Until recently, there was a huge gap between the large Staria and the small Stargazer in Hyundai’s local lineup. That hole has finally been filled by the new Custin minivan, the Korean carmaker’s latest people-hauler. We’ll be pitting the Custin against the Toyota Zenix, the Japanese carmaker’s latest MPV. For this comparo we’ll be using the range-topping Hyundai Custin 1.5T Premium A/T and Toyota Zenix 2.0 Q Hybrid CVT.
CHECK OUT THE REVIEWS ON THESE MODELS:
Review: 2024 Hyundai Custin 1.5T Premium AT
Review: 2024 Toyota Zenix 2.0 Q Hybrid CVT
The Custin measures 4,950mm long, 1,850mm wide, and 1,710mm tall, making it 195mm longer, just as wide, and 80mm lower than the Zenix. The Hyundai rides on a long 3,055mm wheelbase, which makes the gap between its axles 205mm greater than that of the Toyota. The Custin has a 174mm ground clearance, which means it sits 11mm lower than the Zenix.
Both the Hyundai and Toyota roll on 18-inch alloy wheels. The Custin is equipped with 27.8-inch diameter 225/55 R18 tires, while the Zenix comes with 26.9-inch diameter 225/50 R18 rubber. The Custin’s 0.9-inch larger diameter tires and lower height give it a more obvious low-slung appearance.
Here’s a little refresher on these three-row seven-seater people haulers. All Custin variants come equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine which puts out 168hp and 253Nm of torque. The Zenix, on the other hand, has two powertrain options, a conventional naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline mill which produces 172hp and 205Nm of torque, and a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline unit mated to an electric motor that pumps out a total system output of 183hp. The Hyundai comes standard with an eight-speed automatic tranny, while the Toyota comes with a continuously variable transmission.
Both people haulers are front-wheel-drive and have a monocoque body construction. Both vehicles have a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension setup. Whichever vehicle you choose, all come with a 2+2+3 seating layout, the prime seats of course are the second-row captain seats. The Custin has a longer more traditional minivan body with large rear sliding doors, the Zenix on the other hand has a shorter MPV body with conventional hinged rear doors.
For those curious about the pricing, the range-topping Hyundai Custin 1.5T Premium A/T stickers in at P2,080,000, while the top-of-the-line Toyota Zenix 2.0 Q Hybrid CVT carries a price tag of P1,953,000. The Japanese carmaker charges an extra P15,000 for the fancier Platinum White Pearl Mica paint.
Which of these people haulers would you choose? The Hyundai Custin or the Toyota Zenix? Let us know in the comments.
