Lakhs- 21.81 Lakhs | 36.25 Lakhs | 17.99 Lakhs- 19.60 Lakhs |
The MG Hector Plus is the most affordable of the five SUVs and also features electric-petrol hybrid variants. The Tata Safari and Hyundai Alcazar are close competitors to the Hector Plus while offering very similar premium features. The higher premium of the Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner delivers a more powerful driving experience, which is a definite attraction for many.
Conclusion
Tata Safari offers impressive torque and power along with ample wealth of features for its price, thereby it seems to be the overall winner. However, the other competitors have something to offer. For mileage, Hyundai Alcazar will be the best choice, followed by the MG Hector Plus. The Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour are certainly heavily priced but they deliver remarkable power and torque.
FAQs
Does Toyota Fortuner have a sunroof?
No, Toyota Fortuner doesn’t feature Sunroof.
Does Alcazar come in 4X4?
No, Alcazar doesn’t sport a 4X4 powertrain, but it does come with 3 drive modes (Eco, City, Sport) and 3 Traction modes (snow, sand, mud).
What is the safety level in Tata Safari?
Although NCAP testing of Tata Safari isn’t done yet, the car is loaded with a wealth of safety features. It sports up to 6 airbags, traction control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) as well. Some other Safari safety features are Tyre pressure monitor, Hill assist, Hill descent control, and corner stability control.
Does Ford Endeavour come in petrol variant?
Ford Endeavour only comes in diesel variants as of now. Although it is expected to come with a petrol engine in future as Ford has introduced a petrol engine in Everest which is the overseas version of Endeavour.
Does MG Hector Plus come with automatic transmission?
MG Hector plus offers two types of automatic transmissions, CVT (Continuous Variable transmission) and DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission). However, the diesel variant of MG Hector plus doesn’t come with an automatic transmission.
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