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.
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 4.5/5
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.5/5
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 5.0/5
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 4.5/5
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 5.0/5
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious cargo hold
- Has lots of premium interior amenities
- No physical buttons for air controls
- Capacitive touch buttons on the dashboard
- Piano black plastics on the center console
Exterior
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.
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.
Interior
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.
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.
Front Row and Technology
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.
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.
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.
Driving and Comfort
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.
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.
Fuel Economy
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.
Verdict
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.
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.
Image Gallery
Specifications
Engine
1.5 LFuel Type
GasolinePerformance
168 hp @ 5,500 rpmTransmission
Automatic-
Summary
-
Name Hyundai Custin 1.5 T-GDI Premium 8AT Body Type MPV Price ₱2,080,000 Transmission Category Automatic -
Engine
-
Engine Size 1.5 L Displacement 1,499 cc Number of Cylinders 4 Number of Valves 16 Transmission Type 8-Speed Automatic Transmission -
Performance
-
Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Max Output (hp) 168 hp @ 5,500 rpm Max Torque (nm) 253 Nm @ 1,500 rpm *estimated -
Economy & Environment
-
Fuel Type Gasoline Emissions Standard Euro 4 Fuel Capacity 58.0 L Combined Fuel Consumption 13.9 km/L *estimated -
Dimensions
-
Length 4,950 mm Width 1,850 mm Height 1,710 mm Wheelbase 3,055 mm Turning Circle 12 m Ground Clearance 174 mm Trunk Capacity n/a Number of Doors 5 Number of Seats 7 -
Safety & Security
-
Driver's Airbag Front Passenger's Airbag Side Airbags Curtain Airbags Knee Airbag Auto Brake System Electronic Brake Distribution Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) w/Multi-Collision Brake
Immobilizer Security Alarm Stability Control Electronic Door Locks Speed Sensing Door Locks ISOFIX Lane Departure Warning System Blind-Spot Detection System -
Features
-
Cruise Control Front Parking Sensors Rear Parking Sensors Leather Upholstery Push Start Button Wheel Size 18 in Wheels Metal Type Alloy Airconditioning System Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control with Rear Vents Entertainment System 10.4-inch Touchscreen Infotainment System Connectivity AM/FM, Bluetooth, USB, Voice Recognition, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Navigation Ready Warranty 5 Years (200,000 km) Keyless Entry Roof Rack Sunroof Electric Adjustable Seats Power Steering Power Windows Power Outlet Steering Wheel Audio Control -
Technology
-
Active Park Assist Hill Start Assist AWD Modes n/a Tire Pressure Monitoring Heads-up Display Power Liftgate Start-stop System
Colors
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