Will Hyundai PH offer Stargazer X, Custo to local market?

Hyundai Motor Philippines Incorporated (HMPH) will be expanding its local lineup with two new models, and it’s highly possible that it will be the Stargazer X and the Custo.

Per the invite sent to Carmudi Philippines, the local arm of the South Korean car brand revealed four shrouded vehicles. Three of them are unmistakably Hyundai Stargazers while the other — thanks to its somewhat visible wheels — looks like the Custo minivan.

The Hyundai Stargazer X (the crossover version of the said nameplate) was recently launched in Indonesia, by way of the 2023 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.

The Indonesian-market Stargazer X measures 4,495 millimeters (mm) long, 1,815mm wide, and 1,710mm tall. Compared to the seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle variant (4,460mm x 1,780mm x 1,695mm), the crossover appears to be bigger and sportier.

Further, the crossover is powered by the brand’s 1.5-liter Smartstream engine mated to its own take of a continuously variable transmission, the IVT.

The aforementioned setup makes approximately 113 horsepower (hp) and around 144 Newton meters (Nm) of torque.

Should the Hyundai Stargazer X be brought to the Philippines, it would make for a strong contender for other segment staples like the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross and some newcomers like the Toyota Zenix.

As for the Hyundai Custo, the minivan has been sold in other markets like China and Taiwan (where it is called Custin).

The Taiwan-spec Hyundai Custin is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission system. It makes around 170hp with 235Nm of pulling power.

But that’s not all, it also comes with second-row VIP seats, electric sliding doors, an electric tailgate, a 10.4-inch infotainment system, and Level 2 autonomous driving technology.

If our guess is right, the Hyundai Custo could face competition in the form of the Kia Carnival and the Toyota Alphard.

HMPH will unveil its newest offerings this October.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Philippines Incorporated, Hyundai Indonesia, and Hyundai Taiwan

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