One of the oldest corporate in the local scene is the Sime Darby Group which is involved in a broad spectrum of industries including plantation, property, healthcare, industrial, motor and energy. With this dominance presence, it forms one of the key pillars of the local economy and the region as there are 20 offices around the world. Besides Hyundai, the Group is the custodian of a number of international marques in the automotive sector. Their operation consists of both CBU and CKD with the plant located in Kulim, Kedah. This plant has flexibility to assemble multiple brands for the local market.

The segment of the Starex is an interesting one as it is neither an SUV nor a van but it leans towards the latter but definitely a few levels above the ordinary van in terms of the finish and its offerings. There are very few vehicles in the segment that can be considered its competitors and the few that can be highlighted are continental ones like the Vito and the Sprinter. Some Japanese makes also can come close but the offering in terms of seating in these models will be much less than that available in the Starex. Being what it is, it caters to a niche segment of the market and more so for commercial purposes. This in no way means that it will not fit the bill as second vehicle for those with a large family. With its seating capacity of 11 persons it can easily accommodate at least two or three modern day families especially for an outing, special function or even the balik kampong excursions.

Hyundai today as everyone knows is one of the leading automotive brands which mean they are a big player. This Starex is a carefully created model that aims to capture more market share for the brand. The frontal portrays a bold modern look that is clean and crisp with large headlamps. With the foglamps, wheel arches and smart body lines, the Starex stands apart from conventional boxlike vans that are common on the roads. The sliding doors function with ease both from the inside and outside. All the glass panels are tinted to add more class to the exterior appearance. The rear end with the large combination lamps keeps up with the fresh look.

The launch of this model is a strategic one as there is a huge vacuum in the market especially for those in the tourism, car rental and even companies or entities which provide transport for their staff. With its capability of seating the maximum of 11 persons, this vehicle will do the job without compromising on the quality and class for the occupants. It sets new class standards for a multipurpose utility van.  It is a spot-on fleet vehicle that is diesel powered to make sure that the operational costs are reasonable. Another element that has to be highlighted is that just because is a transporter, does not mean that comfort has to be compromised.

As an established player, the retail presence is substantial with 79 outlets in Peninsula Malaysia and 17 in East Malaysia. This comprehensive network is aimed at fulfilling the sales and service needs of all key fleet accounts.

For those expecting the drab interior of a van will be very surprised as the seats are made of leather. The colour used is beige which creates an ambience of being roomy and spacious. With bucket leather seats all around, the occupants can travel in class comfort while enjoying the cabin that in effectively kept cool by the 4 aircon vents in on the dash plus 6 vents for the second, third and fourth row passengers. Another neat touch is the control button for the rear aircon vents that allows easy operation and therefore better comfort for the rear occupants. The door frames are large and it is coupled with the flat floorboard, allows easy entry and exit. A nice feature is the touch screen ICE head unit had doubles-up as the monitor for the reverse camera and also tuner, MP3/CD/DVD player plus iPod functions. The dash holds the glove compartment and another storage space above it. A 4-spoke steering wheel that is power assisted and adjustable felt easy to operate as it can boast of a turning circle of a tight 5.6m. The seats offer much flexibility in the arrangement to accommodate more luggage or passengers as they come with the foldable feature. In terms space available, the dimensions are 2.37m length, 1.62m width and 1.35m height. Even more is in store in the form of trays, pockets and door pockets to fully cater for the passenger’s needs. The driver’s seat is easily adjustable for that commanding view of the road ahead. For the leg and shoulder room, it is ample.

For the power, the diesel 2.5-litre CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection) in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve SOHC engine is in place with VGT or Variable Geometry Turbo allows for instant engine response particularly at low speeds. In order for the turbo charging to operate in an efficient manner, an inter-cooler is also in place. It is rated to produce the maximum power of 170PS at 3800 rpm and the peak torque of 392 Nm at between 2000 – 2500 rpm. Our test route was a mixture of running around town and also a short trip out of KL. We recorded the Starex reaching 110km/h at 2000 rpm, 120 km/h at 2200 rpm and 160 km/h at 3000 rpm. In our opinion, the engine felt responsive and showed that it can be pressed even further. With the overall dimension and the seating capacity, these numbers are respectable. The 5-speed electronic automatic transmission is mounted on the centre facia and it has the H-Matic control or auto and manual modes. Additionally, there is also the fuzzy logic control integrated with the engine ECU. The suspension is Macpherson struts with lower track arms and anti-roll bar for the front and live axle with multi-link type and coil springs for the rear to offer a decent ride.

Safety of the occupants becomes more relevant that most other models due to the obvious seating capacity and therefore the body come in the form of the unitary body shell. The ABS is the 4-channel and 4-sensor type and it is with the EDB. The front bumper is the 4km/h impact absorbing type while the steering wheel is collapsible. For that added safety, the cabin is reinforced and there are side impact protection bars for the doors. The front occupants will enjoy the two SRS airbags.

For warranty, it is 5-year or 300,000 km which ever comes and this is one the best available. In addition, this applies to both company and government purchase. It is a package that is very hard to overlook for any fleet manager due to the substantial saving that can be gained as the insurance backing is offered by MUI Continental Insurance Bhd.

The on-the-road price for private registration with insurance in Peninsular Malaysia is RM138,888.40.