Hyundai Stargazer debuts in Indonesia, priced from RM72,000

PT Hyundai Motors Indonesia (HMID) launched the all-new Hyundai Stargazer, which is now available for booking in the republic. 

The Stargazer is a 7-seater MPV from the leading Korean automaker that competes against the likes of the Mitsubishi Expander, Honda BR-V, Toyota Avanza / Velos, as well as the Daihatsu Xenia.

HMID have readied a total of four variants; Active, Trend, Style and Prime. It's now open for bookings with prices ranging from 243.3 million Rupiah (RM72,435) for the Active MT variant to 307.1 million Rupiah (RM91,430) for the Prime.

In terms of design, the Stargazer clearly gets its inspiration from the Staria. Most prominent traits here includes the elongated light bar up front, as well as a cube LED headlight that's integrated into the front grille.

At the rear, things take a slightly different approach as it features  vertical and horizontal light bars that form a large ‘H’.

Unlike the Staria, the Stargazer has standard door openings on both sides rather than sliding doors. In terms of dimensions, the Stargazer measures  4,460 mm long, 1,780 mm wide and 1,690 mm high whereas its wheelbase measures 2,780 mm.

On board, the stargazer features a 4.2-inch color TFT display on the instrument cluster, followed by an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit that boasts smartphone connectivity plus a wireless charger.

In terms of seating, the Stargazer offers the choice between a six- or seven-seat options. The former sees a pair of captain's seats in the second row complete with armrests and adjustments function. In terms of cargo haulage, the 585-liter boot capacity (with the third row eats folded) is plenty indeed.

Powering the Stargazer is Hyundai's signature 1.5-liter MPI four-cylinder petrol mill that generates 115 HP and 144 NM of twist. Transmitting said outputs to the front wheels are the choice between a six-speed manual box or Hyundai's innovative and proprietary iVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission) box - the Korean marque's unique take on the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that adopts a chain-belt system instead of a traditional belt type.

In terms of equipment, the base Active offering gets halogen reflector headlamps, a 3.5-inch LCD instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, four speakers, fabric seats, two airbags and 15-inch wheels. The Trend variant slotting above that adds Hyundai's novel Bluelink telematics function, parking sensors as well as larger 16-inch wheels.

next comes the Style variant, which is further bolsters the Trend's equipment list with LED reflector headlamps, cruise control, a larger instrument cluster, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, two additional speakers for a total of six, ESC, hill start assist, a tyre pressure monitoring system, manual speed limit assist, reverse camera, keyless entry and ignition, as well as rear occupant alert.

Given it's ASEAN-cetric specifications and potential pricing, there's no denying that the Hyundai Stargazer holds a pretty strong potential should it enter a market like ours. Would you fancy this Korean alternative towards the BR-V and Xpander instead?