Disclaimer: Hyundai Philippines lent us a Hyundai Staria unit for a week with a full tank of gas and access to its RFID cards.

Remember when Hyundai Philippines launched the Hyundai Starex? It was a hit for the South Korean automaker as it saw a second generation. However, Hyundai had to discontinue the Starex nameplate and replace it with the 2023 Hyundai Staria, its new replacement.

We had on loan the family-oriented GLS+ version, which seats 11 passengers but has retained a row of captain seats and dual sliding doors.

So is the Hyundai Staria a worthy replacement for the Starex, and does its 11-seater version have what it takes to win over big Filipino families?

Polarizing and futuristic exterior

The Hyundai Staria has polarizing and futuristic styling. Some hate the design as it looks akin to an air fryer or a refrigerator, while others understand what Hyundai was going for when designing the van. It replaces the box shapes of a conventional van and instead replaces it with soft curves. It makes it look less like a UV Express van and gives it a more premium touch.

It's a step forward for Hyundai, as the Staria looks good and unique on the road. It has applied the brand’s new design language well, placing the headlights further down in the middle of the bumper.

However, while it looks aesthetically pleasing, the headlights on the GLS+ model aren’t that great. The headlights throw a bit low, but that can easily be remedied with a quick adjustment. What can’t be changed is the spread of the headlights, which is relatively narrow; it limits what you can see when cornering.

Regardless of this minor inconvenience, the Staria changes the rule book for vans and offers a futuristic design that will likely age well in the ever-changing landscape of car design as we look at sleeker models to come.

Minimalist interior with plenty of storage space

The interior of the Hyundai Staria is minimalist, as there aren’t too many accents inside the vehicle. It has a digital display for your gauge cluster and a large infotainment system with manual air conditioning controls for the front and back.

Everything was designed to be practical, as even the dashboard and door cards have many storage spaces. It lets you easily store small items such as paperwork, sunglasses, and phones. Also, all the seats are leather which gives it a premium touch.

The middle seat of the first row can also be folded to act like a center console for the vehicle, giving you two cup holders and spaces to store assorted items.

As the GLS+ is an 11-seater, its rows are spread as follows: three seats for the first row, three for the second row, two captains chairs, and a bench-type seat for the back that can seat three. 

It allows more people to fit inside the vehicle comfortably but at the cost of luggage space. If you want to haul some cargo and not maximize 11 seats, you can fold the 4th row. You can also fold the lower seat cushions of the 4th row up and push the entire 4th row backward or forward to make room for cargo. It's just enough space for a small cooler and overnight luggage.

All the rows of seating can also be moved forward or backward to allow for more versatile seating options. It also lets specific rows have more space than the rest in case you have family members who need more legroom. 

Intuitive technology

The Hyundai Staria is well equipped in the GLS+ model. It offers an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a fast wireless charger, which makes phone charging a breeze.

To make driving the van easier, Hyundai has also given it an around-view monitor, which acts like a 360-degree camera. It means you can access the feed at the front or from the sides when reversing or going forward. It also has front and rear sensors that help navigate tight streets or corners.

The addition of the cameras makes it easier to maneuver the van in tight spaces such as parking or through a drive-thru. 

Refined power

Under the hood, the Hyundai Staria is powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine that produces 177PS and 430 Nm of torque. If these figures seem familiar, it is because it's the same engine found in the Hyundai Santa Fe, the Kia Sorento, and the Kia Carnival.

It's just the right amount of power for the van that gives torque at your disposal. However, don’t expect the acceleration found in the Santa Fe and Sorento to be found in the Staria, as the van is substantially slower. You'll barely hear the rattle of the 2.2-liter motor as Hyundai has done well with its sound deadening. 

Power is also readily available when needed, as all you have to do is wait for the 8-speed automatic transmission to kick down and enter boost. Once you enter boost, the car will start pulling itself forward in a rush of torque; it's not overwhelming, but you get a sense that the vehicle is moving forward rather quickly. 

Regardless, torque is always available despite the Staria being front-wheel drive, which differentiates it from the rest of the van options on the market, which are all rear-wheel drive. However, an all-wheel drive version of the Staria is available. 

As for its fuel economy, we got 7.7 to 11.2km/l in the city and 16.7 to 17.5km/l fully loaded. These are excellent numbers, considering the size and weight of the vehicle with its passenger capacity maxed out.

Light steering

One of the shocking features of the Hyundai Staria is that it has light steering because it has electronic power steering. It makes driving the van a breeze and feels closer to driving a crossover or sedan than anything else.

Thanks to its excellent turning radius, the Staria can make u-turns without fully maximizing the road, which was surprising considering its length.

The ride in the Staria is also soft and pliant, thanks to its suspension setup. It does wallow with uneven roads, but the dampers do a good job of keeping it at bay. As for body roll, it is present but expected for a van of its size and height. It is, after all, a people carrier, so comfort is a top priority for the vehicle, with its suspension being soft and being able to keep road imperfections and bumps at bay.

Safety

Regarding its safety features, the Hyundai Staria GLS+ has the following:

• Dual front airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• electronic stability control with Autohold
• ABS with multi-collision brake
• Hillstart Assist Control
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Manual speed limit assist
• Park distance warning: forward and reverse
• Surround view monitor

Verdict

The Hyundai Staria GLS+ addresses the niche of the Philippine market that adheres to those looking for a family vehicle, specially priced at ₱2,320,000. Space is just right inside the van for all 11 occupants and those of average Filipino height. Those above six feet might have problems with legroom, but regardless, the van still fulfills its role as a family vehicle and people mover. 

It has a few drawbacks, including build quality. Nothing is wrong with the durable plastics inside the vehicle, but the sliding doors rattled. We didn’t expect it from the van as it had 20,000 kilometers on its odometer. We hope Hyundai can address rattling noise for its other units, as traveling can get annoying.

We tried to diagnose the problem and found that the squeaking came from the door hinges and would go away when it was raining. It could indicate that the doors need to be regularly greased. 

We also encountered a bit of chassis flex with the Staria, especially when going down parking ramps. It's not an issue, but it can get nerving when you hear the vehicle start to creak. Regardless, the chassis is still stiff enough for regular use; just don’t put the van in awkward angles often. 

Despite the minor issues, the Hyundai Staria delivered on what we expected: an easy-to-use, fun, and spacious family van. It may not have rear-seat entertainment, but being close to family and friends in the car is enough for a few good old laughs for several hours on the road.