HYUNDAI has jumped headfirst into the individuals mover section, discarding its van-based iMax eight-seater to subsequent month launch its futuristically-styled SUV-based Staria.
The brand new mannequin, based mostly on the Santa Fe platform, is touted as an alternative choice to an SUV and can hit the market to shirt-front its sibling, the Kia Carnival, which has lengthy held the lion’s share of the sub-60,000 individuals mover section – 60 per cent to this point this year-to-date.
Three grades will likely be supplied from launch – Staria, Elite and Highlander – with the vary kicking off from $48,500 plus on-road prices.
Two engines will likely be supplied domestically – a 3.5-litre petrol V6 (200kW/331Nm) driving the entrance wheels, and an all-wheel-drive 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (130kW/430Nm) – with every paired to an eight-speed computerized transmission.
Regardless of being the identical engines, the facility outputs of each items are down on these of the Carnival which develops 216kW/355Nm in petrol kind and 148kW/440Nm in diesel guise.
Externally the brand new Hyundai is as evocative because the Toyota Tarago “egg” of 1990. It has an analogous “one-curve silhouette” and rounded, bonnetless nostril.
The Staria makes use of low-set LED headlights and a barely perceptible entrance air consumption, with a horizontal LED strip for the daytime operating lights.
On the again, it has a big glass space with an built-in ‘Staria’ emblem and vertical LED tail lights rising to a spoiler with an built-in high-mount cease mild.
Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) chief government officer Jun Heo mentioned the Staria would supply prospects with an alternative choice to the seven-seat Santa Fe and eight-seat Palisade SUVs “with all the protection, consolation and comfort expertise prospects count on in a contemporary passenger automobile”.
Below that futuristic pores and skin, the Staria rides on a stretched model of the Santa Fe platform with 508mm being added to the wheelbase which now measures 3273mm – longer than each the Palisade (2900mm) and the Carnival (3090mm).
The brand new Hyundai guarantees seating for eight and baggage area of 831 litres with all seats upright. This compares effectively with the Carnival’s 627 litres, even when the Kia is 98mm shorter total.
Cabin options embrace a boarding step and a ‘walk-in machine’ sliding operate for the second row which creates as much as an additional 100mm of foot clearance for straightforward third row entry.
Second and third row sunshades give rear passengers – significantly kids and infants – the choice to dam out glare and warmth.
By way of upholstery, the bottom Staria comes with black material as normal with the Elite stepping this up with black leather-based earlier than the Highlander trumps them each with the selection of blue or beige leather-based in addition to entrance and rear sunroofs as normal.
Hyundai has loaded its new individuals mover stuffed with expertise, beginning with its “cruise-ship impressed” inside highlighted by two 10.25-inch shows (relying on the grade); one for the satellite tv for pc navigation and the multimedia system, and one for the full-digital, digital instrument cluster.
Different spec highlights embrace sliding and folding seats, wi-fi smartphone charger, 5 USB charging ports, ‘sensible key’ push-button and distant begin, 16 cup holders, electrical sliding aspect doorways and a powered tailgate.
Security tools opens with blind-spot monitoring, surround-view cameras, rear passenger view monitor and 7 airbags together with a front-centre aspect airbag.
There are additionally normal forward-collision avoidance (autonomous emergency braking) help capabilities constructed into the blind-spot, rear cross-traffic and junction-turning techniques.
Different security objects obtainable embrace high-beam help, lane-keeping warning and help, lane-following help, sensible cruise management with ‘cease and go’, safe-exit help, rear occupant alert, driver consideration warning and leading-vehicle departure alert.
Diesel variations use Hyundai’s in-house developed HTRAC AWD system, one thing of a USP inside this section – you truly need to look within the subsequent section as much as discover an all-paw rival within the type of the AWD Volkswagen Multivan which prices $13,400 greater than the Staria.
HTRAC has an digital, variable clutch that apportions torque between the entrance and rear axles and may fluctuate the torque distribution between left and proper wheels by making use of braking to the other wheel, based mostly on inputs from automobile pace and different sensors.
It additionally has a centre differential lock to distribute energy evenly to all 4 wheels in off-road conditions.
Whereas MPVs will not be identified for his or her towing talents, Hyundai says the brand new mannequin can tow as much as 2500kg (braked), additional including to its versatility within the case of the diesel.
5 colors will likely be obtainable, these being ‘abyss black’, ‘moonlight blue’, ‘gaia brown mica’, ‘graphite gray’ and ‘olivine gray’.
2022 Hyundai Staria pricing*
| Staria 3.5 (a) | $48,500 |
| Staria 2.2 (a) | $51,500 |
| Elite 3.5 (a) | $56,500 |
| Elite 2.2 (a) | $59,500 |
| Highlander 3.5 (a) | $63,500 |
| Highlander 2.2 (a) | $66,500 |
*Excludes on-road prices
