Hyundai Stargazer

Contrary to the exterior design, the cabin layout of the Hyundai Stargazer on the inside looks much more toned-down and easy on the eyes. The layout, however, is modern to the core, with the interior of the Hyundai Stargazer being one of the most feature-packed places to be in, among all the compact MPVs on sale.

The driver’s cockpit of the Hyundai Stargazer, comprising of a new-gen four-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a fully-digital instrument console behind it, looks very modern and appealing. The touchscreen infotainment system, which is engulfed in a wide cockpit which also houses the instrument console, looks and feels nice to operate. The middle layer of the dashboard, which separates the upper and lower centre consoles, is finished in a theme of bright silver, adding a nice contrast to the dual-tone interior.

The cabin of the Hyundai Stargazer is packed with premium features like leather upholstery, a 6-speaker audio system, a 4.2-inch TFT MID in the instrument console, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger and manual AC with rear AC vents. The cabin feels practical with a back seat table, charging ports in first and second rows and cup holders in the front centre console and door pads.

The overall design of the Hyundai Stargazer looks very distinctive, however, it surely is something which might not be eye-pleasing to everyone. The futuristic design can catch one’s attention, but while some might perceive it jaw-dropping, some might find it an eyesore.

The front profile of the Hyundai Stargazer looks new age with a rectangular grille in the middle, which has horizontal inserts spread across its width. On either side of the grille, there are C-shaped satin silver inserts, beside which the Stargazer gets its all-LED headlamps stacked vertically. While there are LED headlights in the middle, the cluster gets clear lens turn indicators on the top and fog lamps at the bottom. The Stargazer also gets a wide silver-coloured skid plate right in the middle of the front bumper. Just above the fascia, the Stargazer gets a sleek-looking strip of daytime running LED spread across the lower width of the bonnet.

The sloping design for the bonnet and long wheelbase does give the Hyundai Stargazer a poised stance when viewed sideways. The squared wheel arches and sharp creases flowing above them give it a character, while the large window panels give it a sense of a large vehicle. Even the front and rear quarter glass panels are large-sized and add a sense of length. The design for the machined alloy wheels also looks futuristic and go in hand with the modern look of the Stargazer.

At the back, the Hyundai Stargazer comes with an attention-grabbing design for the rear profile. The vertically-stacked triangular LED tail lamps and a fine LED connecting bar joining them across the width of the boot lid give it a unique look. However, much like the unique front profile, this rear profile design is also not appealable to everyone.

MPVs are meant to be comfortable, and the stars in Hyundai Stargazer are aligned to offer a comfortable ride quality, thanks to its soft-tuned Macpherson struts at the front and coil-over torsion beam at the rear. The long wheelbase, 16-inch wheels and drive modes further enhance the ride quality even more.

The only powertrain combination with which the Hyundai Stargazer is being offered in the Philippines is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine paired to a CVT. With good levels of refinement and smooth power delivery, this 1.5-litre engine claims a maximum power output of 115 PS and a peak torque output of 144 Nm.

Despite being one of the most affordable MPVs on sale right now, the Hyundai Stargazer is loaded with safety features, the list of which includes front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, electronic stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control and tyre pressure monitoring system. It also gets a full suite of ADAS features like forward collision avoidance assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear occupant alert, lane keep assist, rearview monitor, high beam assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, driver attention warning, safe exit warning, reverse parking distance warning, lane following assist and cruise control.

If the loud and extrovert design language of the Hyundai Stargazer is good enough for you to live with, this new-age premium compact MPV is one of the best efforts from Hyundai in recent times.