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GIIAS 2018: Facelifted Hyundai Grand Starex, H-1 MPV

GIIAS 2018: Facelifted Hyundai Grand Starex, H-1 MPV

The new Santa Fe shared Hyundai’s 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) stand with the Hyundai Grand Starex facelift, known in Indonesia and some markets as the H-1. The refreshed Grand Starex was recently launched in the republic, where people carriers of all sizes are popular.

We may have seen a couple of face swaps in Malaysia, but globally, the Grand Starex has only seen one mild facelift since it was unveiled in 2007. Here’s another, because this is not an all-new model. It’s a relatively big facelift, though.

Introduced in its home market in December last year, the Grand Starex facelift gets a new front fascia that ditches the vertical headlights for horizontal trapezoidal items (LED projectors), flanking a big grille with horizontal chrome lines.

GIIAS 2018: Facelifted Hyundai Grand Starex, H-1 MPV

The lower air intake has also been redesigned (the LED DRLs are located here), while the bonnet is taller to provide greater pedestrian protection and a more stately look. Reminds me of big Renaults like the Koleos SUV and Talisman sedan. It’s less bold than our market’s Lexus-style mug, but classier for sure.

The van’s rear end is largely similar to before except for the lower bumper and the new, distinctive vertical tail lamps with twin LED “ears” as signatures. There’s also a chrome upper window garnish that wraps around the rear screen, below the new rear spoiler. The base Elegance rolls on 215/70 R16 tyres while higher XG and Royale variants ride on 235/60 R17s.

While the exterior matches South Korea’s Grand Starex facelift, opening the doors reveal an unchanged dashboard. This means that the Indonesian-spec H-1 facelift misses out on the new, and rather nice, dashboard found in the domestic market MPV (below, right). The new horizontal, car-like cabin is very contemporary in design and a big improvement – will Malaysia get it, or will Hyundai-Sime Darby carryover the old dash?

Behind the front three seats, the Grand Starex can be had with two electric ottoman captain chairs in the range topping Royale (eight seats in total, 3-2-3) or new second row swivel seats in the Elegance and XG trim levels.

In the latter, the second row can be turned around to face the rear for a living room style layout. The middle seats in rows two and three can be folded away. With all seats in place, the formation is 3-3-3-3, with plenty of boot space left for luggage. Two airbags only, though.

Engine options include the Theta II 2.4 litre MPI petrol and the A2 2.5 litre CRDi turbodiesel with 170 PS/441 Nm. Indonesian prices range from Rp 487 juta (RM137,565) for the XG petrol to Rp 599 juta (RM169,132) for the Royale CRDi. Like the new Santa Fe, the refreshed Grand Starex should also be coming to Malaysia soon. What do you think of the new look?

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Better than Alpard n Vellfire

    Thumb up 27 Thumb down 49
    • Peter on Aug 09, 2018 at 3:56 pm

      Hyundai full onslaught on kombi

      Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
      • John May 9 Nangis on Aug 09, 2018 at 7:55 pm

        When this car is launched in Malaysia, just buy 2nd hand.

        Buta buta can buy 60% less for a 1 year old car.

        Why buy RM200k when you can buy it for RM90k after one year?

        Thumb up 1 Thumb down 10
        • Damon Lee on Aug 10, 2018 at 12:39 pm

          More fake news from the fake news troll. Above link oredi showed 2015 Starex is priced at Rm 115,000. Way way above your quoted price. If you can get me a 2017 Starex at Rm 90,000 I pay you RM5k commission. Can?

          Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Ben Yap on Aug 09, 2018 at 3:35 pm

    so big vehicle only 170ps. my civic 1.5 turbo can leave it in a smoke of dust at the traffic lights.

    Thumb up 7 Thumb down 67
    • I tot for acceleration, torque is the right figure to compare?

      Thumb up 19 Thumb down 0
    • Peterson on Aug 09, 2018 at 4:26 pm

      My highest class Volvo s90 can smoke your plastic feel low class civic and even civic type R in a dust.

      Thumb up 41 Thumb down 0
    • Yes, because you buy a van to outrun a civic 1.5 turbo

      Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
    • Saleem on Aug 09, 2018 at 4:57 pm

      Its a better option has crdi engine no Jerk upto 160 kmph , comfortable to sit, good in climbing mountains no issues at all from 2010 i had better than proton, Honda, perdua

      Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • someguyonthenet on Aug 09, 2018 at 7:18 pm

      so we’re comparing the performance of sedan with a van? Just how pathetic is that car that is has to be compared to a van?

      Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
    • The starex can leave you and your friends and relatives of 10 ppl behind looking for 2 grab cars. Useless 0-100kmh in a situation like this.

      Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Ur civic cannot take 11 pax

      Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • The car looks like an old uncle to me 0.0

    Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • Bernard on Aug 09, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    It should be priced 50% less! It’s a Hyundai …..

    Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • AkooIm on Aug 09, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    If Perodua try to put a make up on a dinosour, Hyundai take it on a new level by trying to apply it on a fossil…

    Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • jibby pls donate to me on Aug 09, 2018 at 4:40 pm

    I’ve read it before here in PT that starting from 1 Jan 2018 all vehicle is banned from selling models with lap belt. yet our current stare is still using it & get away with it. the only thing preventing me from buying stare is lap belt & stupid Lexus wannabe front grill. if this face-lift comes here with the new dashboard & proper 3 point seat belt, I’ll be sure to buy it for weekend getaway with whole family members & friends

    Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • Saleem on Aug 09, 2018 at 5:00 pm

    Its a better option has crdi engine no Jerk upto 160 kmph , comfortable to sit, good in climbing mountains no issues at all from 2010 i had better than proton, Honda, perdua

    Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
  • Techron on Aug 09, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    Kia Grand Carnival are better than this kind of mpv

    Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • What is this? Bezza Dinasour Edition???

    The headlamp is 100% taken from a Bezza

    Thumb up 3 Thumb down 4
  • The 11 years old model has far exceeded it’s product lifespan. Time to launch new model

    Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Anton on Aug 11, 2018 at 8:40 am

    Hyundai Indonesia reasoned that they did not want to risk the new dashboard as it was not proven yet in the tropical climate

    Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Akmal on Aug 11, 2018 at 9:37 pm

    Dashboard of Maxus G10 us much better. Dashboard

    Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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