Last Updated on 28/10/2025 by Raj
2026 Hyundai Stargazer Review: The MPV That Grew Up and Got an Attitude
The all-new 2026 Hyundai Stargazer injects a confident new attitude into Southeast Asia’s MPV market. With SUV styling, smarter technology, and Hyundai Smart Sense safety, it’s not just a facelift—it’s a family revolution.
The Dawn of a New Stargazer
Every so often, a vehicle appears that subtly rewrites the rulebook. The Hyundai Stargazer was such a silent revolution in 2022. It did not scream, it merely fit—seven seats, sensible dimensions, and a space-age face that seemed to have been plucked directly from Seoul’s design centers.
Now, in 2026, Hyundai hasn’t merely taken it out of the attic and branded it “new.” It’s drawn the Stargazer into a new orbit. The formerly cute MPV now shows SUV muscle—taller stance, squarer shoulders, and a light signature that could pilot ships home through fog.
It’s built in Indonesia for the region’s chaotic roads, humid climates, and family-heavy lifestyles. And the big question is: can it keep its friendly personality while acting more grown-up?
Inside the Stargazer: Where Everyday Life Feels First-Class
Slide inside and it’s immediately clear Hyundai’s engineers have been paying attention to what families actually complain about.
Goodbye to the bland plastics and interminable beige. Instead: a elegant combination of soft-touch surfaces, satin silver trim and ambient light strips that cast a soft glow in the night. The dashboard now curves like an aircraft wing—low, wide, free of clutter.
Front and center sits the new dual 10.25-inch display setup—one screen handling infotainment, the other a crisp digital cluster. It’s the kind of tech normally reserved for SUVs costing twice as much. The graphics are sharp, transitions smooth, and Hyundai’s latest UI finally feels adult.
Space is still the Stargazer’s trump card. The second row reclines and slides, and even exists in captain-seat form for upper trims—your children will begin to fight over who gets to sit there. The third row, naturally, is only suitable for short hops or small relatives, but at least the air-conditioning vents stretch that far now.
Little things demonstrate Hyundai gets the mess of life: deep door pockets for water bottles, secret snack cubbies, and USB-C outlets for all the gizmos under the sun. It’s a cabin designed by people who lived through family road trips, not merely sketched them out on CAD screens.
Noise insulation has made giant strides, too. Tyre roar and engine growl are distant whispers. On the highway, you can have a voice conversation without voice-raising—a luxury in this category.
The Heartbeat: Smartstream Simplicity
The 2026 Stargazer is powered by the familiar 1.5-liter Smartstream G petrol motor, which makes 115 horsepower and 144 Nm of torque. No, it won’t break drag-strip times, but it doesn’t have to.
Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) keeps the engine in its sweet spot, faking gear shifts just enough to avoid that droning CVT feel. Around town, it’s smooth and relaxed. Overtaking on provincial highways takes a planned squeeze of the throttle, but the Stargazer rewards with calm composure rather than chaos.
Fuel economy floats markedly between 16–18 km/L, depending on your right foot’s tendency to be heavy, and in traffic-congested cities like Jakarta or Manila, that’s bliss.
Steering is light as a feather for parking efforts but adds welcome weight at high speeds. Suspension tuning gets it just right: soft enough to soak up potholes, stiff enough to prevent seasickness around corners.
This is a car that prefers grace over grunt—think long road trips, not quick getaways.
Safety: Smarter Than It Looks
Hyundai’s SmartSense technology finally makes its full appearance in this segment. For families, it’s a silent guardian watching every move.
You get Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Lane Keeping and Following Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Driver Attention Warning, and even a 360-degree camera system for tight city squeezes.
Combine that with six airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, and a structure designed to absorb impact energy like a sponge, and you’ve got one of the safest MPVs south of Tokyo.
That is, the Stargazer now sees with eyes in the back, front, and sides of its face—something generations of parents have been attempting to do.
Daily Abilities: Engineered for Southeast Asia
Hyundai did not just facelift the Stargazer—they engineered it for actual real-world ASEAN living.
With heightened ground clearance and a tighter turn radius, it navigates flooded streets and cramped alleys with ease. The suspension geometry has been optimized for crumpled asphalt, imbuing the Stargazer with an eerie tendency to glide over bumps without theatrics.
The boot space, third row down, becomes cavernous. Family shopping?Done.Weekend bags?Piece of cake.A medium-sized Labrador?Still space for him to snooze.
And although it’s no off-road warrior, its SUV-influenced stance keeps it from appearing awkward alongside larger crossovers. It’s a people carrier with a bit of attitude.
Pricing and Availability
Hyundai has handled this wisely. Rather than shocking pocketbooks, it’s refined the value proposition.
In Indonesia, the Stargazer begins at IDR 270 million, depending on trim level. In the Philippines, prices go from ₱1.118 million for the lower GL IVT up to approximately ₱1.348 million for the flagship Premium variant.
That undercuts or beats most competitors and delivers additional tech and improved safety credentials. In Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, rollouts are phased over early 2026. Each market receives modest spec revisions—proof Hyundai pays attention to regional tastes instead of replicating one global model.
Why It Matters
Since not all families desire a pickup-based SUV or a humongous crossover. Most desire something practical, secure, and fashionable enough to proudly park. The Stargazer fills that niche to perfection—covering the ground between practicality and flair.
Hyundai is wagering on long-term faith too. The after-sales network of the brand in ASEAN has grown up; maintenance packages are competitive, and spare-part supply no longer gives rise to worry.
For ride-sharing drivers, expanding families, and entrepreneurs who moonlight as weekend explorers, the 2026 Stargazer is that trusted companion you can rely on—and perhaps even boast about.
Pros and Cons
The Wins:
Assured new look that is grown-up and trendy
Cabin atmosphere more like a mini-SUV than an MPV
Tech-laden dual-screen configuration, wireless across the board
SmartSense suite provides peace of mind on every journey
Frugal and hushed for long road trips
The Trade-Offs:
Engine output sufficient but not thrilling
Third-row roominess still cramped for taller occupants
No hybrid or turbo to be had (yet)
But when you compare what it brings to the table to what it demands, the Stargazer weighs well in its favor.
Final Verdict: The Everyday Hero Gets Its Cape
The 2026 Hyundai Stargazer is what occurs when a company truly listens. It retains the essentials that made the initial so well liked—room, comfort, and value—and overlays sophistication and security in layers that make it feel two tiers above its class.
It’s not attempting to be sporty. It’s not faking to be luxurious. It’s simply a very good sports at being a family vehicle that doesn’t qualify as a compromise.
In a world dominated by safe badges, Hyundai took the risk of building an MPV with personality. And for Southeast Asian families who want something reliable but unique, that’s a little revolution worth toasting.
So yes—the Stargazer has matured. But happily, it has retained its twinkle.
FAQs
Q1: What’s new in the 2026 Hyundai Stargazer?
A complete exterior redesign with SUV cues, dual 10.25-inch screens inside, upgraded materials, improved NVH isolation, and the addition of Hyundai SmartSense ADAS features.
Q2: What engine powers the new Stargazer?
A 1.5-liter Smartstream G petrol engine delivering 115 hp and 144 Nm, paired with Hyundai’s IVT automatic for smoother performance and better fuel economy.
Q3: Is the 2026 Stargazer available outside Southeast Asia?
Now, it’s manufactured and retailed predominantly in ASEAN regions—Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand—but Hyundai can push into India in 2027.
Q4: What sets the Stargazer apart from competitors such as the Xpander or BR-V?
It has a quieter interior, improved infotainment, and an entire ADAS package—attributes seldom available at this price level.
Q5: Is it worth purchasing?
If you prioritize comfort, up-to-date safety, and durability over sheer power, definitely yes. It’s one of the brightest purchases within the 7-seater MPV market today
