It’s not all about hybrids and EVs these days. There’s still a huge market for purely petrol-powered cars, especially for the tried-and-tested MPVs. I’m talking about the good, old people-haulers that, some 10 years ago, took the automotive world by storm.
There are still plenty of solid options from the bunch, and for many car buyers—especially the first-timers—these practical seven-seaters are still top of mind.
One such example is the Hyundai Stargazer, which itself got a hefty facelift in 2025. I’ve always thought it to be one of the most solid offerings in its segment—it even won a four-way Big Test a few years back. This time around, I get to revisit the top-of-the-line Stargazer X and see what these updates are all about.
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Perhaps this might be the real elephant in the room—this facelift just doesn’t work for me. It looks new—fresh, even—but it’s just too…angry. The front fascia looks way more macho now with the large grille and the more squarish headlights, but admittedly, it doesn’t look nearly as clean as the pre-update version. But of course, this is a matter of preference. I know of some people who actually like the design.
The rear end looks better in my opinion. There’s still that bulky bumper underneath, but overall it looks more reserved. I also think the taillights look pretty good, though I still prefer the pre-facelift layout better.
If you thought the changes on the outside were a lot, take a look at the interior. In a sense, it’s familiar because you still get all the storage compartments and cubbies like you did in the previous version, but the dashboard has been massively reworked here. You’ll still find a lot of plastics, but that’s perfectly fine.
There are new panels housing the A/C vents that now look more modern. The A/C controls are also now enclosed in this gloss-black panel, comparable to the execution in the Creta N Line. The Stargazer X, however, gets more touch panels. Elsewhere in the front row, it remained untouched, like the center stack from the gearshift lever to the center armrest. This interior looks a lot fresher than before, and that’s even with Hyundai removing the contrast stitching on the leather seats.
The rear is mostly unchanged, save for the fact that the two charging ports for the second-row passengers are now USB-C. Good job, Hyundai. The plastic trim where the rear A/C controls and vents are mounted has also been ever so slightly tweaked, but it really doesn’t affect anything else that much. There is still a foldable tray behind the front passenger seat, though, and the third-row seats still fold flat on the floor to open up more storage.
Speaking of which, it’s worth noting how convenient it is to haul stuff in the back of the Stargazer X, whether it’s small grocery bags or more sizable items. There’s no power liftgate, but it wasn’t a problem, and despite the aforementioned bulky bumper, it never felt like a chore to load stuff onto the back.
At the heart of the Stargazer X is still a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine churning out 113hp and 141Nm of torque. Hyundai didn’t change anything for this facelift, meaning this powertrain still comes mated to Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission, or its signature CVT. I’ve always liked this setup in the original Stargazer, and my thoughts are still the same with this one.
It’s smoother than the usual CVT-equipped setups and doesn’t have that rubberband-like response, and it feels more lively to drive. Even with five to seven people on board, the Stargazer X doesn’t struggle. On the highway, it also cruises easily, with revs kept to well under 3,000rpm even when driving at 100kph.
The performance also doesn’t come at the expense of fuel economy, as the Stargazer X was still able to net 12km/L in mixed conditions with mostly two to three people onboard. Strictly on the expressway, it can go as high as 20km/L.
As mentioned earlier, the Stargazer X is quite lively to drive. In addition to having a solid setup under the hood, this MPV handles quite well. Not that MPVs should be driver-focused, of course, but among its competitors, the Stargazer X is easily the most fun-to-drive.
Ride comfort is also pretty decent here, too. While sound isn’t significantly insulated through the windows, not a lot of road noise creeps through the floor and into the cabin. The Stargazer X can also eat up minor road imperfections quite easily, and it makes roads like C5 a little more bearable.
Driving it in the city and through tight spaces was also never an issue, as the vehicle’s steering feels light and its turning radius is forgiving. It’s something I wouldn’t mind piloting regularly in the metro, as it doesn’t really feel too big to drive.
This being the top-of-the-line trim, it gets all the bells and whistles. Full ADAS with adaptive cruise control, lane-keep and lane-following assist, and blind-spot monitoring, among others. It’s all well and good, though I did find the forward-collision warning a bit too aggressive at times. Even in heavy traffic, I was still getting alerts and, on one occasion, unnecessary intervention. The same goes for rear cross-traffic alert and the parking sensors in general. I know it’s better to have these active safety tech than to not, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement with regards to how they actually work.
Surprisingly, though, there’s no 360-degree-view camera available even with all the toys equipped in this variant. It would’ve been appreciated, especially since a vehicle like this is easily an option for first-time car buyers who are also most likely newbie drivers.
I do appreciate having Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with the eight-inch touchscreen. The head unit comes with a 4+2 speaker setup, and while it still forced me to used wireless connectivity, I found it wasn’t as wonky anymore unlike with the pre-facelift model. Not sure what Hyundai fixed, but I hope it becomes more consistent with all of its models, not just the Stargazer X.
I gave the Stargazer X high marks when I first tried it out a while back, and it still deserves the same recognition now. However, the upgrades that could’ve brought the score further up were merely canceled out by some flaws here and there.
The new interior looks better, but I think the exterior really could’ve been done differently. But subjective comments aside, more smoothly operating driver aids would’ve been appreciated, as well as the addition of some features that would’ve proven more helpful in day-to-day driving.
Overall, even with some of the complaints, I still think the Hyundai Stargazer X is the one to beat in the non-hybrid subcompact MPV segment in 2026. And until its biggest Japanese rivals get electrified, I have no doubts this will remain competitive in the market.
Price: P1,378,000
Engine: 1.5-liter gasoline I4
Power: 113hp @ 6,300rpm
Torque: 144Nm @ 4,500rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Layout: Front-wheel-drive
Seating: 7
Score: 9/10
