Hyundai Staria 2022 review

Hyundai has taken on many bold challenges in recent years - launching a range of high-performance vehicles, expanding electric vehicle production, and introducing a radical new design language - but its latest move may be the most difficult.

Hyundai is trying to make people cool.

While some countries around the world have embraced the practical nature of passenger cars, Australians remain committed to our preference for seven-seat SUVs. Style over space is a local creed, and SUVs find use as large family vehicles much more often than vans, or, as some moms call them, vans.

This is despite the obvious advantages of van-based vehicles such as the just-replaced Hyundai iMax. It has room for eight people and their luggage, which is more than many SUVs can boast, plus the mini-bus is easier to get in and out of than any other SUV you can currently buy.

But people transporting people have a driving experience more like a delivery van, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to SUVs. Kia has been trying to push its Carnival closer and closer to being an SUV, and now Hyundai is following suit, albeit with a unique twist.

The all-new Staria replaces the iMax/iLoad, and instead of being a passenger van based on a commercial van, the Staria-Load will be based on passenger van bases (which are borrowed from the Santa Fe). .

What's more, it has a new look that Hyundai says is "not just cool for people who move, it's a cool point." This is a big challenge, so let's see what the new Staria looks like.

Hyundai Staria 2022: (base)
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.2 L turbo
fuel type	Diesel
Fuel efficiency	8.2l / 100km
Landing	8 Places
Price from	$51,500

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Hyundai offers an extensive Staria lineup with three specification levels, including a 3.5-liter V6 2WD petrol engine or a 2.2-liter turbodiesel with all-wheel drive for all variants.

The range starts with the entry-level model known simply as the Staria, which starts at $48,500 for petrol and $51,500 for diesel (suggested retail price - all prices exclude travel expenses).

18-inch alloy wheels are standard on the base trim. (Diesel variant of base model shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

Standard equipment on base trim includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, keyless entry, multi-angle parking cameras, manual air conditioning (for all three rows), 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery. steering wheel, cloth seats, six-speaker stereo system and 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, as well as a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Upgrading to the Elite means prices start at $56,500 (petrol 2WD) and $59,500 (diesel all-wheel drive). It adds keyless entry and push button start, power sliding doors and power tailgate, plus leather upholstery, power adjustable driver's seat, DAB digital radio, 3D-view surround camera system, three-zone climate control. and a 10.2-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation but wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It has a 4.2 inch digital instrument cluster. (Elite petrol variant shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

Finally, the Highlander tops the line with a starting price of $63,500 (petrol 2WD) and $66,500 (diesel all-wheel drive). For that money, you get a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a power dual sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a rear passenger monitor, fabric headlining, and a choice of beige and blue interior trim that costs $295.

In terms of color choice, there's only one free paint option - Abyss Black (you can see it on the base diesel Staria in these images), while the other options - Graphite Grey, Moonlight Blue, Olivine Grey, and Gaia Brown - all cost $695. . That's right, white or silver is out of stock - they are reserved for the Staria-Load parcel van.

The base model includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. (Image: Stephen Ottley)

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

As mentioned earlier, Staria is not only different in design, but Hyundai has made it a key argument in favor of the new model. The company uses words like "sleek", "minimal" and "futuristic" to describe the look of the new model.

The new look is a major departure from the iMax and means the Staria is unlike anything else on the road today. The front end is what really sets the tone for the Staria, with a low grille flanked by headlights with horizontal LED daytime running lights spanning the width of the nose above the headlight clusters.

At the rear, the LED taillights are arranged vertically to accentuate the height of the van, while a roof spoiler adds to the unique look.

It's certainly a striking sight, but at its core, the Staria still has the overall shape of a van, which detracts slightly from Hyundai's attempts to push it towards SUV buyers. While the Kia Carnival blurs the line between car and SUV with its pronounced hood, Hyundai is definitely getting closer to the traditional look of a van.

It's also a polarizing look, unlike the conservative iMax, which can help dissuade as many potential buyers as it attracts. But Hyundai appears to be determined to make its entire lineup of cars stand out rather than take risks.

The Elite includes leather upholstery and an adjustable driver's seat. (Elite petrol variant shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

While it may draw on new foundations shared with the Santa Fe, the fact that it still has a van shape means it has van-like practicality. Thus, there is a lot of space in the cabin, which makes it ideal for transporting a large family or a group of friends.

All Staria models come standard with eight seats - two individual seats in the first row and three-seat benches in the second and third rows. Even when using the third row, there is a spacious luggage compartment with a volume of 831 liters (VDA).

One potential problem for families is that the entry-level model lacks the higher-end power sliding doors, and the doors are so large that it will be difficult for children to close them on anything but level ground; due to the huge size of the doors.

Hyundai has given Staria owners maximum flexibility by allowing both the second and third rows to tilt and slide depending on the space you need – passenger or cargo. The second row has a 60:40 split/fold and the third row is fixed.

The middle row has two ISOFIX child seats in the outermost positions, as well as three top-tether child seats, but surprisingly for such a large family car, there are no child seat anchorage points in the third row. . This puts it at a disadvantage compared to the Mazda CX-9 and Kia Carnival, among others.

However, the base of the third row folds up, meaning the seats can be made narrower and moved forward to provide up to 1303L (VDA) of cargo capacity. This means you can trade-off between legroom and trunk space depending on your needs. The two rear rows can be positioned to provide enough head and knee room for adults in each passenger seat, so the Staria will easily accommodate eight people.

The luggage compartment is wide and flat, so it will fit a lot of luggage, shopping or whatever else you need. Unlike the sister Carnival, which has a recess in the trunk that can store both luggage and third-row seats, a flat floor is necessary because the Staria comes with a full-size spare tire mounted under the trunk floor. It can be easily thrown off the floor with a large screw, which means you don't have to empty the trunk if you need to put on a spare tire.

Loading height is good and low, which families trying to haul children and cargo will probably appreciate. However, on the other hand, the tailgate is too high for children to close on their own, so it will have to be the responsibility of an adult or teenager – at least on the base model, since the Elite and Highlander have power rear doors (albeit with a button). "close", mounted high on the trunk lid or on a key fob, which may not be at hand). It comes with an auto-close feature that lowers the tailgate if it detects no one is in the way, though it can be annoying if you want to leave the tailgate open while you load up the rear; You can turn it off, but every time you need to remember.

There are air vents for both rear rows. (Diesel variant of base model shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

For all its space, what really impresses in the cabin is the thoughtfulness of the layout in terms of storage and usability. There are air vents for both rear rows and there are also retractable windows on the sides, but the doors don't have proper power windows like the Carnival.

There are 10 cup holders in total, and there are USB charging ports in all three rows. The huge storage box on the center console between the front seats can not only hold a lot of items and hold a couple of drinks, but also holds a pair of pull-out cup holders and a storage box for the middle row.

Up front, there's not only a wireless charging pad, but a pair of USB charging ports, cup holders built into the top of the dash, and a pair of flat storage spaces on top of the dash itself where you can store small items.

There are 10 coasters in total. (Diesel variant of base model shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10

As mentioned earlier, there are two options - one petrol and one diesel.

The petrol engine is Hyundai's new 3.5-liter V6 with 200 kW (at 6400 rpm) and 331 Nm of torque (at 5000 rpm). It sends power to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel delivers 130kW (at 3800rpm) and 430Nm (from 1500 to 2500rpm) and uses the same eight-speed automatic but comes with all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, a unique perk. over the Carnival with only front-wheel drive.

The towing force is 750 kg for non-braked trailers and up to 2500 kg for braked towing vehicles.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The V6 may have more power, but this comes at the expense of fuel consumption, which is 10.5 liters per 100 km combined (ADR 81/02). Diesel is the choice for those who are worried about fuel economy, its power is 8.2 l / 100 km.

In testing, we got better returns than advertised, but mostly because (due to the current restrictions caused by the pandemic) we couldn't make long highway runs. However, in the city we managed to get the V6 at 13.7 l/100 km, which is less than the city requirement of 14.5 l/100 km. We also managed to beat the diesel requirement (10.4L/100km) with a return of 10.2L/100km during our test drive.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

The Staria has not yet received an ANCAP rating, so it's unclear how it performed in an independent crash test. Reportedly due for testing later this year, Hyundai is confident the car has what it takes to achieve the maximum five-star rating. It comes with security features, even in the base model.

First, there are seven airbags, including a front passenger center airbag that drops between the driver and front seat passenger to avoid head-on collisions. Importantly, the curtain airbags cover both second and third row passengers; not something that all three-row SUVs can claim.

It also comes with Hyundai's SmartSense suite of active safety features, which includes forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking (from 5 km/h to 180 km/h), including pedestrian and cyclist detection (works from 5 km/h). up to 85 km/h), blind zone. warning with collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist, lane keeping assist (speed above 64 km/h), crossroads assist to prevent you from swerving in front of oncoming traffic if the system considers it unsafe, collision avoidance with rear crossroads, rear occupant warning, and safe exit warning.

The Elite class adds a Safe Exit Assistance system that uses rear radar to detect oncoming traffic and sounds an alarm if an oncoming vehicle is approaching and prevents the doors from being opened if the system thinks it is unsafe. so.

The Highlander gets a unique blind spot monitor that uses side cameras to display live video on the dashboard. This is a particularly useful feature, as the large sides of the Staria create a large blind spot; so, unfortunately, it is not suitable for other models of this line.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 9/10

Hyundai has made ownership costs a lot easier with its iCare program, which offers a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and limited-price service.

Service intervals are every 12 months/15,000 km and each visit costs $360 no matter which transmission you choose for at least the first five years. You can pay for maintenance as you use it, or there is a prepaid service option if you want to include these annual costs in your financial payments.

Maintain your vehicle with Hyundai and the company will also pay extra for your roadside assistance for 12 months after each service.

What is it like to drive? 7/10

Styling aside, this is an area where Hyundai has really tried to separate the Staria from the iMax it replaces. Gone is the previous commercial vehicle underpinning and instead the Staria uses the same platform as the latest generation Santa Fe; which also means it looks like the one under the Kia Carnival. The idea behind this change is to make the Staria feel more like an SUV, and for the most part it works.

However, it's important to note that there are some important differences between the Staria and the Santa Fe - it's not as simple as having different bodies on the same chassis. Perhaps the most significant change is the Staria's 3273mm wheelbase. That's a huge 508mm difference, giving the Staria much more room in the cabin and changing the way the two models handle. It's also worth noting that the Staria's wheelbase is 183mm longer than the Carnival's, highlighting its size.

This new long wheelbase platform turns the car into a very calm person on the road. Ride is a big step forward for the iMax, offering much better control and a higher level of comfort. The steering is also improved, feeling more direct and responsive than the model it replaces.

Hyundai took a big risk with the Staria, trying to get people to move cool. (Diesel variant of base model shown) (Image: Steven Ottley)

However, the extra size of the Staria, its 5253mm overall length and 1990mm height means it still feels like a big van on the road. As mentioned earlier, it has a blind spot, and due to its size, it can be difficult to maneuver in tight spaces and parking lots. It also tends to lean into corners due to its relatively high center of gravity. Ultimately, despite the massive improvement in the iMax, it still feels more like a van than an SUV.

Under the hood, the V6 offers a lot of power, but it sometimes feels like it's slow to respond because it takes a few seconds for the transmission to get the engine to hit its sweet spot in the rev range (which is very, very high on revs). .

On the other hand, a turbodiesel is much better suited to the task at hand. With more torque than the V6 available in the lower rev range (1500-2500rpm versus 5000rpm), it feels a lot more responsive.

Verdict

Hyundai took a big risk with Staria in trying to get people to move cool, and it's safe to say the company has built something that no one has ever seen before.

However, more important than being cool, Hyundai needs to get more buyers into the passenger car segment, or at least away from the carnival. This is because Kia sells more vehicles than the rest of the segment combined, accounting for almost 60 percent of the total market in Australia.

Being bold with the Staria has allowed Hyundai to create a car that stands out from the crowd while still doing the job it was meant to do. Beyond "futuristic" looks, you'll find a passenger car with a spacious, thoughtfully designed cabin, plenty of equipment, and a choice of engines and trim levels to suit every budget.

Topping the lineup is perhaps the Elite diesel, offering plenty of amenities and a superior powertrain in terms of both actual performance and fuel economy.

Now all Hyundai has to do is convince buyers that passenger transportation can really be cool.