There’s more to people-movers than sliding-doors

Remember when people movers were just that? Big boxes crammed full of seats conceived to cart lots of kids to school or the beach.

It only takes one glance to realise the space-age Hyundai Staria is a very different beast. Looking more like the futuristic star of a motor show, the latest design icon from Hyundai has style and practicality at its core.

It’s clever, too.

Think of it as the people mover that breaks the mould. Here’s how.

The 2.2L Hyundai Staria Highlander is smart from the start – and it all begins beneath the futuristic skin. No anemic get-the-job-done engines for this one. The Staria instead gets the choice of a lusty V6 or a grunty turbo diesel.

Choose the latter and it even comes with an all-wheel drive system to deliver maximum traction on all surfaces. Getting all that torque to the road is just as easy in the wet as it is on dry bitumen. And if you want to head for the slopes or explore that remote fishing spot then the Staria is ready to explore.

There’s even a 4WD Lock button to evenly split drive between the front and rear wheels for a pre-emptive traction attack. Perfect for a muddy camp site, slippery boat ramps or even snow. There are also four drive modes – Comfort, Eco, Sport and Smart (which monitors your driving and switches between modes automatically) – so you can tailor the drive to the conditions.

And while many SUVs do without a proper spare wheel, the Staria packs in a full-size spare so you’ve got back-up if you need it.

As well as all the family and their luggage the Hyundai Staria is designed to take more. Sure, it’ll do a box trailer or bike rack without complaint, but it’ll also just as easily take a boat or caravan to your dream destination. The maximum braked towing capacity is 2,500kg ensuring you can add plenty to the eight-seat adventure.

And with the added grunt of the diesel engine for effortless highway running as well as all-wheel drive to make maneuvering on boat ramps that little bit easier, it brings all the practicality and safety of an SUV – but with more space.

Speaking of safety, the Staria get a comprehensive suite of Hyundai SmartSense™* technology that adds collision avoidance using both a forward-facing camera and radar as well as Rear Cross- Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist and Smart Cruise Control. There’s even a Safe Exit Warning to alert you of approaching vehicles before you open the door.

Looks aren’t everything, or so the saying goes. But in the case of the 2.2L Hyundai Staria Highlander you get good looks thrown in as an added bonus. That in itself is a big change from the well-trodden people mover formula.

Taut surfaces and a smooth aerodynamic shape are interspersed with LED lights and streamlined details. Plus, there are panoramic windows to maximise natural light (the Highlander model adds to that with a vast dual power sunroof), perfect for inquisitive passengers who yearn for visual exploration on those big adventures.

Yet at the same time it packs in the practicality. Three rows of seats are easily accessible, not only accommodating up to eight people but also folding away when it’s luggage that is the priority. The 60/40 split-fold second and single-piece third rows fold flat.

Smart Power Sliding Doors reduce the chances of opening into other cars and have an anti-pinch function to protect fingers.

Got a big family? Or lots of friends? Then the Hyundai Staria is ready to accommodate.

It has comfortable seating for eight people, and those in the third row aren’t treated as second-class citizens. There’s ample head and legroom for all passengers and two USB ports for each row. And with 16 cupholders no one will dehydrate (those little binnacles also work beautifully for looking after trinkets and toys!).

And there doesn’t have to be arguments about the temperature in the cabin. Climate control with individual zones front and rear cater to different tastes.

But the Staria’s big party trick is that it can not only take the whole tribe, but all their luggage as well. With all eight seats in use there’s still 831 litres of luggage space behind the third row, which is more than enough for some camping gear or anything else you like to pack for the Big Trip.

You don’t have to be inside the 2.2L Hyundai Staria Highlander to realise it’s a step above the average big family people mover in terms of thoughtfulness.

Stand next to the doors with the smart key in your pocket or bag for three seconds and the Smart Power Sliding Doors of the Elite and Highlander automatically open.

Similarly, if you had a successful shopping adventure and you stand around the back of the car for three seconds with the smart key with you, the hands-free Smart Power Tailgate automatically rises. It even closes without human interference when you walk away.

It’s the start of an impressive tech story that incorporates Apple CarPlay ™** and Android ™ Auto*** and a wireless charging pad****.

There are also parking sensors front and rear and, in the Elite and Highlander a Surround View Monitor with 3D view functionality that gives a virtual overhead view of the Staria’s surroundings – perfect for carpark maneuvering.

Need to find out more?

Discover more about Hyundai Staria

*Hyundai SmartSense™ is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. Safety features are not a substitute for attentive driving.
** CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Requires compatible device and connectivity
*** Android is a trademark of Google LLC. Required compatible device and connectivity
**** Wireless smartphone charger required a Qi-enabled smartphone or adaptor to operate.