Does the entry-level diesel-powered AWD version of Hyundai’s futuristic-looking people-mover have the traction to sway buyers away from family SUVs?
The 2022 Hyundai Staria CRDi AWD is the cheapest diesel model in the three-tiered Staria range and arguably the most sensible variant in the line-up, with the right blend of price, performance and features. Does this sharp-looking people-mover represent the most sensible, logical way to easily convey up to eight people, without the need for an SUV? Let’s find out…
Funds transfer
The 2022 Hyundai Staria comes as not only a people-mover but also a two- or five-seat commercial van application that’s known as the Hyundai Staria Load.
The people-mover version tested here has three model grades: the base Staria, then Elite and topping out with the Highlander.
Either a front-drive 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, or for $3000 extra, an all-wheel drive 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder is available, each driving through an eight-speed automatic.
While the model range starts out at $48,500 plus on-road costs for the Staria V6, here we’re reviewing the diesel-powered 2.2 CRDi AWD version that starts at $51,500 plus ORCs.
This is arguably the sweet spot in the range; you get the more efficient diesel powertrain (with the bonus of all-wheel traction) without the unnecessary frills – or the price – of the upper-spec models.
The Staria has a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while a five-year/75,000km service plan is available for $1800. That calculates as $360 per service every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
You might not like the Staria’s looks, but you can’t help but notice them. It is certainly different and is undoubtably the most distinctive people-mover/commercial van design we’ve seen in a long time.
Some elements seem a bit fussy – such as the laced pattern of the grille – but there has also been a lot of design innovation in a segment where there’s often little to be found.
Consider the LED daytime running lights integrated into the front’s mid-point, for example, or the tall LED tail-lights (although the centre brake light almost seems an afterthought).
Even the side windows are almost 1980s deep, improving vision and increasing the amount of light entering the cabin.
It’s as if Hyundai’s design team worked hard into the night designing their people-mover while competitors seemingly knocked off by lunchtime and went to the pub.
Protect the brood
The base 2022 Hyundai Staria does miss out on some safety features seen on upper-spec Elite and Highlander variants.
You won’t get the blind spot view monitor (a side camera view that activates in the instrument cluster when the indicator is activated), surround view monitor (a 3D surround-view representation of the vehicle) or Safe Exit Assist (rear doors stay locked when the vehicle’s radar senses another vehicle coming alongside).
However, there is still a deep well of safety equipment even on this base model grade.
The Staria driver assistance safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, and a 360-degree parking camera with front and rear proximity sensors.
There’s also lane following and lane keeping assist, automatic high beam assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, driver attention warning, rear occupant alert, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) detecting vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, and rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist.
It also has seven airbags and a five-star ANCAP crash safety score.
The driver assist tech mostly works well, in particular the various camera views when parking. As we’ll get to, these would seem like certain dent-savers if you drive in tight urban situations.
Other equipment, such as the lane keeping assist, can on some roads seem too intrusive and unnecessary.
There is a large centre cubby, large door pockets and multiple other storage bins within the Staria, so storing everyone’s stuff will rarely be a problem.
The infotainment system works well, and the base model is the only one in the range to feature wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Like the others, it also has a wireless phone charging pad up front. There are loads of USB charging ports too, with a couple for each row of occupants.
Mass and torque
While the 130kW/430Nm diesel engine in the 2022 Hyundai Staria is responsive at lower speeds, with minimal off-idle turbo lag, the 2255kg kerb weight becomes more apparent at highway speeds and/or when hill climbing.
On a mountain pass just two-up and with minimal luggage, we found the diesel was working hard to keep up the pace.
While we were unable to wrangle eight occupants and their luggage for this test, but it’s likely that with such a complement the Staria’s performance won’t be stellar.
Although the Staria is rated to tow up to 2500kg (braked), it can only legally have up to 100kg tow ball mass (TBM). This is a problem for most Australians who tow, as they usually rely on having 10 per cent of towed mass as TBM for safe towing balance.
This would mean the Staria can tow just 1000kg to have a 10 per cent (100kg) TBM. However, the 10 per cent rule is not a legal requirement, and many European caravans, for example, run five per cent (or less) TBM with a friction coupling to contain sway.
Fuel consumption averaged 7.9L/100km of mixed urban/highway driving, but shorter, low-speed inner-city trips sent the Staria’s average climbing beyond 12.0L/100km.
The Staria rides really well for a people-mover, with suppleness and control that will please most.
It can also be hard to engineer such a large cabin to not be like an echo chamber, so it was a welcome surprise to find how quiet the Staria is inside.
Perhaps its Hyundai Santa Fe-based platform helps, but whatever the case, there is no creaking or booming going on, even on a poor potholed dirt road. This is not always the case with a people-mover.
Where you won’t get away from its box-on-wheels design is punting though corners. You’re sitting up and towards the front wheels for starters, which never helps, but the Staria’s long wheelbase, rather dull steering response and understeer will all dampen your enthusiasm.
That said, it grips quite well, and it’s likely the troops will start squealing well before the front tyres do.
On gravel, the AWD system engages quickly, providing plenty of traction.
Enjoy the ride
The first thing you can’t help but notice is the sheer size of the 2022 Hyundai Staria – inside and out.
It measures 5233mm long, 1990mm high and 1997mm wide. Inside, it has 831 litres of luggage space – with all three seat rows up!
The Toyota Granvia is slightly longer and narrower, the Kia Carnival is as wide but shorter and considerably lower. Basically, any of these people-movers is a big vehicle.
This large footprint introduces a problem though, if you happen to live in a city where narrow streets and tight multi-level car parks are the norm.
The Staria (like many of its competitors) takes up a fair chunk of the roadway; its width, in particular, is obvious, as is the Staria’s cut in on corners.
The pay-off is in the Staria’s huge interior – there is more than enough room for eight people and luggage, and with all three rows of seats offering fore-aft adjustment, everybody should have enough legroom.
Headroom and shoulder space just isn’t an issue – although the seats themselves are a little flat and unsupportive.
Parents of young’uns will be relieved to hear this, though, as baby capsules and child seats are much easier to secure on such rear seats than on those that are more contoured.
Yet there are only tether points/ISOFIX fittings on the three centre-row seat positions. None are offered for the back row.
Welcome addition
The 2022 Hyundai Staria is a welcome addition to the people-mover market, where it looks futuristic enough to entice buyers who otherwise might go for the more fashionable seven-seat SUV.
The Staria also loses nothing to more conventional-looking people-mover competitors either, on price, practicality, interior size, refinement and safety.
Yet its lack of third-row child seat anchor points is a strange omission for a people-mover, and those doing short around-town trips may find it a bit thirstier than they expected.
How much does the 2022 Hyundai Staria 2.2 CRDi AWD cost?Price: $51,500 (plus on-road costs)Available: NowEngine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-dieselOutput: 130kW/430NmTransmission: Eight-speed automaticFuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)CO2: 218g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)
Keyword: Hyundai Staria Diesel AWD 2022 Review