The Hyundai Starex is a van built by the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea. In South Korea, the Starex available in a wide range of configurations, including minivan (MPV) and minibus, van, pick-up, taxi, and ambulance. The first generation was introduced since 1997 and replace with current model in 2007.

The 2nd-generation vehicle was introduced as the Grand Starex with larger dimensions and much stronger Common-rail Diesel Injection (CRDi) engine. The CRDi engine is a 2.5 litre inline 4 cylinder with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) delivering 125 kw (170ps) with a torque of 392Nm.

The Market Shares of Luxury MPV are rapidly growing in Malaysia (like Toyota Alphard, Estima, Nissan Elgrand and Honda Elysion). Hyundai Sime Darby brought in the Hyundai Grand Starex and Hyundai Grand Starex Royale to Malaysia in 2008.

Unlike the Japanese Luxury MPV, this Hyundai Starex is built on van platform that uses to build Cargo van and people mover. With this approach, the overall development costs will be lower than the Japanese Luxury MPV that based on its own chassis as luxury MPV. In terms of comfortability wise, I will go for the Japanese model for sure. What if there is a budget concern, why not consider a Hyundai Grand Starex!

In the other hand, why not Toyota consider building a Luxury Van like Starex which based on Toyota Hiace for ASEAN market? How is that sound like? To me, Toyota Innova is not a proper MPV... We need something more proper.

This Hyundai Starex is based on 6 lug wheels, it will be tough to source for aftermarket wheels. Most likely, Toyota Hiace wheels may be suitable to fit on the Starex.

In Malaysia, the Starex is available in a more luxurious variant instead. It comes with DVD player, 7 inch LCD panel and full body kit. The Grand Starex Royale won many car awards such as the Autocar Asean 2008 for Large MPV category, 1st Place in Asian Auto Bosch Fuel Efficiency 2008 in Luxury MPV Category with a combined fuel efficiency of 8.5l/100km as well as the New Straits Times / Maybank Car of the Year Award in the large MPV category.

Hyundai Starex is also one of car that selling with the longest warranty in Malaysia - 5 Year or 300,000km warranty. The price starts from RM 133,474.60 before on-the-road costs.