The spacecraft inspired Hyundai Staria has touched down on our shores! This is a people mover from the future, both inside and out. The dynamic exterior features an LED light strip, panoramic windows and a raised roof height. The Staria comes in as the replacement for the iLoad and iMax but represents a significant departure from the traditional people mover.
A unique advantage of the Staria is that it shares a platform with the SantaFe SUV which means it provides car-like handling and ride comfort. Important for van drivers and businesses who will spend long hours in their van. All models will come with Hyundai’s trusty 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine mated to an 8 speed automatic gearbox or 6 speed manual. The 430Nm of torque can be put to the ground through a 2WD or AWD system which uses Hyundai’s unique HTRAC configuration.
The cockpit mimics that of a cruise ship, offering a commanding and uninterrupted view of the road. The highlight on the inside has to be those dual 10.25 inch screens offering an infotainment unit and a digital dashboard. (Limited model only).
Additionally, the Staria includes a suite of Hyundai’s SmartSense safety technologies as standard. This means blind spot collision avoidance, front collision avoidance and rear cross traffic alert for peace of mind.
Specifically for the two seater Staria Load model is a mammoth circa 5000 litres of luggage space. Not enough? The Staria will also tow 2500kg and handle a payload of 1070kg! Amazing figures from a van that is shaping up to be a real game changer.
To start off, there will be six colours available including a yellow that I am looking forward to. Others include black, grey, white, silver and ‘moonlight cloud’. Hyundai also plan to introduce more eco-friendly models of the Staria in future so there is more to come!
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Words by Matthew D’Souza, pictures courtesy of Hyundai Media New Zealand.
