Well, Hyundai subscribes to the above. It has just launched the Hyundai Staria – a futuristic-looking bus that is sure to ruffle some feathers.
The future is now and the Staria will most certainly become part of many families – today.
It is bigger than its popular predecessor, the H1, which will see a natural discontinuation once current stock has been sold. But not to worry – parts will be available.
It will be available with seating configurations offering between two and 11 seats and will be available in three derivatives: Luxury, Elite and Executive. Hyundai has confirmed the release of its Staria panel van as well as a five-seater Multicab early in 2022.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Staria, which is a big step forward and represents Hyundai’s vision of future mobility – it gives real meaning to ‘next-level’. Experiencing the superior ride quality, outstanding fit and finish and the comfort levels in the Staria proves how much Hyundai has developed as a global vehicle manufacturer and one of the top-rated automotive brands,” said Stanley Anderson, the sales and operations director of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.
“The Staria is not just reinterpreting spatiality, but also reimagining time spent in transit for the future. Designing for mobility isn’t about vehicle design. It’s about designing to accommodate a variety of lifestyles,” said SangYup Lee, the senior vice president and head of Hyundai Global Design. “The Staria’s interior space and functionalities aim to transform how people experience in-car travel, optimising journeys by making the most of time in transit.”
Exterior
The exterior design is one of those that (for me, anyway) calms the mind and allows it to separate itself from the noise out there.
When I collected it at OR Tambo after a seriously delayed flight from Mbombela, its presence was as obvious as was the ease with which I found the various controls and switches upon entering. This despite the darkness at the executive parking where Hyundai had left it for me.
The front end with its near surround grill and headlights at the edges, the large windscreen and slanted A pillars present the future. It is squarish and unpretentious, and in an inexplicable manner demands ones constant attention.
At the rear, one is confronted with a large tailgate with elongated light clusters and a large window. The stylishness is in the simplicity. The side-on view shows some remanence of the H1.
The rear bumper is lowered so passengers can easily load and unload cargo.
Interior
The A-pillar design opens up the excellent all-round visibility, and parking and reversing with the support of a rear camera is a snitch. Now, remember, the Staria has an overall length of 5 253 millimetres, a width of 1 997 millimetres, and its overall height is 1 990 millimetres. Small or mediocre it is not!
Hyundai describes the interior design as being “cruise ship inspired” to deliver an open and unique atmosphere throughout the interior.
The driver’s seat – in fact, all the seats – looks futuristic. The centre fascia offers an eight-inch front display screen, touch-based centre fascia and a button-type electronic shift lever for the Luxury and Elite versions. The digital cluster is located on top of the dashboard, providing an unobstructed view for the driver.
The Elite and Executive derivatives also offer an overhead console, and a centre console equipped with cup holders, USB ports and additional storage space for the Luxury derivative. The Elite and Executive versions have a middle seat in front, of which the seatback can tilt flat forward to provide cup holders and storage space for odds and ends.
The nine-seat Luxury model’s individual seats in the second row can swivel 180 degrees to face passengers in the third row. This makes the Staria Luxury ideal for corporate vehicles or mobile offices as passengers can turn their seats around and conduct meetings face to face. Families will also find these swivelling seats convenient as rear-facing passengers will have easy access to those seated in the third row. The premium feeling in the Luxury version is further enhanced by the Bose sound system.
When the full-flat mode is applied to rear passenger seats in the Staria standard model, it makes this vehicle the perfect choice for activities that require a lot of room and interior flexibility, such as camping and sports, where luggage space is needed for equipment.
Power and performance
All derivatives are fitted with a R2.2-litre VGT turbodiesel engine, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It delivers 130kW and 430Nm which is directed to the front wheels. This may well be down on the 176kW produced by one of Staria’s competitors, but that one does not have its charisma.
Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are excellently controlled. It is so quiet in the cabin that my driving partner, Rubin van Niekerk, and I had an excellent discussion on health, philosophy, and the Staria car itself during our drive.
Mechanical upgrades also resulted in improved ride comfort thanks to the application of a multilink suspension at the rear axle for the Luxury, Elite and Executive derivatives. The Staria panel van will use a rigid rear axle with leaf springs.
Engine performance is more than just adequate. In fact, I had to consciously watch the speedometer in order to stick to the national index.
Smart features for safety and convenience
The Staria has secured the highest level of passive and active vehicle safety. It offers six airbags, and all seats come with three-point seat belts and headrests. Safety is further bolstered by smart features such as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) in the top derivatives.
The blind-spot warning system is fascinating. As soon as you activate your indicator – left or right – the appropriate circle on the driver’s info cluster becomes an active camera. Wonderful stuff, I tell you!
It also offers more safety features in the Elite and Luxury versions, such as Safe Exit Assist (SEA) which prevents a passenger from opening the power sliding door while a rear-side vehicle is passing by, and Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), which uses a radar sensor to detect and alert the driver if a rear passenger is still in the car when it may seem they had already disembarked.
Pricing
Staria R2.2 Executive nine-seater: R789 900
Staria R2.2 Executive 11-seater: R799 900
Staria R2.2 Elite nine-seater: R959 900
Staria R2.2 Luxury nine-seater: R1 099 900.
A seven-year/200 000km manufacturer warranty and roadside assistance for seven years or 150 000km are included in the price for all derivatives.
Conclusion
The most charismatic MPV/bus I have ever driven. Add it to your shortlist…
Photos: QuickPic
