Review - 2023 Hyundai Staria

It enters the market in 2023 relatively unchanged, having been introduced to Australia in 2021, remaining as Hyundai’s flagship people-mover van with a bunch of different variants for price-conscious buyers.

Just how well does the Hyundai Staria perform, then, and does it have substance for families underneath that sleek-looking bodywork? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Hyundai Staria Competition

Starting Price: $49,000

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Hyundai Staria range is priced from $49,000 for the entry-level Staria 3.5 FWD, with prices rising up to $52,000 for the Staria 2.2 AWD.

From here the range moves up to the Staria Elite 3.5 FWD which is priced at $57,000, while the Staria Elite 2.2 AWD is priced at $60,000.

The Staria range tops out with the Staria Highlander which is priced at $64,000 for the 3.5 FWD and up to $67,000 for the range-topping Highlander 2.2 AWD.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Hyundai Staria (LOAD PREMIUM 2S 2.2D LIFTBACK) Specifications

What Features Does the Hyundai Staria Have?

Hyundai’s entry-level Staria 3.5 FWD and 2.2 AWD come riding on a set of 18-inch alloys and pick up LED head & tail lights, LED fog lights and daytime running lamps, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wireless phone charging and a 8.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Staria Elite adds leather upholstery, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, power sliding doors, a powered boot lift and an upgraded 10.25-inch infotainment display.

The range-topping Staria Highlander picks up a pair of sunroofs, LED ambient lighting, heated & ventilated front seats, an upgraded dashboard and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

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

• Surround-view monitor with parking sensors

• Cloth upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel

• Wireless phone charging 

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

• Leather upholstery (Elite)

• Power sliding side doors and boot (Elite)

• 10.25-inch infotainment display (Elite)

• 2 x panoramic sunroofs (Highlander)

• LED ambient lighting (Highlander)

• Heated & ventilated front seats (Highlander)

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (Highlander)

Is the Hyundai Staria Comfortable to Drive?

The Staria’s futuristic people-mover looks are actually based on a platform shared with the family-friendly Santa Fe & Tucson SUV, which means that it feels more like a boxier SUV than a large van on the road.

This is a good thing for buyers, considering just how much confidence is added to the driving experience with its SUV underpinnings, which is bolstered by its user-friendly nature and a pair of engine options for buyers.

The Staria in base form comes powered by a 3.5-litre V6 pushing out 200kW of power and 331Nm of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed transmission, which offers more than enough power to push you up to speed.

Hyundai also offers the Staria with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder producing 130kW of power and 430Nm of torque, which picks up an all-wheel drive system and the same eight-speed automatic.

The diesel engine is by far the better option when it comes to the overall driving experience, AWD system and fuel economy bonuses, though the base V6 still offers decent performance.

Whichever engine you opt for, you’ll be pleased to find out just how easy the Staria is to pilot around town thanks to its lightweight steering rack and excellent all-round visibility thanks to the large windows.

Around town, the Staria is happy to bumble around while remaining agile enough to navigate traffic, and feels great on the open road.

The suspension package isn’t quite as soft as you get in its SUV siblings, though the flipside of this is that it doesn’t roll as much as you’d expect from a tall, boxy people mover in the corners.

All up, the Staria is a great car on a wide range of Australian road conditions, remaining user-friendly as a daily driver and more than comfortable enough for long road trips alike.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Hyundai’s 3.5-litre V6 powering half the range returns combined cycle fuel economy figures of 10.5L/100km, making it quite a thirsty package.

Opting for Hyundai’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel drops fuel economy figures to a more reasonable 8.2L/100km on the combined cycle, which is something for fuel-conscious buyers to keep in mind.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you’d expect, the Hyundai Staria absolutely knocks it out of the park when it comes to space and practicality inside the cabin, with more than enough space on offer for a family of eight.

In the front of the cabin, the Staria boasts a super sleek, minimalist-inspired layout that helps to keep things clean and adds to the already immense amount of space inside.

The tall roofline means that no drivers will be begging for more real estate, while the large windows add to the sense of space, topped by a flat floor between the driver and front passenger for exceptional legroom and storage space.

Practical touches in the front of the Staria include the massive centre console that can swallow up a tonne of loose items, added compartments atop the dashboard, large door bins and a wireless charging pad tray below the infotainment display.

Move to the second row of the Staria and things remain impressively spacious for those occupying the rear bench seat, which is wide enough to accommodate three adults without a problem.

The bench itself is able to slide back and forth on rails, and can recline for added comfort on long journeys, or to free up some more space in the third row, and feature ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts.

The third row of the Staria is more suited to younger kids due to the limited legroom on offer, though headroom is abundant and windows help curb any claustrophobia passengers might feel in the second row.

Rounding out the Staria’s immensely practical package is a massive 831L of boot space with all three rows standing, expanding to 1303L with the third row folded flat, making for a heavy-hitter in the world of family-friendly people movers.

Is it Safe?

The Hyundai Staria has picked up a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and comes extremely well-equipped with active safety gear as standard.

The Staria in base form is packaged with autonomous emergency braking with car, pedestrian, cyclist and junction assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention warnings, a surround view camera, safe exit warnings and rear occupant alerts.

Stepping up to the Staria Elite adds a 3D surround-view monitor while the range-topping Highlander picks up a blind-spot view monitor.

Our Verdict: Is the Hyundai Staria Worth it?

The Hyundai Staria absolutely smashes it when it comes to family-friendly practicality, sleek looks and a very generous entertainment & safety equipment list, even in the base model.

This makes it a great option for buyers looking for a well-equipped base model, while higher-spec variants pick up some premium equipment that makes the package feel more refined inside.

All up, the Staria is a must-have on your people-mover shortlist, and if you’re currently tossing up your best options, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying specialists who can help you find the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Eight-seats with 831L of boot space 

3. 8.2 - 10.5L/100km fuel economy figures

4. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

5. 3.5-litre V6 petrol and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine options