since 1976
since 1976
By Lee Pang Seng
THOSE looking for a comfortable family vehicle, be it an MPV (multipurpose vehicle), SUV (sports utility vehicle) or Crossover, they are increasingly being spoilt for choice. Joining the affordable B-segment category is the Hyundai Stargazer, which is proudly hailed as a ‘Wehicle’ for the family market segment that it is aimed at.
With Indonesia as its production base, the Stargazer is brought in and offered at an attractive price that would draw much attention from prospective customers. Three models are offered; from the entry-level Style to the midrange Prime and the flagship X variant. Prices (on the road without insurance) range from RM99,800 (Style) to RM109,800 (Prime) and RM121,800 for the X.
As is the trend these days, there is the early bird promotion in the RM4600 value package. This includes an eight-year or 100,000km warranty, eight free maintenance services (covering four years with two scheduled services per year), RM1000 reward for an existing Hyundai owner wishing to purchase the Stargazer and an RM88 booking fee.
To endear Hyundai brand loyalty, Hyundai Motor Malaysia introduced the Resale Value Protection plan. In a way, it is also to ensure that Stargazer owners would not suffer a big drop in vehicle value depreciation over the years. Up to year three, Hyundai’s protected value is at 70 per cent or up to 60,000km. At year four, the protected value is 60 per cent and up to 80,000km. The fifth year protected value is 50 per cent and mileage up to 100,000km. The owner enjoys this plan when he trades in his vehicle for a new one at Hyundai.
As a six- or seven-seater Crossover, the Stargazer is one up on most of its rivals. With a body length measuring 4575mm (4610mm for six-seater X), an overall width of 1780mm (1820mm) and standing fairly tall at 1719mm (1695mm), the Stargazer seems dimensionally up to the job. That’s helped by its pretty long wheelbase for a B-segment SUV at 2780mm (longer than my previous generation Mazda CX-5).
The luggage space with the third-row seatrests up looks like it would accommodate two medium-size suitcases at best. Fold away both the seatrests and space is about triple to accommodate luggage for a small family on motoring holiday. Or fold one of the two 50:50 split seatrests and the partly extended luggage space looks good for a family of six in the seven-seater variants.
For power, the Stargazer has a 1.5-litre normally aspirated ‘Smartstream’ Gamma II engine with variable intake system (VIS) displacing 1487cc. Its output is given as 84.4kW (115PS) at 6300rpm and 143.8Nm torque peaking at 4500rpm. Channelling engine output to the front wheels is a continuously variable transmission that Hyundai calls the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).
Hyundai says it has an eight-speed virtual gear arrangement (all computer managed) with manual shift-like feel. The IVT is said to have a wide-ratio pulley system and advanced chain belt technology that contribute to its enhanced response and efficiency in operation.
What gives the Stargazer a strong edge over rivals in its category is its strong level of standard features, even for the entry-level Style variant. It comes with a single display panel that features the 4.2-inch driver instrument cluster and 8-inch multi-info display, LED headlamps, LED rear lamp combination and foglamp, and 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres. Its radiator grille is black and its safety system is reasonably good.
The Prime variant has a 10.25-inch driver instrument display and centre multi-info display. The steering wheel is leatherette bound and the upholstery is a mix of fabric and leatherette material. It comes with 17-inch Diamond Cut alloy wheels with 205/50 R17 tyres. The brake system is all-wheel discs, ventilated in front, and the grille is silver in colour. There are six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, rear occupant alert and Hyundai SmartSense system.
Adding to the Prime’s standard equipment and features, the X variant has full leatherette upholstery, floating centre console with detachable tray, palm rest, shift-by-wire transmission control, paddle shifters to select ‘gears’ for a more engaging drive, wireless handphone charger, captain seats and digital video recorder.
The exterior sees a black and silver radiator grille for a more premium look, side skirts, black H emblems front and rear, black overfender front and rear, sporty bumper front and rear, and bridge type roof rails. Its 17-inch alloy wheels are the black gloss type. There are four body colour options – Midnight Pearl Black, Creamy White Pearl, Titan Grey Metallic and exclusive to the X variant, Gravity Gold Matte.
The Stargazer is independently sprung all round with a MacPherson strut front and a torsion beam rear, which is standard for a B-segment SUV. It comes with a 40-litre tank that suggests the fuel frugal nature of the 1.5-litre engine. Hyundai says that since the Stargazer was introduced in Indonesia in 2024, more than 160,000 variants were sold across the Asia-Pacific region.
