Photos by Sam Surla/VISOR
Hyundai Motors unveiled last week its newest model based off its Stargazer subcompact 7-seater at GAIKINDO Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2023, which runs until August 20 at Indonesia Convention Exhibition BSD City in Tangerang, Banten, just outside Jakarta.
While there is no confirmation yet if the Stargazer X will be made available in the Philippines, it seems highly likely considering both the Stargazer X and the current PH-model Stargazer are both made in Indonesia which, like the Philippines, has a robust market for affordable subcompact 7-seaters.
It follows similar crossover treatments previously seen in other models (Xpander to Xpander Cross, Avanza to Rush, Ertiga to XL7, and the now-discontinued Mobilio to BR-V)—mostly by giving the new model a higher ride height/ground clearance and SUV-inspired plastic body cladding.
Still smooth, seamless, minimalist—but with a crossover tweak
The Stargazer has always stood out in its segment by virtue of its futuristic and boldly minimalist exterior styling. The Stargazer X continues this design trend, but brings with it a new hood, new front and rear bumpers, roof garnish, roof spoiler, and new 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels—all designed to give the Stargazer X a more rugged and adventurous vibe.
The Stargazer X also presents two unique new matte colors for the first time on a Stargazer: Optic White Matte and Gravity Gold Matte.
Under the hood
Like the current Stargazer, the Stargazer X is powered by a Smartstream G4FIII 1.5 MPI 4-cylinder DOHC engine that produces 115ps and 143.8Nm. This smooth motor is mated to a lightweight Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), Hyundai’s version of a CVT. Four drive modes are available: Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport.
Spacious, comfortable interior with a 6-seater version available
The Stargazer X measures 4,495 mm long, 1,815 mm wide, 1,710 mm tall, and has a generous wheelbase of 2,780 mm, which endows it with a comfortable ride and lots of legroom.
Increasing the luxury factor, the Stargazer X is also available with captain’s seats on the middle row. The captain’s seats have armrests and can be adjusted to move forward, backward, upright, or reclined. The car’s fabric or synthetic leather seats have red stitching to give a sporty, upscale look. The Stargazer X also offers a back seat-mounted tray tables for passengers on the second row.
Other thoughtful features include rear AC vents and controls, LED room lamps, and high-gloss panels on the fascia, and on the audio and AC controls. There are power chargers on all three rows while wireless charging is an option.
The Stargazer X has a 4.2-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with USB, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple Carplay. It also comes with a premium 8-speaker BOSE audio system for clear and immersive sound quality.
Advanced connectivity via Hyundai Bluelink
The Stargazer X boasts Hyundai Bluelink, a Connected Car Service innovation that allows users to always connect to their car via smartphone. Bluelink gives owners full access to essential features, such as knowing the current condition of the vehicle, turning on/off the engine, adjusting the cabin temperature, locking/unlocking the doors, turning on the horn, turning on/off the lights, including knowing where the vehicle is parked via Find My Car. Other Bluelink features include SOS/Emergency Assistance and Roadside Assistance (RSA).
Hyundai SmartSense
Hyundai maintains its commitment to presenting a worry-free driving experience on the Stargazer X by embedding the latest safety features through Hyundai SmartSense. One of them is Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), designed to detect and warn the driver when a vehicle is approaching and, if needed, will automatically activate the brake.
Driver Attention Warning (DAW), meanwhile, analyzes the driver’s alertness while driving the Stargazer X. If the driver is detected as out of focus, the system will give a notification to take a short break, thereby preventing potential accidents, especially when driving long distances.
The Stargazer X is also equipped with Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA), Forward and Reverse Parking Distance Warning (PDW), Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), High Beam Assist (HBA), and Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
All things considered, the Stargazer X is a vital edition to the Stargazer brand and should greatly bolster the whole Stargazer lineup. In Indonesia, the Stargazer X retails for Rp325,600,000 (roughly Php1,200,000 at current exchange rates) for the Stargazer X Style and Rp336,200,000 (approx. Php1,245,000) for the Stargazer X Prime. At present, the five Philippine market (non-X) Stargazer variants range from Php1,068,000 to Php1,298,000.
