Hyundai Grand Starex

Overview

Hyundai launched the first generation Grand Starex almost two decades ago in 1997. Its been selling since then and has satisfied many people. After witnessing success for a decade, Hyundai updated the Grand Starex in 2007. It refreshed things a bit and the van continued to sell. Today, it’s available in the same avatar. However, Hyundai has given a facelift that comes with the top-of-the-range GLS variant. It looks like a modern-day vehicle. But under the hood are the same engine options - 2.5-litre TCI and 2.5-litre CRDi. The starting price of the Hyundai Grand Starex is Php 1.4 million.

Interior & Features

The cabin of the Grand Starex has been done in beige theme. This enhances the roomy feeling of the cabin. The 2018 Grand Starex GLS model also has the same color scheme. There’s a sufficient amount of space for the passengers with enough leg and headroom. The seats are meant to provide good support and comfort.

The steering wheel comes with an optional leather wrap. It has got various mounted controls. Behind it sits a simple meter cluster which shows a tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge, and engine temp. There’s a small MID for other information. The centre console of the dashboard is very busy in the Grand Starex. It contains two vertically stacked AC vents separated by the 7-inch entertainment screen which supports AM/FM radio, CD, USB, and AUX. Below it is various controls for the manual AC. And then we have the gear lever as an integrated part of the dashboard.

For the comfort of all people on board, there are ceiling-mounted AC vents. And the AC system of the Grand Starex is extremely powerful to cool down a vehicle of its dimensions. There are many cubby holes provided to store items for your convenience. The boot capacity is decent with the last row seats upright but you can always utilise the foldable feature to increase the boot space anytime.

Exterior

Hyundai has finally provided a facelift to the Grand Starex for the 2018 model. The catch here is that only the top-of-the-line GLS variant gets the new exterior. The other variants will continue to have the same old looks. They look pretty decent in today’s advanced world of automobiles. The front fascia of the Grand Starex welcomes you with two large halogen headlamps that offer a good amount of illumination. It would have been so much better if there were LED headlights instead of the conventional halogens. Anyway, they get the job done. And somehow the distinctive design of the headlamps are very Hyundai-ish.

The front radiator grille of the Grand Starex gets a chrome treatment for reflecting a bit of premiumness. The two wide horizontal chrome slats do work wonders and enhance the attractiveness of the van. At the centre of the front grille sits the Hyundai brand logo. The front bumper gets two fog lamps and the bumper itself isn’t body colored but black, which matches WITH the cladding on the sides of the vehicle.

Talking about the side, the Hyundai Grand Starex carries itself pretty well from this angle. The proportions seem to be done just right. There are mild creases above the wheel arches that act as an interesting design element. We also like how Hyundai has nicely aligned the door handles of the front and rear doors. Of course, the rear door slides open. The 16-inch alloy wheels feel a bit tiny for this large size vehicle.

Moving towards the rear part of the Grand Starex, the windscreen is decently big and there’s a wiper to keep it clean. Below the windscreen is a plain and simple lift type boot lid that looks nice irrespective of the fact that it hasn’t been overloaded with complicated design elements. Hyundai has also found just the correct dimensions of the two vertical tail light clusters. There’s even a roof-mounted spoiler that accommodates the High Mount Stop Lamp (HMSL).

As far as the updated GLS model is concerned, its front fascia has been revamped for a fresh and modern design. The headlamps are sleek and stylish. The front grille has been changed too. It is much bigger and contains more chrome slats than before. The front bumper designed has been tweaked as well. The side profile of the 2018 Grand Starex has been improved by implementing a new side skirt and new design alloy wheels. The rear end of the van remains more or less the same with an addition of a roof-mounted spoiler.

Ride & Handling

The suspension setup on the Grand Starex includes MacPherson w/ Coil Spring for the front and Rigid Axle 5-Link w/ Coil Spring for the rear. Together they work to provide you with a good ride quality. They handle potholes and bumps on the roads pretty well. Being driven in this large van will be a comfortable affair.

The Hydraulic Power Steering (HPS) gives a proper feedback of what the front wheels are doing. This gives a certain amount of confidence to drive the Grand Starex at high speeds. Also, the long wheelbase and strong body structure make the vehicle.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Hyundai Grand Starex comes with two engine options. The first one is a 2.5-litreTCI engine that produces 100 PS of power and 225 Nm of torque. It comes only with a 5-speed manual transmission. The other engine is a 2.5-litre CRDi unit which churns out 170 PS and generates 441 Nm of torque at 2000 to 2250 revs. Available with the GLS trim, this engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission.

In terms of performance, the CRDi engine appears to be a better option because of its high torque output at low revs. This will make it easier for the Grand Starex to get going from a standstill and even cruise at high speeds without stressing the engine too much. Since it’s a Hyundai and a van, it’s expected of it to churn out good fuel efficiency numbers. Expect to get around 12-13 kmpl from the CRDi unit.

Braking & Safety

Hyundai has provided the Grand Starex with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. They provide a good amount of braking force to stop this heavy van. Also, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) aids in enhancing the braking performance. In terms of safety features, we get Electronic Stability Program (ESP), dual airbags, keyless entry with alarm, and reverse parking sensors.

Verdict

With over two decades of experience in comfortably carrying people from point A to point B, the Hyundai Grand Starex is a capable family van. It can easily accommodate up to 10 people. There are a few convenient and comfort-related features that make travelling in the Grand Starex better. This van can double up as a business vehicle for commuting purposes. There are areas of improvements which we are expecting Hyundai to address in the next iteration of the vehicle. With a starting price of Php 1.4 million, the Grand Starex gets a thumbs up from us.