Discovering a game-changer in the new Hyundai Custin

Every time my family or friends would get to see the inside of the Hyundai Custin, their first words would be something like, “Wow, parang Alphard!”

And why wouldn’t they, especially when they lay eyes on the luscious cream-colored fully reclining captain’s chairs with the ottoman fully extended?

It’s the stuff of road trip dreams—being able to stretch out while enjoying a panoramic view out the large windows and huge sunroof. Riding on the middle row seats of the Custin is akin to flying on Business Class. It absolutely spoils you with the sheer space and comfort.

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Thankfully, the vehicle itself is more than up to the task of delivering a sumptuously comfortable ride, not just for the middle-row passengers but for all the other occupants as well. Truth be told, the riding comfort of the Custin’s is among the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve ridden in Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. 

I particularly like how the rear suspension soaks up potholes and speed humps. I’m amazed how Hyundai managed to tune it to ride softly without the resulting wallowing or bouncing. But it’s one of the very, very few cars that can drive over bumps at speed without the occupants having to cringe with the impact. 

But enough with the riding comfort. Another winning aspect of the Custin is its styling. Whether you want to call it an MPV or a minivan doesn’t really matter, as it performs the duties of each superbly. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Hyundai gave the Custin—this is the first ever generation of this nameplate—the familial look of its SUV siblings, thanks to its Parametric Diamond design grille. It would’ve been more predictable if Hyundai gave it the look of the Staria and Stargazer MPVs. 

The result? An MPV that has a more rugged and masculine appeal compared to its two futuristically minimalist MPV siblings. Countless dads would approve.     

The side profile exhibits visual dynamism with sharply angled front and rear windows (with a flashy chrome trim on the rearmost window), sculpted fender openings, and stylish 18-inch Dynamic Blade alloy wheels. From the rear, the Custin shows off wing-shaped LED taillights that extend across the full width of the car. Hyundai’s stylized “H” emblem has been replaced by its spelled-out name. There is also a tailgate-mounted rear spoiler for a sportier feel. Overall it’s a bold and very upscale view that a lot of people tailing the Custin will be looking at.  

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Inside, the Custin delivers true Business Class transportation. It has an aircraft-like cabin with a flat floor so comfort and space are maximized. With an expansive overall length of 4,950 mm and a generous wheelbase of 3,055 mm, the Custin offers gobs of space. The ground clearance of 170 mm also allows easy ingress/egress for children and elderly passengers, although the combination of that and the long wheelbase allows the occasional big speed hump to touch the underbody.

The P2,080,000 flagship Custin Premium variant I tested (there is also the P1,770,000 Custin GLS) features a 7-seat 2+2+3 configuration that boasts of second-row captain chairs with a relaxation mode, which can be activated using the infotainment screen or the one-touch buttons on its armrest. The seats also have 10-way power adjustment as well as heating and ventilation functions for utmost luxury and comfort. It also has a dual sunroof, rear curtains, and rear-seat folding trays with tablet stand—all underscoring the luxurious feel.

For infotainment, the Custin sports a 10.4-inch display that doubles as the surround and rear-view monitor. Gear shifts are done via shift-by-wire buttons (instead of a traditional gearshift lever) alongside an Electronic Parking Brake and Drive Mode selector—again, very upscale. There are wireless chargers in the first and second rows, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Adding to the luxury van feel are Smart Power Sliding doors.

The Custin is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo engine. Mated to an 8-speed automatic CVT, it develops a strong 170 ps and 253 Nm of torque. The smooth and quiet Smartstream engine proved to be more than adequate for everyday driving, and was a boon when you’re in a hurry in light traffic, enabling the Custin to zip along smartly and effortlessly pass slower-moving vehicles. 

The drivetrain has four drive modes. Comfort, which is the default; Sport, for a more enthusiastic driving performance; Eco, for a more fuel-efficient drive; and Smart, which automatically adjusts to any of the first three modes based on driving habits and conditions.

For safety, the Custin boasts Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driver-assist safety (ADAS) features, including Forward-Collision Avoidance (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA), Blind-spot Collision Avoidance (BCA), Safe Exit Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Rear Cross-traffic Collision Avoidance Assist and Rear Occupant Alert. 

The Custin comes with a 5-year/200,000-km (whichever comes first) warranty and is available nationwide at any official Hyundai dealership nationwide.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Hyundai has always been a game-changer in the MPV arena—from the venerable Starex to the genre-redefining Staria to the segment-disrupting Stargazer and Stargazer X—big boots to fill. Impressively, the Custin effortlessly slots in within this dream team and carves out its own superb niche. It’s a Business Class flight at Premium Coach prices.