First Impressions: Hyundai Staria is one futuristic looker

South Korean automaker Hyundai gave us a sneak peek at its 2021 Staria MPV last week at an intimate launch event in the north of Johannesburg. The Staria is the next-gen replacement for its H1 minivan you’ve come to know and love over the past few years. From the onset, it’s clear Hyundai wanted something different for its newest people carrier, in the same manner how Kia is forging the SUV route in penning its 2022 Carnival.

Hyundai is forging a different path with the Staria’s spaceship-like styling cues.

The newest Hyundai Staria is “designed for both families and businesses” utilizing the brand’s innovative ‘inside-out’ design approach, Hyundai’s latest methodology for its Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs) catering to future mobility clients. Accordingly, ‘inside-out’ begins with the interior and expands to the exterior, answering customer demands of prioritizing interior space above all else. Something which is quite evident once you enter the vehicle. During the event we took the MPV on a drive to Hartbeespoort, a fitting journey known for weekend road trips amongst Joburgers.

Viewed from the front, Staria emanates a high-tech and premium vibe with its horizontal daytime running lights and cyclops position lamp stretching the vehicle’s width.

Out in the back, the Staria’s squared-off profile and thin vertical lamps are reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Grandis MPV’s rear design. Meanwhile, the streamlined silhouette, low beltlines, and panoramic windows offer a hi-tech look and feel, something that won’t look amiss in the film set of Back to the Future 2.

Inside, Staria offers expansive room for seven to nine adults, but Hyundai is offering 2-seater to 11-seat variants. Additionally, Staria Luxury trim will offer extensive luxury upgrades with seven, nine, or up to 11 seats. Staria has a driver-centric cockpit complemented by a 10.25-inch touchscreen display, a hoodless digital instrument cluster, touch-sensitive buttons, and a button-type shift lever, the latter freeing up more space in the massive centre console.

The Hyundai STARIA range at its launch in South Africa, with its suggested retail prices, consists of:

Staria R2.2 Executive 9-seater	R 789 900
Staria R2.2 Executive 11-seater	R 799 900
Staria R2.2 Elite 9-seater	R 959 900
Staria R2.2 Luxury 9-seater	R 1099 900

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.