A legitimate threat to the competition: The 2023 Hyundai Stargazer

With the impending launch of the Hyundai Stargazer, Filipino subcompact MPV buyers will again be given another option to choose from in this hotly contested category. Along with the Suzuki Ertiga, the Toyota Veloz and Avanza, the Honda BR-V, the Mitsubishi Xpander, and the recently launched Nissan Livina, you can see how car manufacturers are going after a bigger slice of this growing pie. 

The trend is also evident around the ASEAN region, with PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia recently unveiling the Stargazer in their local market. We caught up with our colleagues in Autofun Indonesia, as they wrote about their first impressions of the Hyundai Stargazer during their media test drive. 

With so many photos of the Stargazer on the net for you to see, you can already assess whether its sleek styling is something you can live with. We won't blame you either if you think it looks like a Mitsubishi Xpander as well. Why mess with success, right? Instead, we’ll share with you some driving impressions of the Hyundai Stargazer by Autofun Indonesia editor Yonki Sandaya,

How’s the performance and responsiveness of the Hyundai Stargazer?

If the Hyundai Stargazer’s specs in Indonesia are anything to go by, then the 7-seater MPV should just come in second to the Honda BR-V in terms of power. 

“The performance of the Stargazer engine is quite reliable because there is no need to press the gas pedal deep enough to provide an instant and responsive boost. This is thanks to the Smartstream G1.5 MPI Inline 4-cylinder engine that can produce a maximum power of up to 115 ps/6,300 rpm and a maximum torque of up to 143.8 Nm/4,500 rpm.” - Yonki Sandaya, Autofun Indonesia

It is worth noting that the Hyundai Stargazer will sport the same Intelligent Variable Transmission (in other words, a CVT) as found in the Hyundai Creta. So right off the bat, this MPV is geared towards fuel economy versus some of the competition still stuck with conventional four-speed automatics. 

Does the Hyundai Stargazer have a comfortable cabin?

In Indonesia, the Hyundai Stargazer is available with a six-seat captain’s chair configuration as an option. We wouldn’t be surprised if the mid and top-of-the-line variants will feature the same layout when it becomes available here. 

And if we’re anything like the Indonesian market, which booked 4,000 units of the Stargazer during its launch, 85% of which were top-ranging trims,  we’ll likely go for the high-end versions of this MPV. But of course, that will depend on how much it will be priced upon launch.

How is the Hyundai Stargazer to drive?

Our friends at Autofun Indonesia did notice that the Stargazer was a little lofty on its feet with body roll during their drive. But it wasn’t because the suspension was any less refined.

“For this suspension swing, we think it is quite stable and minimally unsteady when driven at high speeds. The slamming of the Stargazer suspension is also not as hard as in the Astra product but also not as soft as the Mitsubishi Xpander. Shocks can be damped optimally so that passengers in the cabin are not shaken.” - Yonki Sandaya, Autofun Indonesia

They attributed the roll they noticed on the Stargazer's 16-inch wheel and tire combination, which is quite common in the subcompact MPV segment. 

“How about the handling of the steering wheel? For us, it is quite impressive with the steering wheel feedback which is light enough so that it is agile and precise in all situations. For driving in the city, the maneuvers are no less agile than a city car like the Brio. As for driving on long-distance tracks such as the Trans Java Toll Road, handling and driving stability can be even more comfortable and stable than a medium MPV in the class of Wuling Cortez.” - Yonki Sandaya, Autofun Indonesia

So the key takeaway when it comes to the Hyundai Stargazer’s drive is that the steering is light and nimble. And when it comes to the ride, it should be a little firmer than the Mitsubishi Xpander. Manufacturers toy around with suspension tuning of their products to accommodate the kind of roads in the local market. But we wouldn’t be surprised if the same observations were made once we get our hands on the Stargazer.

Hyundai Motors Philippines is still mum on the launch of its latest offering. Still, we reckon it will be around early November, as some units of the Stargazer have been spotted on the road presumably on their way to HMP’s warehouse facilities. And just in case you're wondering, the top-of-the-line Prime variant of the Hyundai Stargazer costs IDR 307.1 million in Indonesia. That's about PHP 1,185,410 in our money. 

But one player seems to be missing in the subcompact 7-seater MPV game here: the all-new Kia Carens. Sharing the same platform as the Hyundai Stargazer, it would be interesting to see how Kia Philippines will spec it to become a competitive offering in the already crowded segment. 

Are you excited to see the Hyundai Stargazer in person?