Megavan of the Ages – Hyundai adds a new Staria van to its popular lineup

Hyundai launched its daring Hyundai Staria minivan at the end of 2021. The H1 replacement has brought a breath of fresh air to a rather boring segment. Today, Hyundai has added a minivan to its Staria lineup, making it one of the best-looking minivans in the industry. The all-new three-seater van completes the futuristic Staria line-up, which includes seven, nine and eleven-seat buses and a five-seat Multicab with separate loading bays.

According to the Wapcar automotive news that the Staria dashboard valve is longer, wider and taller than the H1 control panel valve it replaces while offering more luxurious features and better fuel economy. Although geared towards the working class, the dashboard van features the same futuristic styling front and rear, which is sure to add a modern corporate image to any fleet. Exterior highlights include body-colored bumpers, mirror caps and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Under the hood is the same 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine that runs through the rest of the range, and it suits this model very well, too.

The four-cylinder power plant delivers 130 kW and 430 Nm, delivered to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An electronically variable turbocharger and eight-speed automatic transmission do a great job of eliminating any so-called turbo lag and making this an easy car to drive. Hyundai has put a lot of effort into adding aerodynamic details to the exterior and underbody to make the Staria as aerodynamic and therefore as fuel efficient as possible. The result is combined fuel consumption of 8.7 liters per 100 km.

Compared to its predecessor, Staria has grown in every way. Total length 103 mm, width 77 mm and height 65 mm. Loading is made easier with the 870mm wide sliding door and 41mm lower loading height.

Inside, cargo space has also increased in all directions. The length from 125mm to 2,500mm, the width increased by 20mm to 1,640mm and the height from 96mm to 1,436mm, should now allow loading of small motorcycles. Specifically, this equates to a load volume that has increased by 509 liters and is now 4935 liters. The payload has been increased from 100 kg to 900 kg.

The side sliding doors and the rear sliding doors can be opened 180 degrees for convenient and easy access to the cargo area. The Staria dashboard van can carry three large four-way euro pallets (1.2 mx 800 mm).

Hyundai believes that while the usage options are endless, Staria’s generous size makes for an attractive choice for conversion into a hearse or ambulance, where the increased height in the load area is the Key factor. Hyundai has partnered with various approved fitness manufacturers who can help customers transform their van into the right tool for their specific needs.

A McPherson strut suspension arrangement at the front and a stiff rear axle with load-bearing leaf springs help support the load. However, excellent ride quality is retained despite the increased load capacity. Reliable stopping is provided by front and rear ventilated discs.

Staria has a maximum towing capacity of 2,500 kg for trailers with brakes and 750 kg for trailers without brakes.

In terms of specifications, the Staria van is the best in its class. Standard equipment includes electronic stability control, auto-adjusting headlights, daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated and power-adjustable rear-view mirrors, cruise control, push-buttons Audio and Bluetooth controls on the steering wheel. The Staria is also one of the only models in this category to be equipped with front and rear parking distance control.

The Staria Van can accommodate three passengers in the cabin, or the middle seat can be folded forward to create a convenient storage tray between two passengers.

The Staria van is priced at R599,900, which includes a seven-year/200,000 km warranty and a six-year/90,000 km service pack.