Hyundai just made a rather curious announcement over in Indonesia. During the pre-show press conference for the Gaikindo Indonesia International Motor Show, the South Korean automaker said that it will reveal ‘a new MPV.’
According to OtoDriver, the new model ‘reaffirms its commitment to the Indonesian market by launching the latest MPV developed and produced locally. This car is claimed to be specially designed to meet the needs of Indonesian families.’ So, that got is thinking: what could it be?
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In case you missed the headline, we’re placing our bets on the facelifted Hyundai Stargazer. We understand if you think that prediction isn’t realistic, but there is supporting evidence to that.
For starters, the Stargazer is approaching three years old already. It made its global reveal in July 2022 and launched locally in November that same year. There’s been one minor update so far, mainly tweaks to the dashboard. Either way, it’s safe to say that it’s due for a little nip and tuck.
But the smoking gun comes in the form of spy shots from South Korea. Earlier this year, images surfaced online showing heavily camouflaged test units roaming around Korean roads. It’s a rather odd sighting given that the Stargazer isn’t even sold there, but it’s nice to see it being tested on home soil.
Based on the spy shots, the front end has been totally redesigned, with new headlight shapes and a seemingly flatter hood. Meanwhile, the rear gets a major overhaul and the tail lights appear different. We could also expect huge changes on the inside.
The Hyundai Stargazer is one of our top-rated subcompact MPVs, having won our Big Test against the Honda BR-V, Mitsubishi Xpander, and Toyota Veloz. Granted, most of its rivals won’t be getting updates or full model changes in the near future, but we’re certain that the company would like to stay ahead of the curve. After all, the next-generation Xpander is expected to be launched in about two years.
