Hyundai Staria Highlander 2026 Review

Although we’re testing the priciest variant in the 2026 Hyundai Staria line-up, the range opens with front-drive 3.5-litre V6 petrol-powered models from $50,500 (plus ORCs).

The mid-spec Elite ($58,500 plus ORCs) and top-spec Highlander ($65,500 plus ORCs) round out the range, while opting for the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel all-wheel drive powertrain adds a $3000 premium.

Hence, the Highlander CRDi AWD tested here is the big kahuna of the Staria range, at $68,500 (plus ORCs).

There are about a dozen other options in the segment.

If it’s a conventional, six-to-nine-seat van with internal-combustion you need, the main rivals include the Kia Carnival (from $52,070 plus ORCS), Toyota Granvia (from $68,306 plus ORCS) and Volkswagen Multivan (from $75,990 plus ORCS).

The Staria range arrived Down Under in 2021 but was given a light update in late 2024, bringing new badging, extra USB-C ports and blind spot collision warning.

Bluelink connected services, rain-sensing wipers and a new key fob were also added to Elite and Highlander grades.

Naturally, the Highlander gets every bit of standard equipment Hyundai can possibly throw at a Staria, including dual sunroofs, powered side doors and tailgate, 18-inch alloy wheels (including the spare), keyless entry and heated and power adjustable side mirrors.

Inside, push-button start features alongside a leather-appointed interior, power-adjustment for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, rear curtains, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, rear passenger camera, LED interior lighting and a pair of storage boxes atop the dash.

Towing capacity is 750kg unbraked, or 2500kg braked. A maximum towball download of 100kg is something to keep in mind if you plan on towing a heavier trailer with the Staria.

The 2026 Hyundai Staria Highlander is as safe as houses according to the local assessors of crashworthiness, ANCAP.

With a maximum five-star rating achieved in 2021 (valid until 2027), the Staria scored 85 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 65 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 74 per cent for Safety Assist features during testing.

As far as airbags go, the Staria has seven: dual front, front-side and side curtain (covering all three rows of seats). Lastly, there’s a centre front airbag between the front occupants.

For active safety highlights, the Staria has high- and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, front and rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and driver attention warning.

If you try to open a door with a car coming up from behind, Safe Exit Assist sounds a warning and prevents the door from opening, while Rear Occupant Alert gives the driver an audible and visual alert to avoid leaving children or pets unattended when exiting the vehicle.

In the second row, there are three top-tether points along with ISOFIX points in the outboard seating positions.

Parking safety is well covered with front and rear cameras and sensors, along with a 3D 360-degree view display.

A 10.25-inch LCD display in the dash centre houses the majority of multimedia functions, with a separate 10.25-inch instrument cluster ahead of the driver.

The Staria is equipped with Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services, which brings a raft of functions including SOS emergency call and automatic collision notification, server-linked navigation, and more. Alert services such as geo-fencing, speed/time alerts and so on also feature.

Other gear includes AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, along with smartphone connectivity – wired only in Highlander (and Elite) spec – two USB charging ports, a 12V outlet and wireless phone charging.

The second and third rows are also served by a pair of USB ports each.

In this spec, the 2026 Hyundai Staria is fitted with a 130kW/430Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine transversely mounted and linked to an eight-speed automatic and Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system.

The latter employs an electronic variable-torque-split clutch delivering active torque control between the front and rear axles. It can be locked in a 50-50 front/rear split via a button on the dash.

The 2026 Hyundai Staria Highlander CRDi AWD is claimed to burn 8.2L per 100km on the combined ADR cycle. In the real world, we achieved an around-town average of 11.5L/100km, but this dropped quickly to less than 8.0L/100km on easy, open road runs.

Nobody is going to purchase a van like the 2026 Hyundai Staria Highlander expecting the peak of driver engagement but for a people mover, it’s one of the easiest and most comfortable to maneuver.

A low beltline makes it easy to see out of while the 11.94m turning circle, although not super-tight, doesn’t seem to make car park shuffling too difficult.

While it’s a relatively long and tall vehicle (a touch over 5.2m long and a lick under 2m tall) it doesn’t present any parking difficulties, aside from the usual van issues of navigating tight parking garage corners and being aware of low hanging trees or parking garage plumbing. The low window line and cavalcade of camera views help.

With its long 3273mm wheelbase and independent suspension, the ride quality – at least on paper – is promising.

In reality, it isn’t luxury-car plush but it does a very good job of taking the wince out of the typical Aussie pothole.

Steering is light, making it easy to place the Staria accurately on the road. The diesel is pleasantly quiet too, as well as strong in its mid-range response. Off the line, however, it can take a moment before responding beyond a weak puff of acceleration.  This is not unusual for a turbo-diesel and you do get used to it.

The 2026 Hyundai Staria is not a substitute for a Toyota LandCruiser, just in case you were wondering.

Instead, Hyundai’s HTRAC (Hyundai Traction) all-wheel drive system with lockable 50/50 split improves the Staria’s grip across an array of road surfaces like slippery gravel roads or lightly snow-covered roads.

Its underbody clearance (quoted as 186mm) meantime isn’t bad, but without any serious underbody protection, reduction gearing or much of a ramp-over angle (14.9 degrees), we’d advise against any beach work or rock-hopping.

A boxy van like the 2026 Hyundai Staria is inherently practical.

For starters, the Staria has great interior packaging, permitting eight adults to be conveyed with comfort and plenty of room to move.

There’s 831 litres of cargo space too, which is relatively generous, while multiple cup holders, trays, bins and compartments will easily store everyone’s stuff.

While the leather-appointed seats and twin sunroofs give some sense of luxury, there is still a lot of hard, grey plastics in the Staria that scratch easily and look cheap.

Although there’s a step to get into the driver’s seat, access isn’t hard and once installed behind the wheel you’ve got a comfortable, supportive seat, great vision and easily accessed controls.

The push-button gear selector isn’t as intuitive to use as a traditional stick shifter, but it isn’t as clunky to use as some similar electro-mechanical gearshifts, either.

The one bugbear of the Staria for some drivers might be the touch controls to operate the climate control and multimedia system – it can be distracting and difficult to operate at times, as the screen is a bit of a reach and there's little to no tactility in a screen.

The updated Staria due later this year is said to address this issue with the return of physical buttons.

Access to second and third rows is simple, although getting into the third row requires more of a dip down and sidewards shuffle. Legroom is adjustable with the sliding second-row seat allowing a more than adequate compromise if the van is full.

The 2026 Hyundai Staria Highlander offers a great deal of space, comfort and safety with acceptable fuel economy. There’s a lot of standard equipment for the asking price, too.

But performance takes a hit when it’s laden with people and gear, and response from idle to mid-range revs isn’t linear.

As for the annoying touchscreen, you might want to wait for the Staria update, which should reduce this problem with the introduction of physical buttons.

2026 Hyundai Staria Highlander CRDi AWD at a glance:
Price: $68,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 218g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2021)

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