Hyundai Staria: The Spaceship-Styled Van That Replaced the Starex Across Asia, Africa and Europe

The Hyundai Staria is a van and minivan that Hyundai has made since 2021. It succeeded the Starex, swapping that model's rear-wheel-drive layout for a front-wheel-drive platform, and it has since reached markets from South Korea and Australia to Europe and Latin America.

What is the Hyundai Staria?

The Hyundai Staria is a large van and minivan that Hyundai produces for a wide range of markets. It replaced the Starex and was built on a front-wheel-drive platform that is also used by other large Hyundai and Kia models. Its name combines the word star with the suffix ria.

The Staria is currently sold in South Korea, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Latin America and several European countries. Its market spread is wide, and its trim lines differ from one country to the next.

A van with a spaceship look and a wide-open cabin, sold across more than a dozen markets from a single 2021 launch.

Where did the Staria come from?

The Staria was the successor to the Starex. The old van used a rear-wheel-drive layout, while the Staria moved to a front-wheel-drive platform that other large Hyundai and Kia models also use.

Interior and exterior images were released on 18 March 2021. Hyundai framed the car under its new Inside Out design theme, which gave it the look of a spaceship and a wide-open cabin.

How was the Staria designed?

Compared with the Starex, the Staria raised its total height by 70 mm (2.8 in) and lowered its ground clearance, which allowed a maximum cabin height of 1,379 mm (54.3 in). Hyundai designers also introduced a low beltline, which created larger side windows that the company calls wide panoramic windows.

The result is a spacious vehicle, although it is awkward to park, especially in multi-storey car parks.

What body versions and trims did the Staria come in?

The Staria was offered in two main versions, a standard model and a high-end variant known as the Staria Lounge or Staria Premium in several markets. A cargo model was also offered in some regions, and the standard model's trims included Tourer and Cargo.

The front of the standard car had a horizontal daytime running light and headlamp design, with a grille in body colour that buyers could also order in solid black. A 10.25-inch front display sat in the centre of the dashboard, with a colour LCD cluster at the top.

The Lounge or Premium was released on 9 August 2021. It had a redesigned mesh-pattern grille, full LED headlamps and turn signals, 18-inch alloy wheels and a rear LED combination lamp. Its interior included a 64-colour ambient mood light, and in some markets it was the only version offered.

Seven-seat Lounge models had premium relaxation seats, while nine-seat models had swiveling seats.

What did the Lounge Limousine and Camper add?

Both the Lounge Limousine and the Lounge Camper were released on 19 April 2022. The Limousine was the top trim of the Lounge, with an electric side step for the second row that moved with the sliding door.

Compared with the basic trim, the Limousine's interior height grew by 205 mm (8.1 in). A console that slides between the front and second rows was added, and a 25-inch rear seat display, a built-in air purifier and starry sky mood lighting were added. Electric steering devices and a specialised suspension completed the package.

The Lounge Camper was a camping model based on the Lounge Prestige trim. It came as the Camper 11, a semi-type with 11 seats, and as the Camper 4, a deluxe four-seater. The Camper 4 had an integrated 12.1-inch foldable monitor, a third-row reclining bench and a built-in refrigerator and sink with 36 litres of capacity.

What is the ST1?

The ST1 is an electric truck built on the Staria's underpinnings. Hyundai launched it on 14 March 2024, and South Korean sales started on 24 April that year.

The ST1 is a separate product from the passenger models, but its platform comes from the Staria.

What changed in the 2026 facelift?

The facelifted Staria was unveiled on 17 December 2025. The front end now has one continuous full-width LED running light strip, with Staria lettering engraved at each side, in place of the old three-part arrangement.

Inside, the digital cluster and infotainment screen grew to 12.3 inches, up from 10.25 inches, and the software was updated with over-the-air capability. The dashboard took on a more horizontal layout with new climate vents and a storage tray, while physical buttons and dials replaced touch controls on the centre console.

What is the Staria Electric?

The Staria Electric is a battery electric variant built on the facelifted model. It was first shown publicly on 9 January 2026, and it is powered by a 218 hp (163 kW) electric motor driving the front wheels through a transaxle.

Its 84 kWh battery feeds a newer 800-volt architecture. The vehicle can tow 2,000 kg (4,400 lb), and a 230-volt vehicle-to-load socket provides up to 3.6 kW of external AC power.

The electric version was offered in standard, mid-spec Lounge and top-spec Limousine forms. It made its European debut at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show, and European buyers can choose the Luxury seven-seater or the Wagon nine-seater.

Which engines does the Staria use?

The engine line-up varies by market. The 2.2-litre CRDi diesel is the main choice in South Africa, while the 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol is offered in Australia, Russia and Singapore. The facelifted range added a 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol hybrid.

All-wheel drive appears in a few markets. The Australian diesel came with all-wheel drive as standard, the Philippine Premium used the H-TRAC system, and the Russian diesel could be ordered with HTRAC all-wheel drive.

Thailand offered a D4HB diesel, but the Staria was discontinued there in December 2023 because of Euro 4 emissions rules. It returned in March 2024 with the diesel moved to Euro 5 specification.

How did South Africa receive the Staria?

The Staria launched in South Africa on 5 November 2021 with Executive, Elite and Luxury trims. All of them were nine-seaters, and an 11-seat option was available for the Executive grade.

Hyundai expanded the South African range over the following year. The Staria Multicab arrived in January 2022 to replace the H1 Multicab in five-seat form, and the Staria Panel Van followed in July 2022 as a three-seater with twin-swing doors.

The facelifted Staria launched in South Africa on 9 September 2026 with five variants, including the Panelvan, two Executive Bus models, the Elite Bus and the Luxury Bus. All of them use the 2.2-litre CRDi diesel.

How did Asian markets receive the Staria?

Thailand was the first right-hand drive country to debut the Staria, on 9 July 2021, with S and SEL trims that were both 11-seaters. The upscale Premium arrived in Thailand in March 2022, and later trims included Elite, Elite Plus and Essence.

Indonesia launched the Staria on 20 August 2021 as an upscale car with a sole Signature trim, in nine- and seven-seat layouts. Malaysia followed on 27 October 2021 with the upscale Premium as a seven-seater, which was meant to replace the Grand Starex.

The standard Malaysian Staria debuted on 5 October 2022 in Lite, Plus and Max trims, all as 10-seaters. The line-up was renamed Style, Prime and Prestige in July 2025, and in October 2025 the car became locally assembled at the Inokom plant in Kulim, Kedah.

Singapore launched the Staria on 10 December 2021, solely in the upscale version with seven seats and a 3.5-litre MPi V6 petrol engine. Taiwan offered GLD and CEO variants with nine, eight and seven seats.

The Philippines received the Staria in August 2022 with four grades at launch. The Philippine Premium was the version offered with the H-TRAC all-wheel drive system, and the facelifted range arrived there on 9 July 2026.

What about Latin America?

The Staria is sold across Latin America as well. Argentina's launch was a single unnamed variant with 11 seats, which gave local buyers one choice rather than a range of trims.

How did Australia and New Zealand get the Staria?

The Staria launched in Australia on 5 August 2021 in three trims: Standard, Elite and Highlander. Buyers could choose a petrol 3.5-litre MPi V6 or a 2.2-litre diesel, and all of them were eight-seaters.

The Staria Load panel van arrived in September 2021 to replace the iLoad, in two- and five-seat configurations. A Premium trim for the Load was added in February 2023, and it came only with a liftgate.

The facelifted Staria and Staria Load went on sale in Australia on 2 April 2026. The passenger van now comes as Staria and Lounge, with petrol, diesel and 1.6-litre hybrid choices. In New Zealand the Staria launched on 10 August 2021 in Standard and Limited AWD trims, both eight-seaters.

What were the Staria specifications?

The table gathers the key figures for the Staria and its electric sibling. Where a value belongs to one market or version only, the row says so.

Frequently asked questions

What did the Staria replace?

The Staria succeeded the Starex. It moved from a rear-wheel-drive layout to a front-wheel-drive-based platform shared with other large Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Is there an electric Staria?

Yes. The Staria Electric was first unveiled on 9 January 2026. It has a 218 hp electric motor, an 84 kWh battery and an 800-volt architecture.

How many seats does the Staria have?

Seat counts depend on the version and market. Lounge models come as seven- or nine-seaters, while standard cars have ranged from nine-seat South African vans to 11-seat Thai examples.

When did the Staria go on sale in Thailand?

Thailand received the Staria on 9 July 2021, the first right-hand drive country to do so. It was discontinued in December 2023 and returned in March 2024 with a Euro 5 diesel.