Among the people movers in the local market, the Hyundai Grand Starex has proven to be a popular pick. While it has been around for quite some time now, people don’t seem to mind as you still see more than a few examples running our roads. No worries, however, as the Grand Starex just got a timely refresh.
Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), the Korean carmaker’s official Philippine distributor quietly brought in the updated version recently. The biggest changes can be seen up front with a restyled grille and horizontal headlights in place of the pre-facelifted model’s vertical units. Other revisions include new side skirts and a tailgate-mounted roof spoiler.
Stepping inside, the cabin of the Grand Starex GLS new receives swivel middle-row chairs. This allows passengers to have more flexibility in their seating, making for more intimate moments for things like meetings on the move. Other than that, it is still the same comfy interior that has made the Grand Starex a hit among Filipinos.
This being a mere cosmetic upgrade, the engine remains the tried-and-trested 2.5-liter inline-4 CRDI turbodiesel with 170hp and 442Nm of torque. It is mated to a 5-speed automatic with manal mode. As for safety, the usual ABS with EBD, dual SRS airbags up front, and keyless entry with alarm are standard fare.
All told, it’s a case of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it”. Still, a mild nip and tuck wouldn’t hurt, right? The 2018 Hyundai Grand Starex GLS retails for P2,085,000.
