/ Review

2024 Hyundai Custin Review

Can you really get a first-class experience without paying a hefty price? The Hyundai Custin might hold the answer.

Jerome Tresvalles
Hyundai Custin Review

Luxury minivans cost an arm and a leg, and we mean that without any irony. Of course, we’re not naive, it’s always a sure thing that premium amenities will come with a steep price tag, so it’s hard to find a vehicle that is luxurious but still carries an accessible, or at the very least, justifiable, price tag. 

Hyundai might have the answer to this conundrum with the all-new Custin. Launched in October 2023, the Custin is the latest addition to Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc.’s local lineup, slotting between the Stargazer and the Staria in both size and price. The 2024 Custin 1.5 T-GDI Premium 8AT is the top-of-the-line variant offering all the bells and whistles available on the Custin, with a price tag of P2,080,000 it might seem steep at first glance, but we think it is a car that gives you a whole lot for your money, read on to find out why.

4.7 / 5
2024 Hyundai Custin Review
Performance
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 4.5/5
Design
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.5/5
Ride Comfort
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 5.0/5
Safety and Technology
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 4.5/5
Value for Money
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 5.0/5
What You Will Like
  • Comfortable ride
  • Spacious cargo hold
  • Has lots of premium interior amenities
What You Won't Like
  • No physical buttons for air controls
  • Capacitive touch buttons on the dashboard
  • Piano black plastics on the center console
How We Do Our Reviews
Custin Front Quarter
Custin Rear Quarter
Custin Rear

The Custin incorporates design elements that align with Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design philosophy, this is evident at the front where the Custin displays a bold front fascia reminiscent of the Tucson. The exterior is further highlighted by a large grille adorned with a distinctive pattern and sharp LED headlights, resulting in a contemporary and refined appearance.

Custin Profile View

At the side, the minivan has a few cuts and creases in the bodywork to keep it in line with the design of the front complemented by chrome garnishes on the windows and a textured pattern found on the door handles, and near the bottom portion of the doors. Finally, the Custin rides on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 55 series tires which give it 174 mm of ground clearance, nearly the same height as the Tucson crossover with only a seven-millimeter deficit. 

Custin Second Row
Custin Second Row Seats
Custin Second Row Air Vent

Second Row

Inside, we’ll find the major selling point of the Custin, its superb interior. Because it’s a minivan, we, of course, start with the 2nd row, the most important section in people carriers like the Custin. 

Starting with the second-row seats, the Custin is equipped with power-adjustable Ottoman seats that are upholstered in white leather. They’re plush, they’re comfortable, and with a wide array of adjustment options, quite convenient as well. Adding to the experience is the tray and cup holder arrangement neatly hidden away in the back of the front seats, the expansive panoramic sunroof, the numerous cubby holes located on the doors and center console, the USB ports, and wireless charging ports, and finally, the wide windows that come with drop-down sunshades. This extensive array of features is already great on its own, however, keeping in mind the price point of the Custin, then it becomes impressive.

Third Row

Moving further back, we reach the third row. The third row is equipped with bench seats that can accommodate three people in comfort. In terms of space, however, your mileage may vary depending on the generosity of the people sitting in the second row.

Custin Trunk

As for amenities, passengers in the third row have their own air vents, air controls, and two cup holders on both sides of the car. Sadly, no USB ports are available for the third row. The upside, however, is that if you’re in need of space, folding the third row down will give you lots of storage capacity to store four balikbayan boxes and extra luggage. This amount of storage is even more than what you get from the much larger Staria.

Custin Interior

Sitting at the front, the first thing that you’ll notice about the Custin is how clear and unimpeded your view is of the road. This is all thanks to the combination of a low dashboard and a very wide windscreen resulting in a clear view of your surroundings. 

Custin Infotainment

Moving to the tech features, we start with the Custin’s 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice recognition, and a PA function which drivers will surely appreciate during long drives. The instrument cluster is all-digital and has a new, refreshing design and format that we quite like. Storage compartments are also quite plentiful with many cubby holes and bottle holders inside the front row along with lots of charging points.

Custin Driver's Side

As for downsides, we’ll start with the Custin’s air controls being located in the infotainment system with no physical buttons on the dash. Plus, the rest of the air controls like the recirculate button and defogger use capacitive buttons which are not that great in our opinion. Lastly, the center console has quite a lot of piano black plastics which will be prone to scratching and won’t age well.

Overall, we think the Custin’s greatness definitely shines in the passenger area. Having the aforementioned features in the Custin for its price point is great, especially when you consider its rivals in the segment. Some of its nearest competitors are the Toyota Hiace Grandia Elite, the Kia Carnival, and its bigger brother, the Hyundai Staria Premium which cost nearly a million pesos more than the top trim Custin. Sure, these vehicles are diesel-powered but the Custin’s gasoline engine is by no means a slouch, a point we’ll get to right now.

Custin Engine Bay

Under the Custin’s hood resides a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 167 hp and 253 Nm of torque paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Underneath, the Custin has MacPherson Strut suspension at the front and a Coupled Torsion Beam Axle suspension at the rear.

Custin Moving Shot

Immediately after setting off, you feel how comfortable the Custin is on the move. Despite being a seven-seater minivan, the Custin has supportive seats and rides almost like a crossover, plus, whether it's going through the rutted roads of EDSA or on the much smoother highways, the Custin is quiet and composed with NVH kept at a minimum. 

As for driving, the Custin can get up to speed easily with its 1.5-liter turbo engine. In addition, thanks to the eight-speed automatic transmission, there is no jitter at slow speed or rubber banding as you would feel in a DCT or a CVT. Do note however that, at the time of testing, we only had three people occupying the cabin along with some bags, so performance might take a hit if you fill it up to the max.

Custin Moving Shot Rear

During our time with the Custin, the seven-seater managed to get a respectable six km/l in the city and 16 km/l on the highway. Again, however, we have to state that these figures might change if the Custin is filled with seven passengers instead of three so keep that in mind.

Custin Headlights
Custin Taillights
Custin Wheels

Now that we’ve gone through the ins and outs of the Custin here’s what we have to say. If comfort is at the top of the priority list for you, you won’t go wrong with choosing the Custin. You won’t get the engaging drive and “pogi-factor” that crossovers have but expecting the Custin to have those traits is missing the point. 

Custin Moving Shot

At the end of the day, the Custin is a seven-seater minivan, it has some flaws but we believe it can be easily overlooked by just how comfortable this car is on the road, so comfortable in fact that it surpasses most of its rivals in the segment.

If you’re dead set on getting the larger minivans with larger engines and fancier interiors, then nothing will stop you. Just remember that the Custin can compete with those automobiles all while costing P1,000,000 less. 

If the Hyundai Custin has managed to capture your heart, or if you simply want to check out what vehicles are available in the country, head over to the Car Guide on AutoDeal.com.ph. Simply select your desired model, hit "Get Quote," and watch as top dealers across the nation swiftly give you official quotations. It's as straightforward and effortless as that.

Custin Exterior Grille
Custin Interior Trunk
Custin Interior Second Row Seats +21

Specifications

Engine

1.5 L

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Performance

167 hp @ 5,500 rpm

Transmission

Automatic

Summary

Name Hyundai Custin 1.5 T-GDI Premium 8AT
Body Type Minivan
Price ₱2,080,000
Transmission Category Automatic

Engine

Performance

Economy & Environment

Dimensions

Safety & Security

Features

Technology

Colors

Hyundai Custin Aurora Blue Aurora Blue
Hyundai Custin Military Gray Metallic Military Gray Metallic
Hyundai Custin Polar White Polar White

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