Review - Hyundai Staria

It’s a replacement for the iMax van, and goes up against the likes of the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Granvia and the Kia Carnival in the world of eight-seater family vans that are designed to tackle everything that a growing family can throw at it. While the iMax was no doubt impressive, it lacked a sense of uniqueness and personality that the latest model no doubt adds to the equation.

But just how good is the new Hyundai Staria for growing families, and how does it compare to a large SUV when it comes to comfortable daily driving and practicality? Let’s find out whether or not the Staria has some substance underneath that futuristic styling. 

Starting Price: $48,500

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Hyundai Staria (STARIA entry-level) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Hyundai Staria car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Hyundai Staria lineup kicks off at $48,500 for the entry-level 3.5 petrol variant with front-wheel drive, with a diesel-powered all-wheel drive platform bringing the price to $51,500. From here, the range moves to the Staria Elite, which is priced from $56,500 for the front-wheel drive petrol variant, and the all-wheel drive diesel being priced at $56,500. 

Finally, the range-topping Staria Highlander is priced from $63,500 for the front-wheel drive petrol unit, while the all-wheel drive diesel variant is priced from $66,500. Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Hyundai Staria Have?

The entry-level Hyundai Staria comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, and receives LED head and tail lights, fog lights and a set of daytime running lamps, heated folding mirrors, air conditioning, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a steering wheel wrapped in leather with wheel-mounted paddles, wireless smartphone charging, a reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors, six USB ports throughout the cabin, a six-speaker sound system, a full-sized spare tyre and an adjustable steering column. 

Opting for the Staria Elite upgrades the infotainment system to a 10.25-inch unit with satellite navigation and DAB+ digital radio added to the unit, dual-zone climate control, a powered boot lift and powered sliding doors, keyless entry and start with a remote start function, leather upholstery for the cabin and a set of sunshades for the second and third rows of the cabin. 

The range-topping Staria Highlander receives a panoramic sunroof, LED ambient lighting for the cabin, as well as heated and ventilated seats up front with a heated steering wheel for the driver, blind spot view monitor, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a premium finish for the dashboard and door panels.  

Range Features: 

• 18-inch alloys 

• LED head & tail lights, fog lights and daytime running lamps 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 

• Wireless smartphone charging 

• Fabric upholstery with a leather steering wheel 

• Six speaker sound system 

• Reversing camera with front and rear mounted parking sensors 

• Heated, folding mirrors 

• Six USB ports 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with DAB+ radio and satellite navigation (Elite)

• Leather upholstery (Elite)

• Powered sliding doors (Elite)

• Dual-zone climate control (Elite)

• Hands-free powered boot lift (Elite)

• 10.25-inch digital driver’s display (Highlander)

• LED ambient lighting (Highlander)

• Heated and ventilated front seats (Highlander)

• Heated steering wheel (Highlander)

• Panoramic sunroof (Highlander)

• Blindspot view monitor (Highlander)

Hyundai Staria Colours

Is the Hyundai Staria Comfortable and Easy to Drive? 

With the footprint of a small bus, it takes some getting used to the overall proportions of the Staria when you first get behind the wheel. Once you get a feel for the length, width and fairly large turning circle, though, the Staria is surprisingly easy to drive around town for something of this size. You also need to take certain corners significantly wider than you would in a large passenger car or SUV, but once you’re acclimated to the size, you’ll be pleased to know that the Staria actually feels and drives closer to a large SUV than it does a van. That’s because underneath the futuristic styling, the Staria is actually based on the Santa Fe SUV, which helps massively in making the Staria more user-friendly than something like a commercial-based van. 

On the road, the Staria bumbles around town without a problem, with power from the choice of the petrol and diesel units more than adequate to get you up to speed in a relatively calm manner, however the diesel is no doubt the pick of the engine lineup, offering more push from the added torque. Power is thrown to the ground via a silky-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission which works wonderfully in town and at speed on the open road, making the Staria feel smooth and refined; an impressive feat for something like a family van. Overall, there’s enough power for most of a family’s needs, and the Staria even offers 2,500kg of braked towing capacity for those looking for a weekend workhorse. 

In terms of the riding comfort and suspension package, the Staria is able to hide its weight around town to an impressive degree, with a suspension package that minimises the amount of body roll that you’ll feel through the corners. If you’ve driven other vans before, you’ll know that they can excessively roll from side to side, which makes it difficult to get comfortable. Hyundai, though, tests all its vehicles specifically on Australian roads to ensure they can handle the rough and changing road surfaces, and as a result, the Staria is exceptionally comfortable for a family van.

Thanks to its SUV underpinnings, the Hyundai Staria is significantly more agile than a typical family van, while maintaining an exceptionally comfortable ride quality for all passengers. If you’re tossing up which engine to go for, we’d opt for the diesel unit which offers slightly more torque and is even smoother than the petrol unit, making for a wonderful comfortable, yet competent family van. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

While its size might mean that the Staria takes some getting used to on the road, its large proportions translate to immense benefits for the practicality and space on offer throughout the cabin. First impressions of the cabin design from the driver’s seat focus on the low-slung dashboard design that opens up even more visibility through the windscreen, combined with a unique and clever dashboard design that offers a huge range of storage options. 

The typical gear lever has been replaced by a number of buttons, which opens up a huge amount of space where the transmission hull would normally sit, which is complemented by a massive storage space between the driver and front passenger. This is a radical approach to cabin packaging on Hyundai’s behalf, but it’s paid dividends when it comes to interior space, storage options and making the cabin an exceptionally pleasant place to sit for long periods of time. If you’re not convinced just yet, the Staria features doors that offer four layered storage options, as well as three gloveboxes, while competitors typically offer just one. 

The good news keeps coming when you slide open the large doors - or automatically open them in Elite and Highlander variants - to find a comfortable set of bench seats that offer a huge amount of legroom, making it suitable for adult passengers in the second row. Those seated in the rear have their own set of air vents and USB charging ports to make long drives more enjoyable, while more expensive variants receive a massive dual-pane sunroof to add to the sense of airiness. The second row is able to slide forward for easy access into the third row, which has no doubt been designed for children primarily in mind, but can accommodate adults for short journeys, albeit with a lack of comfortable legroom. As a family van, though, you can comfortably eat up a large family, and as you’ll soon discover, a huge amount of their cargo, too. 

The Hyundai Staria has 831-litres of storage on offer in the boot, which is made more impressive by the fact that this is with the third-row standing, which makes it significantly more practical than a seven-seat SUV in terms of boot space. This extends to 1,303-litres of boot storage with the third-row folded away, which also offers a large, flat bed atop the seats for added storage. For the parents out there, the Staria has two ISOFIX anchor mounts and three top tether points on the second row, however, the third row misses out on any ISOFIX mounts. 

All up, though, the Staria is near unparalleled when it comes to space and practicality in the cabin, making it more than able to meet the needs of a growing Australian family, and often putting large seven-seat SUVs when it comes to all-round practicality. 

Is it Safe? 

As a relatively new entrant to the Australian car market, the Hyundai Staria is yet to be officially rated by ANCAP. However, as a point of reference, the closely-related Santa Fe has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, and will likely follow suit when it is put to the test by ANCAP. To make up for this, though, Hyundai is throwing in a heap of safety equipment to sweeten the deal for Australian buyers, with blind-spot assistance, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts, a surround-view monitor, driver attention alerts and safe exit warnings packaged as standard in all Staria variants. 

Opting for the Staria Elite adds a surround-view camera with a three-dimensional view, as well as safe exit assistance. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With two different engines on offer, the Staria range has two different economy figures, with the diesel leading the charge in terms of fuel efficiency. The V6 petrol is rated at 10.5L per 100km on a combined cycle, which is undeniably thirsty, but not outlandishly so when you consider the Staria’s size and weight. The diesel unit, however, improves upon the petrol’s figure with a combined cycle of 8.2L per 100km, bringing it into line with today’s standards for a family-sized vehicle powered by a diesel engine.  

Our Verdict: Is the Hyundai Staria Worth it? 

If you’re looking for a family-mover absolutely packed to the brim with character, futuristic styling and a heap of practicality, the Staria is the perfect addition to any Australian family. The spacious and welcoming cabin design is a sign of things to come from Hyundai, who is giving buyers that aren’t keen on an SUV body shape a much-needed option that looks as though it’s come back from the future to welcome buyers. Combined with the huge space and practicality on offer inside the Staria, it’s a difficult vehicle to flaw when it comes to its design brief, offering a comfortable and stylish package for growing families. If you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. The first five services are capped at $360

3. No ANCAP rating, yet

4. 831L of boot space; expands to 1,303L with third-row folded 

5. 8.2L/100km economy for diesel; 10.5L/100km for petrol variant 

Pros 

• Superb cabin design

• Unparalleled space and comfort in first and second rows 

• All-wheel drive refinement

• Massive boot combined with serious practicality inside 

Cons

• Heavy 

• Polarising styling 

• Unimpressive economy figures 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8.5/10

Hyundai Staria Competition