Goodbye iLoad, and farewell iMax. Hyundai is getting ready to welcome a new load-lugging, people-moving option into its ranks.
The futuristic-looking Hyundai Staria people mover will be in Australia before the end of 2021 with a choice of petrol and diesel power, and up to nine seats.
Measuring 5253mm long and 1997mm wide (with a 3273mm wheelbase) the van is 97mm longer than a Kia Carnival with 183mm more between its wheels.
Two models will be available in Australia, starting with the entry-level Staria.
The driver is faced with a 10.25-inch digital instrument binnacle, along with a central touchscreen for infotainment and push-button gear shifter.
The standard rear seats fold flat to create a bed, turning the Staria into a camper or van-style load-lugger.
Seven airbags will be standard in Australia, along with a full range of active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.
Driver Talk, which allows the driver to broadcast over the interior speakers to rear passengers like an airline captain, will be standard for talking to selectively deaf children in the rear seat.
Moving to the Staria Premium brings a seven-seat interior with sliding, reclining seats in the second row as standard.
Hyundai says there’s space for third-row passengers with the Premium Relaxation Seats in the second row reclined. A nine-seat option will be available, complete with swivelling individual seats in the second row.
Along with the higher-end seating setup, the Premium will feature a Bose sound system and 64-colour ambient lighting.
Black, black and beige, and black and blue interiors will be offered in the Staria. The Premium gains grey and brown, or grey and light grey two-tone options.
Two- and three-seat van versions of the Staria will replace the Hyundai iLoad, with up to 5000L of cargo capacity and room for up to three Euro pallets in the rear.
Power across the range will come from a choice of 2.2-litre turbo-diesel or 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V6 engines.
The 2.2-litre turbo-diesel has 130kW of power and 431Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
The 3.5-litre petrol has 200kW of power and 331Nm of torque.
Along with the mainstream models, Hyundai will introduce a range of Special Vehicle versions of the Staria.
That includes limousines, ambulances, and a camper to take on the Volkswagen Multivan.
Eco-friendly variants are also on the cards, opening the door for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure-electric variants.
Along with the Kia Carnival, the Staria will go head-to-head with the Toyota Granvia and Volkswagen Multivan in Australia.
