When Hyundai Motor Philippines, Inc. took over the local distribution of the brand in the country, the company promised to bring in quality Hyundai mobility solutions for every Filipino motorist. The compact crossover Creta was one of the models unveiled during the launch of the brand in 2022. While the Stargazer MPV came out months after the official entry of the brand in the country. Both promising vehicles in their respective classes, the Creta and Stargazer are pitted as Hyundai’s volume drivers in the market.
To better experience these two Hyundai models, HMPH brought us to the beautiful province of Cebu and put the Creta and Stargazer to test.
Upon arrival in the Queen City of the South, the similarity of the highly commercial metro of Cebu with the Metro Manila is quite evident. Cebu City is fast-paced and traffic is pretty heavy, too. Though I certainly did not miss the bumper-to-bumper action, I actually thought that it was a good testing ground for the two Hyundais we were about to explore.
Our first stop in Cebu was the Hyundai Cebu South. From here, we started our southern adventure. I was first dibs behind the wheel in our group which was assigned with a Hyundai Creta as the group’s first vehicle.
My first drive experience with the Creta was in stop-and-go traffic in Cebu City. The Cebu South Road probably has the most traffic lights I saw on a stretch of road and we stopped at each light. But with this, I was able to better appreciate the Intelligent Variable Transmission (iVT) system that the Creta is equipped with.
To be honest, I initially thought Hyundai’s iVT is just like any other typical CVT system, but upon driving the Creta, the difference was apparent. Going through stop-and-go traffic, the Creta moves from dig as I step on the throttle. Though I know that CVTs just take proper throttle pedal management to have that efficient acceleration from standstill, it is just that the iVT does not require that extra practice of feathering the throttle. Let’s just say that the iVT’s intelligence will do that for you.
The iVT offers the best of both automatic transmission and CVT. It kind of has that direct drive feel that an automatic transmission has while still having that smooth CVT shifts. If you think that the Creta’s iVT is beneficial only for boring daily drives, well it comes handy for spirited drives, too.
Soon enough, we hit the Naga-Uling Road where the fun part of the drive started. Through the winding road, I had the chance to squeeze a little bit from the Creta. Though, for this part, there is nothing much to expect from a 1.5-liter engine, the Creta was pretty responsive. Turn after turn, on an incline, the econo mill was able to give just enough for a thrilling drive on a mountain road. Also, the iVT is still responsive in this part. It smoothly transfers power to the wheels. In this part, I realized that the edge of iVT over conventional CVTs is that it is easier to be acclimated to. It’s smart like that. I love it.
After enjoying the drive through foggy mountain roads, we arrived at Lakeview Le Jardin where our group was greeted by a spectacular view of the mountains wrapped in vibrant greens. This is where we got treated to a sumptuous lechon lunch, all bought from three of the most popular local Cebu lechon houses. After filling up, Le Jardin also gave us bead necklace/bracelet-making lessons and allowed us to take the products as souvenirs for free.
Following the filling and relaxing lunch break, we got back on the road, this time, in the Stargazer. I jumped right away in the back seat. This allowed me to have a better feel as a passenger in Hyundai Philippines’ contender in the heated local MPV market. Entering the Stargazer, the space is obviously plenty. The cockpit offers ample space and it gets better in the second row. I know a fun-sized guy like me talking about legroom and headroom space would raise eyebrows, but it is just clear that the Stargazer has ample passenger space for even taller people.
Cabin NVH is also decent. Noise level is toned down so much that I was able to sleep sound despite the winding roads we traversed. All the lechon and the fact that it was siesta time already, but the ride comfort also has something to do with that. Definitely.
The whole drive was a loop. So after going up the mountains, as the sun was setting, we were back in the city. Just in time for the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) to be lit up. Our convoy drove through CCLEX, which was an awesome experience and felt like driving through somewhere foreign. We also did not miss the chance to take a snap of the Creta and Stargazer through Cebu’s latest engineering marvel.
The Creta and Stargazer are two of the most important models for HMPH as these are expected to drive volume for the company. With the recent experiential drive we had of these two, I can say that Hyundai has some pretty strong contenders in their respective classes. With car buyers getting smarter with their choices, I believe that Hyundai’s iVT will definitely be a big factor in the decision of many future buyers of the Creta and Stargazer.
Getting the chance to try these two made me excited to watch the local automotive market knowing that buyers have more sensible choices to choose from.
