An eXtraOrdinary yet simple road trip drive results in an X-citing experience when groups of Motoring Media took the new Hyundai Stargazer X to the flat well paved roads of Clark Pampanga.
Recently, Hyundai Motors Philippines invited several motoring media to test drive the new Stargazer X. The media was kind of expecting that the overnight drive would bring us to higher plains like Baguio or mountain passes like the Bataan summit or even to the nearby hills of Tanay. The drive though was so much fun for us that it was a pure peer-type group road trip that included watching movies under the stars while dining. The side trip to the pottery and trying to do some painting reminds us of our school field trip when we were young. It was indeed a relaxing no-pressure media activity.
Leaving Makati before noon, the road trip seems to be quite easy for the Stargazer X as when it leaves, the convoy immediately traversed the Skyway Stage 3 to reach NLEX. No traffic jam was experienced in that first segment of our drive thus we were not able to test the performance of the X during traffic or in stop-and-go scenarios. However, thanks to the cruise control feature of the Stargazer X, it made the boring 60 kph drive at Skyway Stage 3 much easier.
Powered by a 1.5-liter Smartstream G four-cylinder gasoline engine, this produces 115 hp at 6,300 rpm and a maximum torque of 144 Nm at 4,500 rpm was sufficient enough to carry the load of 4 passengers and a driver in the relatively flat dominant road of Pampanga. It is paired with an IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission) which is Hyundai Motor Group’s version of a CVT, the Stargazer X does a great job of shuffling the power ratio as it tries to mimic a traditional automatic. There’s less of the engine droning associated with CVTs as a result.
Hyundai’s IVT is also quite responsive with less delay or lag when you want to overtake. Because of the CVT, the Stargazer X is one of the most fuel-efficient in its segment. An average fuel consumption of 15 km/l for the more than 100-kilometer drive route is excellent for a seven-seater MPV.
In all for performance criteria, it can be summed up that the Stargazer X provides an easy and comfortable drive for me both as a driver and a passenger from the meeting point – The Mess Hall in Chino Roces, Makati to the arrival destination in The Mansion in Clark, Pampanga and vice-versa.
Hyundai is always known and appreciated for its spaciousness and comfortable features even dating back to the late 90s when the big wide Hyundai Starex and long Hyundai Grace shuttle vans prowled the busy streets of Metro Manila, and here in the Stargazer X, the same still pretty much applies here. Compared to other 7-seater brands at price value, the Stargazer X is a true-to-form MPV that can seat 7 persons comfortably with enough legroom for all passengers.
As expected, the new Stargazer X sets itself apart from the standard model with its improved interior design by having sporty leatherette seats with red stitching, and the dashboard panel is accentuated with a high gloss black finish. There’s also a digital gauge cluster (albeit one of those segment-type dot matrix gauges), an easy-to-use 8-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging.
For the exterior, the X is now looking more sporty, and masculine with an edgier design. The Stargazer X is essentially the crossover version of the brand’s popular MPV, but it does come with a few improvements. This model comes with a sportier grille, new alloy wheels, and more black body cladding. It also comes with a higher ground clearance of 200 mm, which is 15 mm higher than the standard model.
When it comes to safety, the new Hyundai Stargazer X comes fully loaded with the brand’s “SmartSense” suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) features ranging from Forward Collision-avoidance Asisst (FCA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), High Beam Assist (HBA) and Blind-spot Collission-avoidance Assist (BCA).
A highlight feature is the FCA where after the driver is system alerted of imminent risk collision from the front, such as when pedestrians or another vehicle suddenly slows down or stops, the system will automatically apply emergency braking.
With all the eXtra features included with its affordable price, the Stargazer X variant possesses an X-Factor that is worth considering when choosing an MPV for family use, especially at its price tag of P1,348,000.
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