[Test Drive] Driving the 'Staria,' the Ultimate Minivan Champion

Hyundai Motor's 'Staria' Officially on Sale
A New Concept Multipurpose Vehicle (MPV) Usable for Various Purposes from Leisure to Business
Expected to Be a Strong Competitor Threatening the Carnival's Dominance

Staria Lounge model test-driven on the 14th

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Hyundai Motor Company has officially launched the new concept multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), the 'Staria.'

On the 14th, Hyundai held a media test drive event for the Staria at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, located in KINTEX, Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. We drove the Staria from KINTEX to Camp One Studio in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, and back.

The moment I saw the Staria in person for the first time, I was impressed. The design had improved so much that it was hard to compare it to the Starex. The vehicle driven that day was the premium model, the Staria Lounge (7-seater), which had a more sophisticated design compared to the standard Staria.

The most eye-catching feature was the three-dimensional mesh-patterned grille on the front. It sparkled when light reflected off it. The name Staria, a combination of 'Star' meaning star and 'Ria' meaning wave, was perfectly represented.

The headlamps and turn signals, composed of eight ice cube-type full LEDs (light-emitting diodes), also stood out. The rear featured LED combination lamps with Parametric Pixel design, eliminating any clunky impression.

Hyundai explained that the Staria is the first model to apply the company's future mobility design theme, 'Inside Out.' Inside Out is a concept that extends the spaciousness and openness of the interior design to the exterior. It means that the maximized sense of space inside is extended outward, and looking at the exterior alone, it evoked the image of a spaceship navigating through space.

Premium relaxation seat of the Staria test-driven on the 14th

The Zero-Gravity Seat 'Premium Relaxation Seat' Makes a Strong Impression

The interior was also astonishing. Above all, the presence of the so-called zero-gravity seat, the 'Premium Relaxation Seat,' was tremendous. The Premium Relaxation Seat, available only in the Staria Lounge 7-seater, can recline the seat back 180 degrees, allowing passengers to ride as if lying in bed.

After handing over the driving and reclining for a moment, I actually felt sleepiness creeping in. If it weren't for work, it seemed possible to travel comfortably while getting a good rest. The company boasted that it offers comfort as if being in a zero-gravity space, which did not seem like an exaggeration.

The interior was spacious as well. With a high overall height (1990mm), wide overall width (1995mm), and long overall length (5255mm), the interior space was maximized. It was enough to challenge the Kia Carnival, the top mini-van.

Swiveling seats of the Staria 9-seater model

The 9-seater and 11-seater models also had their appeal. The Staria Lounge 9-seater features swiveling seats in the second row that can rotate 180 degrees. The swiveling seats create an environment where passengers in the second and third rows can face each other and converse while traveling, enabling busy professionals to hold meetings inside the vehicle.

The standard model, Staria Tourer (9- and 11-seater), is equipped with full-flat seats from the second row onward, allowing adults to sleep or children to have ample space to move around. This made outdoor activities such as car camping or camping, which are currently popular, possible. Hyundai's intention to capture both leisure and business needs was reflected.

Staria Lounge model test-driven on the 14th

Taking the wheel myself, the driving experience was good. I expected the stability to be inferior to that of a regular passenger car due to the vehicle's size, but there was little difference. It felt firm at low speeds and performed well when accelerating at high speeds.

The advanced assistance systems were also excellent. The Staria is the first Hyundai model to include forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and smart cruise control as standard features. Driving on the Jayu-ro highway with smart cruise control activated made driving much easier. Given the vehicle's frequent long-distance driving nature, this feature is expected to be very satisfactory.

Driver's seat of the Staria Lounge model test-driven on the 14th

The Staria is offered with two powertrains: diesel and LPG. The model driven that day was the diesel version, equipped with an R 2.2 VGT engine delivering a maximum output of 177PS (horsepower) and a peak torque of 44.0 kgf·m. Fuel efficiency was also decent at 10.8 km/L (automatic) / 11.8 km/L (manual). It also featured the HTRAC all-wheel-drive system, which provides confident driving in severe weather and rough terrain.

The Staria Lounge 7-seater driven that day starts at 41.35 million KRW, and the 9-seater starts from 36.61 million KRW. The standard models (cargo and passenger versions) of the Staria are priced as follows for diesel: Cargo 3-seater at 27.26 million KRW, Cargo 5-seater at 27.95 million KRW, Tourer 9-seater at 30.84 million KRW, and Tourer 11-seater at 29.32 million KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.