When it comes to product expansion, Hyundai Motor Philippines went all out in 2023. Its portfolio aims to please just about everyone and every kind of budget. Sure, there are no sedans at the moment (at least gas/diesel-powered ones), but the focus here is more on the family-friendly side.
Case in point, the current local lineup consists of six three-row vehicles. Don’t believe us? Let’s count the ways. It starts with the Stargazer, followed by the Stargazer X. If you want sliding doors, there’s the Staria, although you can get those with more rows. In the crossover front, the choice is between the Santa Fe or the plush Palisade.
So, what’s the sixth one? Well, that would be the Hyundai Custin, the lone minivan in the range. It’s a bit of a surprise addition, if you ask us, but one that we’re glad to see here.
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Styling
The words ‘van’ and ’style’ don’t always go hand in hand. That said, automakers have been putting in some effort to make these practical people carriers a bit cooler.
Hyundai is no exception to that. Judging by the brand’s recent design efforts, it’s no surprise the Korean company is going for a daring and, dare we say it, slightly polarizing direction, van segment included. If you need more proof of that, just take one look at the Staria. No commercial vehicle has a right to look that, well, funky.
It’s the same case for the Custin. Sure, it’s not as ‘in your face’ as the Staria, but the look is unmistakably 2020s Hyundai. Sharp lines, acute angles, and dazzling light patterns grab a fair bit of attention. Again, it’s a polarizing look, but not to the extent of other Hyundai models.
Interior
The smooth and organic lines of the interior are a stark contrast to the chiseled (for a minivan) exterior. We’re not complaining, though, as it makes the cabin look more cozy.
From the front seats, it’s a pleasant place to be. That said, it makes zero effort in hiding the fact that it’s a minivan. The large, expansive dashboard, the huge windshield, and a whole load storage bins scream practicality, and we love it for that. Look, the main reason anyone would even consider a minivan is because it appeals to sensibility.
Room, you ask? Not a problem at all. There’s loads of legroom, bags of headroom, and infinitely variable levels of space as you can move those seats around as far back (or forward) as those seat rails allow. This being the Premium variant, it’s got a pair of power ottoman seats in the second row.
And can we just say these seats are great? Not just because they’re soft and cozy. They’ve got a fair amount of support and you can put them in either Relax mode or Sleep mode. Plus, the panoramic roof brings in more light into the cabin. In a nutshell, the interior is conducive to rest and relaxation. Heck, the third row isn’t half bad, either.
The Custin just needs a few more things to make it almost perfect inside. We wish there were more soft-touch materials to give it a more premium feel. It’s not that the hard plastics feel cheap (they’re actually nicely textured), but we were expecting more out of this minivan. The second is the slim instrument cluster…if we can even call it a cluster. We think there’s just too much information crammed in a small space.
Engine performance
Fun fact: The Hyundai Custin and the Kia Carnival share the same platform. However, the Custin doesn’t get a turbodiesel option—instead, it uses a 1.5-liter turbopetrol engine. It pushes out 168hp and 253Nm of torque, so the numbers aren’t shabby at all. It then shifts with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
On the road, it pulls well enough considering the long and heavy body. The boosted engine surges ahead instead of pinning you in the seat. But we think that’s just fine because we wouldn’t want the rear occupants being thrown around from accelerating and decelerating. Shifts are smooth and crisp, if a bit on the leisurely side. All in all, the power and torque are well-matched for its body.
It’s not all good news, though. Despite the compact engine, the Custin does have a bit of a thirst. Perhaps its the fact that the unit we drove had less than 1,000km on the clock, or maybe it’s the terrible holiday traffic, but the Custin drank quite a lot of gas during its stay with us.
The best result we got was 6km/L, but on most days, the trip computer kept reading 5.5km/L. Not once did we ever put the van in Sport mode, and we were driving in between Eco and Comfort modes. Yes, this is a big and heavy vehicle, but we were expecting better given that it has a compact engine. At least its fuel economy while cruising is decent, at 9.3 km/L.
Ride and handling
If the fuel economy doesn’t bother you so much, then you’ll love the Custin’s comfort. It’s not just soft for the sake of being soft. The body control is well-kept, and it doesn’t just wallow around on uneven roads. If anything, it reminds us a bit of the Honda Odyssey.
Couple that with the soft seats and the Custin makes for an excellent long-distance cruiser. Whether you’re seated at the front or the back, the supple ride does its best not to wear down its occupants on a trip.
For something that’s oriented toward comfort, the Custin has decent-enough handling. It won’t light your fire or pump adrenaline through your veins, but you’ll appreciate it for its comfort, not its corner carving abilities. Besides, who buys a minivan for steering feel, feedback, and high cornering Gs? All you need to know is it has good roadholding and good brakes. Not outstanding, but enough to keep you out of trouble.
Extra features
We’ve mentioned the power ottoman seats and the panoramic sunroof as part of the luxuries. The front passenger seat can also be adjusted from the driver’s side for extra legroom, the ottomans boast seat ventilation, and there’s even a set of extra charging ports at the back, plus a wireless charging pad.
In terms of safety, you’ll be glad to know that it has the all the advanced driver-assist systems you expect from a modern minivan. Autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and so on. There’s a lot to list down, but all you need to know is that the van will make an effort to avoid an accident in the first place.
Verdict
For this top-spec version, you’ll have to shell out P2,080,000. There’s a less expensive variant at under P1,800,000, but you lose the captain seats, the panoramic sunroof, and a couple more features. We say the pricing is just right given the Custin’s features and, more important, capabilities.
It is, perhaps, one of the most comfortable vehicles at the price point, and you’d be hard pressed to find anything that offers the same level of relaxation a minivan offers over, say, an SUV or a crossover. If comfort is of your highest priority, it’s hard to go wrong with the Custin.
There’s only one thing that we wish the Custin did better, and that’s fuel economy. Maybe it’ll improve in the long run, but the results we had might put off potential buyers. If you do own one of these, we’d like to hear from you.
But if the heavy fuel use doesn’t bother you one bit, we say go right ahead and buy the Custin. It’s honestly that good.
Specs: 2024 Hyundai Custin Premium
Price: P2,080,000
Engine: 1.5-liter turbo gasoline I4
Power: 168hp
Torque: 253Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Layout: Front wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 9/10
More photos of the Hyundai Custin:
