The compact seven-seater MPV is one of the most competitive segments in the Philippine automotive market. And it is one that the newly minted Hyundai Motor Philippines intends to do business in. After all, the new distributor wants to reclaim the brand’s old glory in the country.

And having a model in volume-selling segments like this is one sure way to do it. And after some teasing, the Korean carmaker has finally taken the wraps off its arguably most important model in the ASEAN region. Welcome, the Hyundai Stargazer, which has been debuted in Indonesia.

At 4,460mm long, 1,780mm wide, and 1,690mm tall, the Stargazer is one of the bigger compact seven-seaters right now.

The new MPV borrows most of the front styling cues from the bigger Staria. That means it has this DRL strip that spans the entire width of the vehicle. In typical Hyundai fashion, the headlamp cluster is placed lower, right in front of the wheels.

It has a short hood, sweeping A-pillars, unique creases, notable character lines, and a choice of 15- or 16-inch wheels. These make it one of the best-designed vehicles in its segment. The rear end’s stylish hatch looks like it was lifted from a crossover—especially the futuristic “H Rear Lamp,” which stretches from one side to the other.

Depending on the variant you’re getting, it has a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and an eight-inch infotainment screen that offers smartphone integration. There are also a ton of storage and cubbyholes, while some variants even have small trays and a picnic table.

It should seat six to seven people comfortably, thanks to a 2,780mm wheelbase, the longest in its class. Top models get captain seats with armrests, allowing easier access to the third row.

The Stargazer also has many niceties like the Hyundai Bluelink connected car service. Through their smartphone, users can check vehicle condition, turn the engine on or off, adjust cabin temperature, and easily find where the car is parked. Furthermore, should it get stolen, you’ll receive a notification and be able to track and immobilize your stolen vehicle. On top of those, you’ll have SOS/emergency assistance and roadside assistance.

Powering the MPV is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that makes 114hp and 144Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual or Hyundai’s Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission. This is basically a modified CVT that can better reproduce the shift pattern of a manual transmission for improved responsiveness.

Best of all, it has the Hyundai SmartSense suite of driver aids like forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. In Indonesia, where it is first launched, the Stargazer’s pricing ranges from Rp243,300,000 to Rp307,100,000 (P925,000 to P1,117,000).

As we’ve said earlier, Hyundai Motor Philippines intends to bring this MPV in the country. Hopefully, the distributor could price and spec the Stargazer competitively. If it does, the Stargazer can give the segment leaders a good fight.