Used Hyundai Grand Starex - 12-seater MPV for Innova money, is it hard to maintain?

No car fits the adage ‘go big or go home’ quite like the 12-seater Hyundai Grand Starex (TQ).

First launched in 2009, the Grand Starex gained popularity for offering more seats, and much of the style, comfort and features of the popular Toyota Alphard, but at much cheaper prices.

Having been discontinued to make way for the newer and more expensive 2023 Hyundai Staria. Used, low-mileage units of the Grand Starex can be had for less than the price of a Toyota Innova today. Thus, let’s take a closer look at why the Hyundai Starex can be the ideal big MPV for your money.

Overview

The Hyundai Grand Starex was launched in early-2009 and initially offered in a singular 12-seater variant at RM 139k, powered by a 170 PS / 392 Nm 2.5-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder, paired with a 5-speed automatic powering the rear wheels.

In 2011, the Grand Starex Royale variant was introduced, which added stability control, swivel 2nd-row seats and power sliding doors as well as a revised front and rear bumper, and grille – priced at RM 154k. The TQ Grand Starex received another minor facelift in 2017, adopting a huge ‘Lexus-esque’ at the front and several other design tweaks. The price increased to RM 169k.

The TQ Grand Starex received a far more comprehensive facelift in 2018, now with an entirely redesigned front end, trapezoidal-shaped projector headlamps and newer wheel and colour combinations. Alongside the flanks and rear of the MPV, things were mostly the same.

Also read: From new to used cars, these 9 cars were discontinued in Malaysia in 2022

The engine also received a bump in torque, now supplying 49 Nm more at 441 Nm, though power remained the same at 170 PS. The TQ Grand Starex will receive several more variant additions between 2018 and 2021, mostly receiving trim and aesthetic updates to remain competitive and offer more overall value.

Why should I consider a Hyundai Grand Starex?

Well this is simple enough, need to move yourself and an entire soccer team comfortably, well nothing aside from a commercial passenger van – such as the discontinued Toyota Hiace (window van) – can carry as many people.

Also read: For RM 143k, you can get this one-off N Line-inspired Hyundai Starex for your family needs

Not to mention, the added passenger comfort, refinement, and pulling power of the Grand Starex, which makes light work of longer journeys.

Thus, in most cases, the Grand Starex would appeal to buyers with large families or owners that require its space and seating capacity for business as well. Courtesy of seats that can be moved fore and aft and a cavernous interior, the Grand Starex also excels at carrying cargo too, if required.

And lastly, the Grand Starex is a hardy and reliable workhorse, there's a reason they are MPV of choice for many Genting Highland tourist operators and 'premium' school bus operators. 

The variant to buy and where to find it

Having been around for over a decade, used examples of the Hyundai Starex range between just over RM 35k for early units, up to RM 130k for low mileage units that are approximately two years old.

Thus, a purchase decision highly depends on the buyer’s budget. Of course, the older the vehicle is, the higher its upkeep costs will be.

With that said buyers who are looking to use their Grand Starex as a family car should shoot for the higher variants – GLS, Deluxe and Premium – for more bells and whistles, or aim for the simpler Executive for more business usage.

What about maintenance and common problems?

Since many Grand Starexs are used as people haulers, they rack up huge mileages in just a few years, so it is imperative you take your time in looking for a unit with a comprehensive service history and one with honest mileage on the odometer.

The Grand Starex is a robust and dependable MPV if cared for properly, and more often than not, lack of care and/or timely maintenance items cause breakdowns or failures that can be expensive to fix.

A primary example of this, and one that needs regular inspection is the cooling system. A failed thermostat, water or oil cooler can lead to expensive engine rebuilds if the engine overheats. Not to mention replacing the entire head assembly if the damage is more severe. 

A rebuild of the engine can cost upwards of RM 10k, however, overhauling the cooling system (around 100k km only costs about RM 2k and will ensure years of reliability thereafter. 

There are occasional cases of power sliding failure, which can either be caused by a faulty door motor or a malfunctioning control module. In recent times there are quite a few specialists that can repair this issue, or avoid it completely and just go for variants with manual sliding doors.

Thus, it is wise to have the vehicle inspected by a specialist prior to purchase and make sure to test drive the vehicle before signing on the dotted line.

Or, why not skip the hassle and shop at Carsome? These Carsome Certified Hyundai Grand Starex units are meticulously presented and offered with a 1-year warranty and a 5-day money-back guarantee.

Also be sure to check out other great Hari Raya deals on Carsome, which are offered with exclusive discounts of up to RM 8,000, free service and warranty packages, and attractive interest rates for a limited time only. Download the Carsome App on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and start browsing today. 

Besides the above examples, also find many other well-presented examples of Hyundai Grand Starex on Carlist.my.