The Dickson family find the space to explore with a road trip along the spectacular Great Ocean Road in the all-new Hyundai STARIA
The Dickson family find the space to explore with a road trip along the spectacular Great Ocean Road in the all-new Hyundai STARIA
Wide open space is a part of everyday life for the Dickson family.
The farming family of six from Kaniva, near the Victoria-South Australia border, are familiar with big skies and vast horizons, except when it came time to squeeze together in their previous car and get away for a camping trip to the beach.
That is until now, for a weekend at beautiful Wye River on the Great Ocean Road coastline in south-west Victoria, thanks to the all-new, eight-seat Hyundai STARIA.
For Bianca Dickson, husband Brad and their four children – 18-year-old Imogen, 14-year-old Mitchell, nine-year-old Harry and six-year-old Molly – the STARIA has enabled them to get out and explore again.
“We have seen a lot of Australia, and living where we live we spend a lot of time in the car,” Bianca Dickson told carsales.
“So, it’s important – as a big family – to have something that is comfortable and spacious for everyone, as well as being practical and versatile.
“And the STARIA definitely ticks all those boxes.”
Wye River is more than a five-hour drive from the Dickson’s farm in Kaniva through central western Victoria past the iconic Grampian ranges.
Nestled between Lorne and Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road, Wye River is a popular coastal holiday destination which is renowned for its surf beaches, whale watching and rainforest walks in the nearby Great Otway National Park.
Camping on the beachfront at the Wye River Campground is a regular getaway from the farm for the Dicksons.
“We love it down there,” Dickson said.
“We’ve been to Wye River many times and it’s such a lovely spot.”
And getting there in the all-new Hyundai STARIA made the holiday even more enjoyable thanks to its spacious, light-filled cabin and flexible seating arrangement.
“A lot of cars like this that we’ve looked at before feel like an electrician’s van with seats bolted into them, but the STARIA is different; it is lovely on the inside and definitely feels more luxurious,” Dickson said.
“The ability to rearrange the seats is one of the things we looked for in a new car as it is nice to separate the kids even if you don’t need all the seats. We like to flip the centre arm rest down in the middle row for the older kids to have their cup holders and space for devices and things and pop the younger two in the back row.
“We often do that, so they are not fighting or tormenting each other, especially on long road trips.”
Dickson also appreciates the inclusion of ISOFIX child seat restraints in the third row, ensuring the child seat can be permanently in place and preventing other occupants from stepping over it.
She is impressed with the convenience of the smart power sliding doors and rear tailgate, and with the number of USB outlets (five USB charging ports plus one multimedia port) and 16 cup holders throughout the cabin.
“I also wouldn’t buy a family car now without leather seats; they’re really comfortable and easy to clean,” she adds.
“And, it is really good – particularly from a mother’s perspective – to have the pull-down sun shades on the rear windows. Even if the windows are tinted, it’s great to have extra sun protection for younger children and babies. That is really thoughtful.”
As for how it drives, Dickson said her husband Brad is surprised by how quiet and economical the 130kW/430Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel is and, especially living in the country and often driving on unsealed roads, appreciates the sure-footed traction generated by its all-wheel drive transmission. For longer trips with their caravan, Brad is also impressed with the STARIA’s 2500kg (braked) towing capacity.
“He thought it is really comfortable and easy to drive for such a big car,” Dickson said.
“It was a bit of a shock at first, just how quiet and secure it felt on the road. It feels more like a luxury SUV. It’s amazing.”
The all-new Hyundai STARIA is the spaceship every Australian family needs right now to find their own Aussie spaces. To find out more about the all-new Hyundai STARIA, visit https://www.hyundai.com/au/en/cars/people-movers-and-commercial/staria
Keyword: Life’s a beach with the Hyundai STARIA