The Stargazer X. It’s Hyundai’s bid to make a top-spec version of its MPV that’s somehow ‘different’ from the supposedly ‘standard’ model. Much like how Mitsubishi has the Xpander and the Xpander Cross. At least you can easily tell the Avanza and the Veloz apart, right?
Forgive me for being a bit skeptical, but it’s just that I think the regular Stargazer was enough. Lest we forget, it did win our four-way Mega Test a while back, and against top-of-the-line rivals at that. What was the point of adding another trim level above the already existing range?
That was the mindset that I had as I joined Hyundai Motor Philippines’ (HMPH) media drive featuring the Stargazer X. I ponder on these things as I make my way to Makati to drive the new MPV all the way up north to Clark, Pampanga. It’s a quick two-day getaway, and despite my doubts, I’m sure this should be fun.
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After a sumptuous breakfast, we’re finally given our car assignments. There’s only one variant of the Stargazer X available, so all four units available are mechanically the same. The only differences are in color—there are two in Magnetic Silver Metallic, one in Dragon Red Pearl, and the other in Creamy White Pearl. We get the white one, which is good, because I think it’s the nicest-looking one in the bunch.
To my surprise, all of my other carmates rush to the backseat, happy enough to let either me or Top Gear Philippines associate editor Sheng Banzon take the wheel. Since Sheng’s on video duties today, then I have to be the first one to drive—that works in my favor, because I’ve actually never driven the Stargazer before, save for a few parallel-parking jobs we did during our Big Test.
The Stargazer X does quick work of traffic heading into the expressway, and before I know it, we’re already on Skyway Stage 3. We’re not able to stretch the MPV’s legs yet because of the 60kph speed limit, but it’s all well and good because this thing’s got cruise control. It’s not adaptive, but the Stargazer X does come with forward-collision warning to go along with (slightly aggressive) lane-keeping and lane-follow assist and blind-spot monitoring for added safety on highway cruises such as this one.
The moment we reach the North Luzon Expressway, I get to speed up and go heavier on the pedal by a bit. As I had already witnessed in our previous comparo, this thing packs a punch, and it’s the same with the Stargazer X. That 113hp, 144Nm 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine is quite responsive, and it’s pretty fun to drive with that patented Intelligent Variable Transmission. The driving dynamics are different when you’re driving typical CVT. There’s plenty of oomph to go around, and overtaking to chase the convoy ahead of us is quick and easy—and that’s with five people and some cargo in the back, mind you.
As we go further along the expressway, I point out something I noticed from the get-go: the dashboard. The layout is the same, but the material is new. Hyundai has opted for a gloss-black finish on the panel that houses the instrument cluster and the infotainment system, and it looks so much better now. Even the plastic trim surrounding the A/C controls have been given the same gloss-black treatment. It gives the interior a classier vibe to it, and it makes for a much more pleasant time inside the cabin.
Speaking of a pleasant time, I also notice one of my passengers, Autoindustriya’s Jamil Lacuna, fast asleep in the second row. For whatever reason, he and the two other passengers—Turbo Zone’s Van Bomediano and Autocar’s John Rey San Diego decided to squeeze themselves there despite the third row being available. Surprisingly, they fit just fine, and Jamil’s lengthy nap is proof of comfort in the back.
To be fair, it is very comfortable inside the Stargazer X. Again, this was my first time on a proper ride inside any Stargazer model, and I have to say, the MPV just eats up road imperfections with ease. Road and outside noise is suppressed, keeping NVH levels to a minimum. No wonder people were falling asleep in the back.
We eventually exit via San Simon, Pampanga. Now I know I said Clark, but we have a stopover first at the Pampanga Pottery in Santo Tomas where HMPH prepared an activity for us. Boy, I hope we’re making some clay pots today.
After a short drive through the highway, we turn towards some narrow service roads which should be just a few minutes away from the pottery. Typical backroads in the province: tight, somewhat busy, with vehicles parked on the side of the road. Nothing too hard with the Stargazer X, though, as the MPV’s steering is incredibly light, making it easy to maneuever tight spaces.
But that’s not the end of the road hazards, though—there’s also a sizeable puddle just before we enter the vicinity of the Pampanga Pottery. It’s almost as if HMPH set this all up just to showcase the Stargazer X’s improved ground clearance. It’s listed at 200mm, or 15mm more than that of the standard Stargazer. True enough, it makes driving through ‘floods’ like this less worrisome.
We finally arrive at our destination, and I check the fuel-consumption gauge. It reads 73.1km driven, and it drank up just 14.8km/L. Not too shabby, considering the load the MPV had. To my demise, though, we enter the pottery and I find out it wasn’t pot-molding that HMPH had in mind for us—we’re to paint small clay flower pots today. Freestyle. We could design it in literally any way we want to. Yikes. Art isn’t exactly my forte, but what the heck.
I make a feeble attempt to create an Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA)-themed pot, and of course, I fail miserably. I see Sheng and the others making masterpieces from their blank canvases, and here I am laughing at my own creation. It unsurprisingly didn’t end up the way I wanted it to look, but I’m glad some of the people from my table recognized the ATLA reference. That’s good enough for me.
I once again take a good look at the Stargazer X units side-by-side before we head out, and I realize it looks pretty darn good. It looks good both on the road and while sitting still in a parking lot. The added claddings give it a much more macho look, but it doesn’t go overboard with it. I’ve always thought the Stargazer stood out in terms of design, and Hyundai takes it up a notch with the X. Not bad at all.
For this last leg of the drive, someone else finally takes the wheel. But instead of squeezing myself in the second row like the others did, I sat solo in the third row. It’s actually pretty comfortable, and for 5’5” individuals like me, it’s a decent spot. It’s cool in the back and there are armrests with cup holders and pockets on either side. It also didn’t feel cramped even with all sorts of stuff packed in the space beside and behind me. It really won’t feel like you’ve been left behind when you’re back here. And since I sort of “took one for the team,” the passengers in the second row are free to pull down the armrest as they please. Win-win for everyone.
The convoy leads us across the national highway leading to Clark, and I start to doze off in the back. It isn’t much of an eventful stretch and there aren’t a lot of sights to miss, anyway, so I snooze. I wake up and we’re already at The Mansion, ready to check in and call it a day. At least not without gorging on the Korean dinner HMPH has prepared for us.
As my time with the Hyundai’s new MPV comes to an end—I won’t be doing any driving on the way back anymore—I’m able to consolidate my thoughts into a single conclusion: the Stargazer X actually makes sense.
It still has that same recipe that makes the standard Stargazer a good pick: It’s got a punchy, fuel-efficient engine, it’s fun to drive, and it’s comfortable to be in. The only ‘difference’—I say that without spite now—is that it’s got more style and refinement to it. And it rides a bit higher, too, which matters to a lot of people.
Of course, it’s a bit pricier at P1.348 million, but that’s merely P60,000 on top of the top-spec seven-seater (or P50k added to the six-seater’s SRP) to get the beefier looks, the higher ground clearance, and of course, the upgraded interior. You might say that’s big, but that’s a premium I’m sure a lot of car buyers wouldn’t mind paying if it meant it’ll get them all this and then some.
