After the Staria was launched locally in 2023, its unique shape is now a familiar sight to motorists and customers, especially Entertainment City-going types. That said, Hyundai's latest nine-seater configuration will impress buyers who still want the same opulent cabin treatment while giving two more passengers premium seating.
Calling the Staria's design different from its rivals would be a big understatement. According to Hyundai, the body's shape is inspired by the halo illuminating the Earth's horizon when the sun rises. That's profound by any stretch of the imagination.
The front fascia has cube-type full-LED headlamps with horizontal daytime running lamps and a fancy-meshed grille that practically covers the entire nose (for optimum engine cooling). At the rear are Parametric Pixel LED combination lamps, a hidden glass wiper (to maintain its clean look), a spoiler (with a high-mount stop lamp), LED fog lamps, and the power tailgate.
Aside from the shape and features, what sets the Staria apart is the enlarged daylight openings compared to its rivals. It offers passengers better and wider views outside the van, giving off an I-have-VIPs-onboard vibe.
I would give this exterior a 9.8/10. I like the 18-inch tinted brass alloy wheels, but I take points off because of the limited exterior colors (only three hues are available). There is a reason it is the second highest-selling Hyundai in the Philippines — even with its P2.830 million price — and versus the popularity of models such as the Stargazer, Creta, Santa Fe, and Palisade.
The Staria lights up when I approach with the smart key on my person. To unlock, push the button on the door handle or tug on the handles of the power side doors. When you drop off / pick up passengers on any driveway, these increase the 'wow' factor.
The cockpit fails to match the luxurious impression I got from the exterior because it is mostly plastic and has a rather dull, earthy color. Still, I appreciated the numerous covered storage spaces—three on the dashboard (including the glove box), one large cubby hole at the bottom (just below the two USB ports), and two on each front door panel.
My favorite features include the eight-inch infotainment touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a wireless charging pad, the dual-zone climate control system, the push-button gear selector, and the ventilated seats.
As an executive nine-seater, it has a bit more panache in the second and even third rows. It has two rows of ventilated and bolstered captain seats but does not have butterfly headrests, the Ottoman feature, or a sunroof. But it makes up for it with a nifty feature that lets the passengers in the second row turn the seats around for a tête-à-tête with the third-row occupants.
The view from here is expansive and better than anything rival vans or luxury multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) offer. The trade-off is the need for more cargo space. With all seats occupied, there will not be enough space even for overnight bags for all nine passengers. If you manage to squeeze a few bags in the back, legroom across all rows will be limited at best.
All four wheels get 177-PS and 430-Nm of torque from a 2.2-liter engine with common rail direct injection via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The throttle and steering feedback are deceivingly light for its size and heft. It's nimble, quick, and easily maneuvered through bumper-to-bumper traffic on EDSA. Overtaking is easy because of its diesel-pulling properties and fuel consumption, which was outstanding at 11.7 km/l in mostly city driving conditions.
I rank its drive comfort in the top three of vans and MPVs. It bounces off humps just a tad gentler and does a better job of hushing harshness when the roads get rough. As a tall ride, expect body roll when you are not careful around corners, and watch out for sharp left turns as the A-pillar sometimes gets in the way.
Like most modern range-topping models, it has cutting-edge safety and driver-assist features.
I loved my long drives with it. It was stable at high speeds, moved gracefully in the city and on the highway, and was an absolute head-turner and a conversation starter. Its Bose stereo sound system also made my Tito playlist tolerable for my Gen Z passengers.
If you want a premium mover that still offers maximum occupancy, very few models can match the nine-seater version of the 2024 Hyundai Staria 2.2 CRDi Premium AWD. It undercuts the competition by (almost) a million without shortchanging buyers.