As Hyundai shies away from its formerly utilitarian model mix in the Philippines and pushes upmarket, it is vehicles like the Stargazer—an entry-level seven-seat MPV—that need to bridge the gap in order to boost sales volume. With its bold styling and innovative interior, it certainly looks next-level, but will that be enough to elevate it above more traditional rivals? Or is the Stargazer simply too far out there for the target market?
Styling
Compared to the typical two-box MPV, the Stargazer’s cab-forward design really stands out. The steeply raked windshield starts far out over the front tires and flows back into a rakish greenhouse that terminates in an X-shaped D-pillar—a recurring theme on this car. Deeply carved lines help shape the body without the use of tacky flares or blanking plates. Panel fit is nice and tight, as we’ve come to expect from the brand.
The Stargazer’s split-level front end is one of the cleanest we’ve seen yet. A wide LED strip sits over a cheese-grater grille flanked by triangular light clusters incorporating the headlights and foglights, forming a large X-pattern not unlike the Mitsubishi Xpander’s dynamic shield, but with a more art deco look.
The rear is dominated by red LED strips that form a huge ‘H’ when lit. Large light clusters frame yet another ‘X’ bisecting the rear hatch. It’s a pretty bit of design, but the ‘wings’ on that hatch can catch you upside the head when it opens, as they spread so far out sideways!
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The architectural design flourishes that we’ve seen on other recent designs like the Tucson and the Ioniq 5 also appear here, and are felt strongly in the complex design of the 16-inch alloy wheels. Great job by Hyundai, overall.
Interior
The interior design leans heavily on the unconventionally utilitarian. The dashboard lies flat against the forward firewall, dominated by shelves for small bottles and various odds and ends. There’s an upright panel framing a modest infotainment screen and a deeply cowled LED instrument cluster—probably the weakest part of the design, looking like it’s come off an electric bus.
A physical climate control panel sits underneath the dash spanning parcel shelf, while the A/C vent surround provides the only bit of actual styling on the dash itself. There’s a secret storage box integrated into that vent strip, just big enough to stuff a cellphone or a charger into.
The rest of the cabin reflects this utilitarian ethos. Lit center cupholders ensure the driver can find his coffee at night, front door pockets have triple bottle holders molded in—for those extra long trips. Rear doors have huge bottle holders built into the upper armrests, echoed by similar armrests in the third row. There’s a flip-out food tray attached to the back of the front passenger seat, a shelf for charging phones or gadgets in the rear center console, and a deep plastic organizer bin under the rear floor.
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Most of this detailing is in plastic. Hard plastic. There’s no denying this vehicle was meant to be a working vehicle, but some more soft-touch materials on the doors and the dash would have been nice.
The seats themselves are covered in black, stain-resistant leatherette that breathes well enough, despite the hellacious heat we’ve been experiencing recently, and there’s plenty of room all around. Up front, you get good side bolstering and support, while the class-leading 2,780mm wheelbase and the sliding and reclining second row give you immense flexibility in apportioning cabin space out back. Surprisingly, even the third row is fine for long trips, and folding down the second row to access it is a one-touch affair. Fold down the third row and you get a wide and deep trunk that sits comfortably at the larger end of the class.
Engine performance
Underneath the ridiculously light and tiny hood, the engine bay is also surprisingly large. The overhanging windshield does cover the engine, but there’s enough space to reach the ignition coils and the spark plugs underneath without bruising your knuckles. The layout and the front suspension mounts are completely identical to those on the Creta, which uses the same 113hp 1.5-liter engine and Intelligent Variable Transmission or IVT.
In the Stargazer, that combination is good for 0-100kph in 11.3sec—a significant leg up over any of its Japanese competitors. And that’s all thanks to the new Hyundai IVT, a continuously variable transmission that uses a toothed chain rather than a flexible belt. At low speeds, there is no apparent slippage like you might feel in a standard CVT. It’s only at higher revs where any sort of droning starts to become apparent. An eight-speed ‘manual’ mode masks this beautifully, and makes for easier overtaking to boot.
There’s also a selection of drive modes to tailor the experience. Smart mode is the best mode, giving the low-rev cruising ability of Eco, without the throttle lag you get in less aggressive non-Sport drive modes.
In mixed use, we managed between 8-12km/L in urban settings, 12-14km/L in mixed conditions, 20.5km/L on the highway, and up to 22.5km/L at a push. Though the manual claims the Stargazer only has a 40-liter fuel tank, we managed to eke nearly 600km out of that tank, which seems closer to 45-48 liters in size.
Driving impressions
The Stargazer perfectly hits that Goldilocks zone between sporty and comfortable. The steering is steady on the highway, while still allowing you to make U-turns without much arm-twirling. The IVT provides punchy performance when needed without being uncomfortably jerky. Noise insulation and body control are both at or near the top of the class. On the debit side, the suspension is on the stiff side, though the dampers control bump harshness fairly well. Overall, it isn’t as sporty as something like an Xpander or a BR-V, but it feels more premium than either.
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The vertical dash forces you to adapt a more upright driving position, but once settled, the panoramic view is commanding, although the short nose takes some getting used to. Unfortunately, the extreme rake of the windshield creates a large blind spot where the left-hand A-pillar obscures merging motorcycles and tricycles.
The rear glass, on the other hand, gives you a generous view out back, and there is a crisp and bright rear camera to help when parking. You do sometimes find yourself wishing for front and side cameras as well, but you do get a lot of other driver assists for your money, anyway.
Extra features
These assists include lane-departure assist—less twitchy than many others I’ve tried recently—blind-spot warning, and forward-collision prevention. You also get cruise control, but not adaptive cruise, as the forward sensor pod lacks radar functionality. You also get driver-attention minders that monitor your driving and detect if you might be distracted or sleepy.
To help keep you awake, the Stargazer provides wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with seamless integration. The six-speaker system, unfortunately, is rather average in terms of sound output and clarity. There’s 12V and USB charging up front and out back, as well as a wireless charging pad under the A/C console. Not the fastest wireless, but not as fiddly as some. Rounding out the package is keyless entry and ignition, as you’d expect of a top-of-the-line unit in this market segment.
Verdict
While the Stargazer’s starting price is higher versus some competitors, that base variant uses the same 1.5 IVT powertrain as our premium variant. No lower-spec engine or transmission here. Not a problem, given the Stargazer’s class-leading blend of economy and performance. The price premium for this GLS Premium variant also seems relatively small, given the safety kit and the driving aids on offer compared to similarly priced and even more expensive small sevens.
This is, potentially, the best small MPV in its class, and a great companion to Hyundai’s flagship Staria MPV. Sure, the lack of a manual limits fleet sales potential, but the Stargazer feels more like an exercise in brand and prestige building. An odd thing to say about a small seven-seater, sure, but this one is a big step to re-establishing Hyundai as a major force on the Philippine market.
SPECS: 2023 Hyundai Stargazer 1.5 GLS Premium
Price: P1,288,000
Engine: 1.5-liter gasoline I4
Power: 113hp @ 6,300rpm
Torque: 144Nm @ 4,500rpm
Transmission: continuously variable
Layout: Front-wheel-drive
Seating: 7
Score: 9/10
Subcompact seven-seater Big Test part one: Stargazer vs its peers
More photos of the Hyundai Stargazer 2023:
