When it comes to small, seven-seater multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), you have as many choices in the market as there are stars.

The segment remains highly popular in the Philippines because it combines the utility and practicality of seven seats with the size and ease of a compact sedan.

There are established Japanese stalwarts like the Toyota Avanza (and its luxurious Veloz sibling), the Mitsubishi Xpander (and its rebadged Nissan Livina sibling), the Suzuki Ertiga, and the upcoming all-new Honda BR-V.

And today, November 8, 2022, Hyundai Philippines debuted its contender in this hot segment: the Stargazer.

It is, without question, the most visually striking of all the small MPVs. But how does this Korean upstart stand up against its more established rivals?

Here are some figures you can check out.

Widest and longest wheelbase

The Stargazer may not be the longest or tallest in class (that honor belongs to the Mitsubishi Xpander), but it is the widest and has the longest wheelbase.

This should help significantly with interior space, which is usually compromised because of the narrow bodies of most MPVs in this class.

For those particular with ground clearance, the all-new BRV and the Xpander and Livina siblings are the only ones that go past the 200 mm mark.

Cabin and cargo area average for the class

Step inside these little MPVs, and you get a mixed bag.

The Stargazer is available in cloth or leatherette trim, although the Livina and the upcoming BR-V are available in full leather. Meanwhile, the Korean MPV's touchscreen is par for the class at 8 inches.

But in terms of cargo space, the Xpander-Livina duo takes the cake with 495 liters with third-row seats up and 781 liters with the third row folded.

Drivetrain nearly top of the class

Power may not seem relevant in what is essentially a family shuttle, but when you load these MPVs up with people and luggage, you’ll feel the pain with an underpowered drivetrain.

The Stargazer falls near the top of the pile, with only the BR-V trouncing it in power and torque. A full test drive will undoubtedly tell more about the Hyundai’s capabilities.

Like the Honda, the Hyundai also has a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission. In contrast, designs like the Ertiga, Xpander, and Livina are showing their age by still offering an antiquated 4-speed automatic.

Class-leading safety kit

On the safety front, the Stargazer shoots away from many local rivals like the Xpander, Livina, and Ertiga by offering front, front-side, and curtain airbags standard on the top-of-the-line variant.

The Hyundai and the Honda also get standard traction control, ISOFIX child restraints, and a bevy of active safety systems on the top models.

These include lane-departure warning, forward-collision avoidance, lane-keep assist, rear-cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring, which are not available even as options in the Suzuki, Mitsubishi, or Nissan.

Stylish and competitively equipped

The Hyundai Stargazer is available in three variants. For feature set, modern design, and heightened safety technologies, the following introductory prices appear to be highly competitive:

• 1.5 GL IVT - PHP 998,000
• 1.5 GLS IVT - PHP 1,128,000
• 1.5 GLS Premium IVT - PHP 1,218,000

The published variant prices do not include shipping and other provincial charges.

This puts it right up against its Japanese rivals, although its closest competition will be the equally new BR-V, which will be launched locally on Nov. 21, 2022.

The new Hyundai STARGAZER comes with a 5-Year or 200,000-km warranty (whichever comes first) to further nurture peace of mind among MPV buyers.

Do you think the Hyundai Stargazer will outshine the other stars in the small MPV segment?