At first glance, the Custin Premium appears to be just another ordinary MPV with five doors. Its boxy body lacks shapely lines, and even the fonts at the rear, spelling out the make and model, seem to have been borrowed from the 90s. The only obvious 21st-century feature to me is the wide grille with gem-like bits shared with other modern Hyundai models featuring a distinct LED daytime running lamp arrangement. Designers also incorporated a few chrome accents — the one at the bottom of the hood bears the model name but is too slim to be noticeable — and equipped it with multi-faceted reflector LED headlamps, LED position lamps, and LED rear combination lamps. Other exterior features include a front and rear underbody garnish, a rear spoiler, and a fin-type antenna. Even if it wears stylish 18s and has a power tailgate, on the outside, it certainly does not appear deserving of its Premium trim level, but wait until you see what’s inside.

Let’s start with another contemporary feature I like, the smart key. It allows the user to unlock the vehicle by pressing the button on both front doors, and simply pulling any of the second-row door handles triggers its automatic slide-open function.

I’m not much of a beige fan, but it seems Hyundai is. Most of its vehicles locally sport this interior color. One quality I like that it shares with other models is the flat-top dashboard, which makes the cabin feel spacious and provides an unobstructed view of the road.

It features slim air vents that extend towards a 4.2-inch full digital LCD instrument cluster. At the same time, the center stack boasts a 10.4-inch touchscreen with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, and six speakers. There are plenty of storage spaces for small items (especially on the front passenger side), including a wireless charging pad and two USB ports. However, it could have done without the faux wood trim and the unusually random green door panel accent. The interior uses leather upholstery, including the multi-function flat-bottom steering wheel, across all seven seats.

Passenger convenience and creature comforts are what make the Custin Premium worth its ₱2.080-million price tag, and most are found behind the front row. It has two quilted and bolstered power captain’s chairs (Hyundai calls it Premium Relaxation Seats) with an ottoman, heating, ventilation, and an integrated memory feature; a dual sunroof (panoramic in the second row); foldable backseat tables; rear curtains; two more USB ports; and another wireless charging pad.

Second-row passengers will find control buttons behind the center console and another set on the right armrest. The third row has a bench seat and rear vents with its own controls. When driven by a chauffeur, the front passenger seat can be pushed all the way forward to increase legroom for second-row passengers, allowing them to use controls on the side of the backrest. If these are not enough to make EDSA traffic bearable, you’re probably too demanding.

Both grades of the Custin use a 1.5-liter gasoline direct injection engine with a turbocharger. It produces 170-horsepower and 253-Nm of torque, sending it to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission with Eco, Smart, Comfort, and Sport drive modes. It returned a respectable 9.2-km/l in mixed driving conditions across seven days.

The ride of the Custin Premium reflects its ‘premium’ price point. Its smooth and purposeful acceleration is comparable to that of the Staria and executive sedans. Like most modern MPVs, it showcases great balance around corners even when unladen, despite having coupled torsion beam axles at the rear. Changing gears is also more straightforward with its push-button selector.

Exclusive to the Custin Premium, just like the second row seats, is the Hyundai SmartSense driver-assist suite. It comes with cruise control, Manual Speed Limit Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist, Lane Following Assist, Rear Cross Collision Avoidance Assist, Parking Distance Warning, Rear Occupant Alert, Surround View Monitor, and a rearview monitor.

It doesn’t look like it from the outside (and would probably look better with wraparound body cladding). Still, the Custin Premium is a fully loaded minivan that boasts amenities rivaling those of luxury vans and sedans. It’s a steal compared to rivals in the segment due to its second-row features, but if you can live without them (and the SmartSense and sunroof), the GLS version at ₱1.770 million is another great option.