Hyundai Grand Starex 2020 Review

In recent years, the demand for 11-seater large MPVs in the Malaysian market has remained stable. This type of vehicle needs to meet the daily travel needs of large families and cater to small and medium-sized enterprises' business reception scenarios. The 2020 Hyundai Grand Starex Executive Prime, as a mid-to-high-end variant in the series, is priced at RM 171,888, which is RM 8,000 more expensive than the Executive Plus. Its core selling points focus on enhanced detailed features and space flexibility. In this test, we aim to verify whether it strikes a balance between practicality for multiple passengers and convenience in daily driving, while also determining if the RM 8,000 price difference is worth the investment.

From the exterior, the Grand Starex Executive Prime maintains the typical boxy design of a large MPV, with dimensions of 5150mm×1920mm×1920mm and a wheelbase of 3200mm. The body lines are simple, with no overly complex designs. The front features a large chrome-plated grille, flanked by halogen automatic headlights, and daytime running lights come standard, offering good recognizability when lit. The highlight of the vehicle's side profile is the sliding door design, which facilitates boarding and alighting for rear passengers, with door handles matched to the body color. At the rear, the taillights have a square design, with rear fog lights and high-mounted brake lights fully equipped. The overall style leans towards stability, in line with its dual-purpose home and business positioning.

Inside, the interior predominantly uses dark tones, and the center console layout is clear and user-friendly. The steering wheel features a multifunctional design, with the left side controlling the audio and calls, while the right side adjusts the instrument display information, making it intuitive to operate. The instrument panel uses an LCD touchscreen system, capable of displaying basic information like speed, fuel consumption, and range, with clear readings. The central screen is touch-operated, supporting Bluetooth connectivity and basic multimedia functions. Although it lacks an advanced infotainment system, it is sufficient for daily use. The front seats are manually adjustable, with firm padding but good support, making long drives less fatiguing. Focusing on the rear seats, the 2nd row adopts a 40:20:40 split sliding design, with the two outer seats capable of rotating to face the 3rd-row occupants for interaction, suitable for business settings or long-distance journeys. The 3rd row also features a 40:20:40 split sliding design, while the 4th row has foldable seat cushions with a sliding feature. All rear seats support manual adjustments, making space configuration highly flexible, an outstanding feature among similar 11-seater MPVs. Regarding storage space inside the car, the front center armrest box is moderately spacious, door panel storage compartments can hold water bottles, and there are small storage slots between the rear seats, meeting the storage needs of multiple passengers. Additionally, the vehicle comes standard with 220V/230V power outlets and a rear LCD screen, while sunshades cover all rear windows, enhancing the comfort of rear-seat passengers.

In terms of performance, the Executive Prime is equipped with a 2.5L turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 168PS and peak torque at 2000rpm, paired with an AT transmission and rear-wheel-drive layout. At start-up, the diesel engine's low torque performance is evident. Even with 11 passengers, the vehicle can start smoothly with a light step on the accelerator, without any noticeable struggle. During acceleration, the transmission shifts gears smoothly; although the shifting speed is not very fast, it aligns with the tuning logic of an MPV. When driving at high speeds, the engine maintains around 2000rpm, providing ample power for overtaking. When the accelerator is pressed harder, the transmission downshifts to increase speed; the response is not particularly quick but remains acceptable. In everyday driving, the steering is relatively light, making it easy for female drivers to handle, but it has a slightly larger play and average precision, which is typical for large vehicles of this type. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear five-link independent suspension, tuned for comfort. When passing through speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension absorbs most of the minor vibrations effectively, ensuring rear passengers feel minimal bumps. However, when making turns, the body leans significantly due to its large height and length, requiring the driver to control the speed carefully.

In terms of fuel consumption, we tested under mixed road conditions, including 30% urban congestion, 40% highway, and 30% suburban roads, with three passengers in the vehicle. The fuel consumption was approximately 8.5L per 100 kilometers. After filling the 75L fuel tank, the actual range is roughly around 850 kilometers, showcasing the diesel engine's good fuel economy. As for noise control, during idling, slight diesel engine noise is audible inside the car, but once in motion, wind and tire noise become increasingly noticeable, especially when the speed exceeds 110km/h on the highway. The wind noise has a greater impact on the front row, while due to the spacious rear area, the noise control is relatively better. Overall, it is at a mid-level for its class. In braking performance tests, the braking distance from 100km/h to a complete stop is about 42 meters. Even after repeated braking, no significant thermal decay occurred, indicating stable performance.

Compared with the Executive Plus at the same price point, the main differences of the Executive Prime lie in the vehicle height (1920mm vs 1925mm) and minor adjustments in detailed configurations. For example, the texture of interior materials is slightly enhanced. Although both models share core configurations such as swivel seats, rear-row LCD screens, and a 220V power outlet, the Prime version places more emphasis on assembly craftsmanship and material quality, such as slightly larger areas covered with soft materials on the door panels. Overall, the main advantages of the Grand Starex Executive Prime include the flexibility of its 11-seat arrangement (especially the second-row swivel seats), the fuel efficiency of the diesel engine, and the long warranty policy of 5 years or 300,000 kilometers.

In summary, the 2020 Hyundai Grand Starex Executive Prime is suitable for two groups of people: one, large families, especially users who frequently need to accommodate 6-10 passengers for travel, as its space flexibility and fuel economy can meet daily needs; two, small business users, as the swivel seats and rear LCD screens enhance the quality of business receptions. If the budget permits and there is a focus on detailed quality, the Executive Prime is more worth selecting over the Executive Plus. However, if value for money is prioritized, the Executive Plus is sufficient for most needs. Overall, the Grand Starex Executive Prime is a large MPV that prioritizes practicality, shines in multi-passenger scenarios, and is one of the options worth considering on the market.