Hyundai Staria 2.2L Diesel AWD (2021-2026)
VerifiedAlso referred to as: Hyundai Staria 2.2L Diesel AWD 2025 and Hyundai Staria 2.2L Diesel AWD 2027.9 reviews
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Electrical issues forward safety systems faulty showing alarms on dash and Hyundai refuse to fix it Show details
I own a Staria and on the whole I am impressed with it. I just want to offer some feedback for future improvements and features. 1) The fuel filler hole is in a bad position because if a person gets out of the van from the centre seats whilst the van is being filled, the door hits the fuel nozzle and damages the door. 2) There is no way to stop… Read more
the van in an emergency where the driver is incapacitated. If the driver has heart failure or a seizure, the passenger cannot stop the vehicle because the park brake is on the right hand side of the driver (in a right-hand drive vehicle). In older model cars the handbrake was usually between the two front seats so the passenger was able to apply the handbrake in an emergency. It would be good to have an emergency stop button to stop the Staria if the driver had a medical emergency. 3) I believe the Staria would appeal to many more buyers if the seats were easily removable, as they are in the VW Multivan. The purchaser would then not only have a good-sized people mover but a vehicle that could be used to move furniture etc. and would also make a good campervan. I almost purchased a VW Multivan instead of the Staria because of the Multivan's versitility, and only purchased the Staria because it was during the covid epidemic and the Multivan was hard to import.
Great Practical Vehicle - But could Still Use some Polish – We purchased our 2022 Staria after doing 6 months of research. The limited model, which in NZ I think is similar/same to the Highlander in AU. Being in NZ, we are very limited on options. We picked the Staria for the large boot space (even with all seats in use), the AWD for camping trips whilst towing on gravel roads and going to snow, safety… Read more · 1
features, and the light airy interior (great for those who get car sick). After 10 months of ownership all those boxes remain ticked.
Our experience was marred by a rattle at certain speeds. Hyundai eventually replaced the entire transmission, transfer case, rear diff and prop shaft. What is evident is that the Hyundai technicians don't actually know the vehicle, and are in the dark on how to fix anything on this mode. Parts are woefully slow to arrive and in most cases they seems to struggle to locate them. Eventually the problem was traced simply to a difference in rolling diameter which was easily fixed. Another gripe; The sales people emphasize how the Staria is supposedly built on the Santa Fe platform. This is mostly lies in practical terms. The transmission, transfer case, gear ratios are all different, which means the parts are all unique to the Staria.
After the rattle issue was sorted, the vehicle has been pretty good to drive. It is definitely still a van, and doesn't drive like a Santa Fe - but if you are ok to take accelerate at a sedate pace, it travels very nicely on the open road until you get too something very windy - then for the sake of the passengers you just have to slow down. We load it up with a lot of gear, bike racks, and trailer, and it performs well for us. The family love it on a good road trip. All the Tech works pretty well, with the occasional brain fart causing doors to muck around - but it happens infrequently.
Would I buy another one? It is difficult as there is nothing with the features we want anywhere near the price range (VW 4motion Caravelle would do it for another $30k) - I feel like the quality of this vehicle could be improved by Hyundai, and certainly the tech support - maybe a little rushed to market. The rattle issue was immensely frustrating at the time, and I just about threw the whole lot in. I would do a good shop around, but suspect we would still end up with one of these. I hope this helps someone.
Hyundai can’t fix there vans – My van broke down in the middle of the highway on the 13 July it just lost power , it was towed to the dealer Central Coast Hyundai service centre after 1 week I was informed they cannot find a fault it runs perfect , I picked it up drive 5 kilometres it lost power again and was towed back to the dealer , it has been 10 weeks and they cannot fix… Read more
or tell me what’s wrong and keep sending my enquires to Hyundai Australia who have no answers either there is another status in Bega who has an identical issue that they can’t fix
Very poor logistics and service – I have been always an advocate for Japanese cars and have been an owner of various Japanese brands over the years. Recently, I decided to buy a Korean car for the first time, Hyundai Staria load, late 2023 model. The reason was the price/performance criteria and also reasonably good driving experience, and also the belief that Korean manufacturers… Read more
almost caught up with their Japanese counterparts. My main point to highlight the quality of the car as such, but rather the quality of service, or lack of it. Soon after taking delivery of the vehicle, I noticed that cruise control was not working. When I take the car back to 1 month service (to the Cranbourne dealer from where I purchased the car from), the service tech confirmed this and stated that the cruise control switch on the steering wheel needs to be replaced. And need to make a back order for that components. Instead of making that arrangement themselves, they advised to me to chase it from anther dealer which is closer to my home. Not a big deal! I then approached the Mentone Hyundai about a month ago and they told me that they made the order for me. But a month later, I am still waiting the delivery. Why such a simply item is not available in the country, and why on earth it would take such a long time to deliver it from Korea? When I call them today, I was told that they have no idea when would the item be delivered here. Apparently, it could possibly take a few months. Wow!! Really? Well, just this simple case of poor logistics and service, it became clear to me that the decision to buy a Korean vehicle was a mistake. I did not have such issues with my Japanese cars (mostly Toyotas and Hondas). I doubt if I or my other family members would buy another Korean car again.
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The ultimate family van – Traditional luxury players, like Mercedes and Volkswagen, are just sitting idly by as their R&D budget is spent elsewhere. That new Volkswagen Multivan can’t come soon enough! That’s where the Staria comes in. It’s the 8-seater van that isn’t just for moving people, but offers modern features, luxury appointments and styling that breaks necks as… Read more
it makes its way down the street.
It appears as if Hyundai’s van department wondered what happened to all the ‘cool’ vans, so they went out and made one themselves.
Usually, people movers or ‘adventure’ SUVs that share their chassis with a commercial van or ute don’t exactly excel in the build quality segment.
The Staria feels as if it’s as far removed from its commercial sibling as it possibly could be. There’s an obvious weight with plenty of sound-deadening fitted throughout the cabin that highlights this people mover’s quality construction.
Leather seats and an infotainment system are straight from Hyundai’s premium SUVs, and are a welcome addition in raising the perception of quality on the inside of the vehicle. There are plenty of hard plastics splashed throughout the cabin, but to me, that’s acceptable as it’ll wear a lot better than softer materials.
The AWD diesel Highlander model of the Staria is the must-have. It combines features, luxury and driving capability to make this a formidable people mover.
Topping out at $66,500, this quickly becomes the best value large people mover compared to the European alternatives. You’re looking at nearly $100,000 for a similarly specced VW Multivan or Mercedes V Class.
Servicing can be prepaid up to 5 years/75,000kms, maxing out at $1,800 for that option. That translates to around $360 a service.
Cars that offer a commercial model usually suffer from a lack of isolation from their engine and road noise.
The Staria managed to combat most of that sentiment. That 2.2L turbo-diesel motor does cause a little bit of a rumbley racket when it comes to getting up to speed in the Staria, generating a tractor-like diesel sound the more you press down on the throttle.
However, once you’re up to speed, and the gearbox can relax the motor low into the rev range, it becomes almost like you’re riding in the cabin of a plane. Late at night, with rear occupants using the reading light, it really does feel and sound like you’re on an overnight flight back from LA.
The Staria manages to come to a stop with plenty of ease. I’m not sure if it’s the driving position or the size of the brakes, but occasionally they did feel a little small for a van this size.
The perfect pairing with this AWD system and diesel motor is the 8-speed automatic gearbox. It’s a common gearbox now used by Hyundai, and I am a fan. It’s smooth, predictable and rarely misses a beat.
I wouldn’t really want to imagine what traction is like in the FWD-only Staria, as this AWD system managed to avoid having all 430Nm disrupt traction upon harsh moments of acceleration.
The ride in the Staria is plush, but if you hit a bump too hard, that transfer of movement to the rear occupants is exaggerated around 1.5 times. So that slightly large bump you felt up front can bump bums off seats in the third row.
This is a long van, but it’s not exactly too wide. It makes maneuvering through small alleyways, and tight streets, a lot easier than it might look. Additionally, the turning circle of the Staria is extremely impressive, I found it easier to park than the likes of a Kia Carnival.
I wasn’t entirely light-footing the accelerator when it came to driving the Staria. What I didn’t expect was for this van to return a far lower-than-expected average fuel consumption figure. I was averaging around 9L per 100km of driving, whether it was in traffic or out on the highway.
Where Hyundai went to town with designing the Staria was on making this interior as practical as possible.
Australia misses out on the 12-person seating option for now, for what I presume is to score 5 stars in an ANCAP safety rating. More on that in the next section.
Up front, the best elements from the Hyundai Tucson have been transplanted. This includes the cover-less driver’s display, steering wheel and infotainment. Although, I really don’t love the gloss-back capacitive buttons below the screen. They’re a magnet for fingerprints and dust, and make quickly turning down the volume a tapping frenzy.
There’s no transmission tunnel, allowing you to step through to the other side of the van. Without a giant mound between the front occupants, it means if you park too close to a wall, you can step through to the otherside. There are also plenty of places to lock and store loose items. Two lockable bins on the dashboard and a small table placed between the front seats ooze practicality. Additionally, shelving below the infotainment screen provides a place to wirelessly charge your phone.
1303L of boot space with all 8 seats up is an incredible feat for any car, but you’d hope for this much storage when you first lay eyes on just how long this van is.
The automatic tailgate is a must, as the small-garage-door-sized boot opening would otherwise prove to be a challenge. It’s easy to throw items in and out, thanks to the low and flat load floor, also making for a great place to sit down.
The third row can fold to create an internal bench, or to help store additional items in behind the second row.
Second row comfort is first and foremost. Five people can travel long distances with ease, as there’s no shortage of knee room, feet-room or head-room for anyone. As noted by the ANCAP requirements, this requirement restricts the movement of the third row, making it a little more restrictive than I would have liked. You’ll have to ask nicely for second row occupants to sit a little more upright and slide forwards to share all of that room they’re offered.
For me, this is the ultimate road-trip vehicle, a van I really wish I could bring with me on my next trip to the snow.
Until a newer people mover can come in and compete either on more power, features or price, the Staria now carries the crown as my first choice for a large people-mover van like this.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
- +1
Shocking experience with constant quality issues – At 20000 km（with all scheduled service having been carried out at the purchased dealership), we had 3 major issues and some small issues so far. 1) The media system generates white noise at an unbearable level. It can not be turned down or off. I recorded the video of the noise and took it back to the dealer. They were not able to replicate the… Read more
issue, so it never happened(according to the manager). Even I have provided the recorded video of the noise. On 2nd visit, they replaced the whole media system. However, the problem repeated again after a few months, so they booked 3 times to leave the van at the dealership to update the software version. 2) Water leakage from the roof. the van has started to have a water leakage issue since 18000km. with no damage or sunroof open at all. the dealership refuses to admit it until I bring the van in when the water is leaking in. They booked in at 2nd visit for 5 days(no replacement van, no replacement car). They claimed that they can not replicate the issue, so they can not fix it. The dealer also try to threaten me if I do not take the van back after day 2 they would start to charge me for the labour of their mechanic 170 AUD/H until I complained to the dealer service manager. Eventually, after 5 days without being able to access my van. They claimed that all 4 water drains for the roof are not blocked and they are working perfectly fine. They claim the it potentially caused the issue because I parked the van on an uneven surface which caused excessive water to run to 1 drain which overflowed into the roof. So, according to them, there are no design or quality issues, it is just the customer parked the car not on a perfectly even ground. Once again, there was almost a waterfall from the internal roof during heavy rain after I parked the car in a flat area. So, they have agreed to replace the roof seal after I complained to the Hyundai Australia head office. So, after 2 months of water leakage and trying to blame the consumer without being able to identify the causation and fix it. 3)Tyre pressure sensor issue, only 1 month after the purchase. the tyre pressure sensor started to warn of low tyre pressure and dysfunctioned my cruise control. However, when I brought the van back to the dealer, they tried to blame me for not topping up the tyre despite the car had just done the first free service at the dealership. So, I topped the pressure to 50 psi following their suggestion.(very uncomfortable to drive in as it is too bouncy). However, the same problem happened again after only 2 weeks, so I requested them to replace the sensor under warranty. They booked me in for a second time for the same problem that should have been fixed last time with no replacement car/van. In addition, I have to drive the van without a cruise control function for more than 1 week. All of those issues mentioned above are common issues which had been discussed constantly on the Hyundai Staria Facebook group by more than 5 owners each. So, the dealer should be fully aware of those issues but still try to blame the customer which is not fair. In addition to those major issues that can stop me driving the van, there are some more small issues: 1)the aircon not cool or cold during summer, even after the van had been driving for more than 30 mins. 2) the drive door cannot be opened 2 times after unlocking the van during the summer heat. it is like the door seal glued to the door. 3) the upcoming traffic alert and back traffic monitor system dead during heavy rainy times during driving. 4) the B pilar had a vibrating noise when driving on a country road at 60 km/h.
Brand new LEMON Hyundai Staria: Poor support from Hyundai – Bought the top Spec Staria for a number of reasons but mostly for the Tech…It’s my wife’s business vehicle and she had issues with USB connection and Apple Car play since day 1. Took it back twice to Castle Hill Dealership and they were unable to fix the issue. Initially Apple car play would work for a few minutes but got worse progressively. It… Read more
has since stopped working… USB connection is dead altogether… We entertained Hyundai technicians blaming the phone at first, then our cable, but they quickly realised through testing it on other vehicles at Hyundai, that the issue is with our car. Said they will call us back… still waiting… We escalated the issue to Hyundai Australia, called 3 times over the last 2 months… got a reference number… said they will call us back… but still waiting for them to call me back…
I guess our money had no defects when we paid for the car - is too much to expect that the product we paid for should be the same?
The time it is taking out of our daily lives, the issues my wife has driving around not having a decent media connection is really taking its toll.
I would suggest to any prospective buyers out there… start by calling the support team before you call the sales person to test the true service of Hyundai. Hyundai is demanding more for their products every year and every time you purchase their product you are voting for them… I would suggest you consider carefully who you vote for… perhaps considering the VW or Mercedes vans as an alternative. Very dissatisfied.
Great Tradie Van – I’ve had my Staria Load for 9 months. 2023 model and I have nothing but praise for this van. I have always used Toyota before this purchase and was very sceptical in changing over but I’m glad I made the decision to try something new. I’ve done 20,000km so far and every one of them has been with a grin on my face, it is a ripper on fuel (75l)… Read more
per tank and I average about 1100km per tank with the van loaded with my tools and setup inside which is about 800kg. It’s smooth, quite, attractively ugly as sin but aerodynamic. The stereo pumps, safety features are top shelf in the same category as a family car. Had 2 services so far, first one was free second $425 but serviced at ever 15,000km it’s a win. Insurance is $900 per year for myself which is way better than my old van. The infotainment system has never had one glitch, wireless Apple CarPlay connects every Tim I jump in and turn the key. So many storage options, above head compartments, 3 door pockets, 2 on top of the dash and plenty of pockets in the face of the dash. No middle seat so you can walk through to the back but I put my travel fridge there. If you are seriously considering a new van, do yourself a favour and take one for a test drive. The van feels strong and durable. The visibility around is great when driving. Mirrors are big One of the things I really like is I’ve covered the back window to keep prying eyes out which obstructs the rear view mirror although there is a button on the dash you can push and it turns on the reversing camera so you can see what’s going on behind you whilst driving.
I think that’s all but I’m sure they’re more to add. It’s been a great buy for me and zero regrets.
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