Hyundai starts detailing new Staria, here H2

HYUNDAI Motor Company (HMC) has officially debuted its new Staria people mover with the space-age-looking van set to arrive Down Under in the second half of this year.

Measuring in at 5253mm long, 1997mm wide and 1990mm tall, the Staria rides on a 3273mm wheelbase and can be seen as a direct replacement for the ageing iMax and iLoad twins that first arrived here in 2008.

HMC says two- and three-seater commercial versions will be able to swallow three Euro pallets thank to the improved load space dimensions and offer almost 5000 litres of cargo space.

That cavernous load space translates into class-leading headroom in the people carrier versions, with “an average school-aged child” reportedly able to “stand upright” on their way to a seat.

Exactly which configurations we will get in Australia remains to be seen, however the safe money would be on a three- and nine-seater version of the regular Staria at the very least.

We would also expect there to be at least one or two versions of the Staria Premium, likely a seven- and nine-seater.

In terms of power, customers will have the option of both petrol and diesel with the Staria’s engine line-up comprised of the expected 3.5-litre petrol V6 and turbocharged 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel.

While the final outputs are yet to be confirmed, HMC is quoting an “estimated” power output of 200kW and 331Nm of torque for the V6 which is mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 130kW/431Nm (“estimated”) turbo-diesel on the other hand will be linked to either a six-speed manual or the same eight-speed auto depending on the variant – our bet is that the entry-level commercial versions will be the stick-shifters.

Under the skin, the people movers will ride on a multi-link rear suspension set-up and feature disc brakes in all four corners.

HMC executive vice-president and global chief marketing officer Thomas Schemera said the Staria was the brand’s latest “effort to spearhead the evolution of mobility and to address emerging lifestyle needs”.

“Staria is a step forward in connecting us more closely with our environments so that we can get more out of our everyday lives and do more for ourselves in transit,” he said.

While the Australian line-up and specification details are yet to be finalised, our Starias and Staria Premiums will be the only ones in the world offered with eight airbags – as opposed to six – with other standard safety features including forward collision avoidance assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, wireless seatbelt reminder, safe exit assist, rear occupant monitor and intercom system.

Standard equipment highlights on the regular Staria meanwhile include a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, sliding rear seats, button-type electronic shifter and a digital instrument cluster.

As previously reported, the Premium will step things up with a one-touch powered reclining second row in the seven-seaters, rotating captain’s seats (180-degrees) in the nine-seater, 64-colour ambient lighting and a Bose premium sound system.

Looking into the future, HMC says it will be developing specialty vehicles like limousines, ambulances and camping variants while eco-friendly – read electrified – will also be added down the line.

Only 203 examples of the ageing iMax have been shifted so far this year ending March, earning it a 7.3 per cent share of the sub-$60,000 people mover segment behind the Kia Carnival (1664/59.8%), Honda Odyssey (356/12.8%), Volkswagen Multivan (253/9.1%) and LDV G10 Wagon (229/8.2%).

The related and commercial-focused iLoad has fared better, occupying second spot within the 2.5-3.5t van segment, with 1159 sales earning it a 17.6 per cent market share behind the Toyota HiAce (2384/36.1%).