Hyundai Motor PH unveils the all-new Stargazer but won’t reveal the price until Nov. 9
Filipino car buyers are smart. They will generally go for a car that either gives them more value for their money or one that answers most of their needs best. But what if there’s a car that does both?
This strategy of looking after what people want is how Hyundai Motor Philippines is positioning its latest model, the all-new Hyundai Stargazer. As a three-row, seven-seater Multi-Purpose Vehicle, it caters to a fast-growing segment of car buyers who are after the versatility and people-hauling capabilities of an SUV without the hard-to-drive bulk.
For this market, a B-segment – or subcompact – MPV is small and agile enough to drive alone in the city yet flexible enough to accommodate the whole household on trips to the mall or out of town. These small MPVs are less bulky and complicated than larger seven-seater Pickup Platforms Vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Montero, Isuzu mu-X, Nissan Terra, or even the Toyota Innova. And yet, MPVs still retain the ability to seat seven, thus giving more and more young families the compelling impetus to take this route.
Of course, the car’s price will always be a prime consideration for many Filipinos. As parents with entry-level manager pay status, and one or two kids, seek more convenient mobility, the subcompact MPV becomes a practical and more affordable option.
Over the years, this segment has grown in popularity. One of the first to shrink the seven-seater concept was Toyota and Daihatsu, with their collaboration on the Toyota Avanza. To lower the costs versus the Innova, it featured a small 1.3 or 1.5-liter engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. The same formula has been adopted by the Mitsubishi Xpander, its twin, the Nissan Livina, the Suzuki Ertiga, and the XL7. Along with Honda’s more refined interpretation of the B-segment MPV in the Mobilio and the BR-V, both of which feature a more advanced 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a more fuel-efficient Continuously Variable Transmission, the B-segment MPV is becoming a fierce battleground for many manufacturers now.
So when Hyundai decided it wanted a piece of this growing pie, it had to make a product that would offer better features and have styling that would set it apart from its more utilitarian peers.
The Hyundai Stargazer shares the same K2 platform with the Kia Rio, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and Hyundai Accent. The shared development cost with other models in the Hyundai-Kia group helps lower its pricing.
The Stargazer follows the Hyundai Staria van’s futuristic look. LED strip up front and back makes it appear modern and unconventional. The side view shows a more familiar treatment reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Xpander’s design cues. Sculpted fender arches have eliminated the need for add-on plastic cladding. And with smaller-looking windows, the Hyundai Stargazer gives off a dynamic hatchback vibe instead of a people hauler.
Inside, the Hyundai Stargazer comes with leatherette interiors for its top two trims showing an effort by the South Korean brand to elevate its small-MPV segment contender. The same seating and cargo-carrying versatility is present in the Stargazer with its three-rows and tumble seats.
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. At the same time, the instrument cluster features a 4.2-inch center LCD to show various information, including trip data, fuel economy, and tire pressure monitor figures.
The 1.5-liter Smartstream Euro 4 gasoline engine features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing for reduced exhaust emissions. Like more modern MPVs, the Stargazer uses a CVT to transfer power to its front wheels. This powertrain setup is supposedly more fuel efficient than a conventional automatic, more so than the older four-speed ones usually found in the competition.
But it is on the safety front where Hyundai chose to pack more features into the Stargazer. There are six airbags for the top-of-the-line 2023 Hyundai SIargazer GLS Premium. A generous slew of Advanced Driver Assistance safety technologies such as High Beam Assist, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Following Assist, and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with car and pedestrian detection make the Hyundai Stargazer worth some serious consideration. And then there are also simple yet effective convenience features such as wireless mobile phone charging, USB ports, remote engine starting and driver’s window operation, and hideaway tables that can all help convince buyers to side with the Stargazer.
For small families, young car buyers, and enterprising individuals, these can be crucial reasons to go for the Hyundai Stargazer over the established competition. But can Hyundai Motor Philippines give its mid and top-ranking GLS trims a compelling price? We will know by November 9th. This final factor can either attract buyers or sway them towards other brands in this highly competitive category.
