Chances are, you’ve been seeing the Hyundai Stargazer around. Yet have you heard of the Stargazer X? Now the top-of-the-line variant of the Stargazer model lineup, it has a more buff appeal about it. Designed to be the more capable and adventurous variant, it improves upon the MPV in many ways.

Exterior

The Stargazer X has some notable differences which you won’t notice unless you put it side by side with the non-X variant. It is taller by 15-mm than the standard Stargazer with its 200-mm ground clearance. Up front is the new grille pattern which Hyundai calls their 3D Stacked Grille. It has a bolder look about it and the hood now has character lines on it. There’s cladding which starts at the lowermost part of the front fender and goes up and over the wheel arches, down to the lower edges of the doors, over the rear wheel arch and round the back making the bumper look chunkier. The signature H-shaped tail lights now have black bezel surrounds and there’s also a piano black garnish housing the plate number light that has Stargazer X on it. Roof rails and tailgate spoiler differentiate it further from the non-X variants. It rolls on new 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels and has a shiny black roof.

Our friends from Hyundai Philippines recently invited us on a drive to Clark in Pampanga get a better feel for it. Usually, there are 2-3 of us in a vehicle in a media drive, but this time there was 5 of us. Upon finding this out, we thought this might be a bit of a squeeze, but as you read on, turns out it wasn’t so bad after all.

Interior

This variant has a more premium feel, with leatherette upholstery and red stitching. Instead of matte grey, you get lots of piano black high gloss surrounds on the instrument cluster and infotainment system which adds to the upscale feel. The six-speaker entertainment system comes with an eight-inch touchscreen display, AM/FM, Bluetooth audio, wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto. 

The steering wheel has controls for cruise control and audio. The second row occupants still get the convenient back seat table. With only five occupants, the second row (which could seat three) was spacious for two. This bench has a 60/40 split and folds forward. I had the third row all to myself, with enough space thanks to the second row slid forward a bit. The third row is split 50/50 with 200 liters of luggage space behind it. Folded forward, it opens up to 585 liters.

Powertrain

Under the hood, is the Smartstream G 1.5L MPI four-cylinder DOHC gasoline engine which puts out a max power rating of 115-Ps at 6,300 rpm and 144-Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm is mated to their Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) with four drive modes Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport. 

Hyundai SmartSense, safety

The Stargazer X is equipped with Hyundai’s advanced driver assist system called SmartSense which offers a suite of active safety features: Manual Speed Limit Assist (MPLA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind Sport Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Forward and Reverse Parking Distance Warning (PDW), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), High Beam Assist (HBA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), Rear Seat Alert (RSA), Cruise Control and Rear View Monitor (RVM). 

On top of Hyundai’s active safety features, the Stargazer X has Dual Front, Side and Curtain Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HSA), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and Child seat anchors.

Impressions

Just like the “regular” Stargazer, the Stargazer X makes for a great family or barkada vehicle. It takes into consideration personal space, and as we experienced, this seven seater is spacious and comfortable for five passengers. The Stargazer X’s additional ground clearance definitely helps with the full load. The Sport drive mode helps get it moving when loaded down with friends and luggage, and switching to Eco when on cruising on the expressway ensures that you’re at the lowest rpms at highway speeds. 

Are there enough USB charging ports? Yes, especially since it’s equipped with wireless AppleCarplay, Android Auto and a wireless charger, leaving the one USB port up front vacant for conventional charging. There are two USB ports in the second row and a 12V socket where you can plug in a 12V USB charger for the third row occupants. There are a lot of storage nooks and cup holders are spread throughout the cabin, more than enough for seven occupants. 

We didn’t experience much body roll which can be attributed to the firm suspension settings, but with a relatively full load of passengers and gear the ride was comfortable. 

At our destination, The Mansion hotel in Clark, and as if on cue, the evening temps dropped down to 22 degrees. Parked near a roaring bonfire, Hyundai Philippines staff set up two Stargazer X’s as comfy “tambayans” for us to chill at after dinner. This shows that the wherever you park the Stargazer X can be the destination itself. 

At P1,348,000.00, this price puts this top of the line variant in the mid range of its competitors’ prices, who seem to still lack ADAS in theirs. This makes the Stargazer X deserving of a second look.