2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium review

Hyundai continues to push boundaries in the automotive industry. Now, it’s in the commercial van segment with the release of the fancier 2023 Staria Load Premium. It builds on the Staria Load workhorse with a suite of additional standard features aimed at enhancing safety, style, and convenience.

But VFACTS figures reveal that sales have dipped slightly for 2023. 2022 saw the Staria enjoy second place only behind the Toyota HiAce. Strong sales of the Ford Transit and LDV G10 in 2023 see the Staria slip to fourth place, according to October VFACTS figures.

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: Specifications

Engine: 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 130kW@3800rpm / 430Nm@1500-2500rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: Front-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 17×6.5, 225/40
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 1948kg
Power-to-weight: 14.98:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.0L/100km
Our consumption: 7.5L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 75L/Diesel

Power efficiency: 18.57kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.71 seconds*
0-100km/h: 10.33 seconds*
60-110km/h: 7.55 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.38 seconds at 130.0km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.706g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.11m in 3.27 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.227g*
Decibel at idle: 46/50*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 85*
Starting price: $51,240

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: How much does it cost?

The range starts its pricing from $45,740 for the Staria Load 2-seater. Also available is a 5-seat crew van for $49,640. Both variants can be optioned with a lift-back tailgate or twin-swing doors. Then there is the 2-seat Premium for $51,240 that we’re reviewing here. It comes with a lift-back tailgate only. (All excluding on-road costs.)

All variants feature the same powertrain; a 2.2-litre, turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Among its market, the South Korean-built Staria Load Premium is reasonably priced. The base model auto HiAce retails from $49,120, and the cheapest Transit manual costs $52,090. Though it doesn’t come close to the Chinese-built LDV G10 auto’s $38,937 price tag.

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: Interior & packaging

Most obvious with the Staria Load Premium is its futuristic external appearance. It breaks the norm with smooth, rounded edges, 17-inch alloy wheels instead of steel wheels, one long LED light along the front, and strikingly large rectangular LED taillamps. These are over and above the conventional lights in the lower spec variants.

The inside is also made more luxurious with the addition of a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch centre touch-screen with sat-nav, and automatic climate control. The Premium also gains a smart key with push-button start, powered tailgate, blind-spot view monitors in the cluster screen, and high-beam assist.

But even the non-Premium models are stocked with important safety goods. Like 360-degree camera views (lift back models only), which are most necessary in a big vehicle like this with large blind spots and fewer windows.

All models also get seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, driver attention warning, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, power-folding and heated exterior mirrors, lane keeping and following assist, a wireless smartphone charger, forward collision-avoidance, tyre pressure monitoring, safe exit warning, and forward and reverse parking sensors. Too often, crucial safety features have been omitted from the commercial van segment. Kudos to Hyundai for granting the same levels of safety that every other segment enjoys.

The huge cabin also has lots and lots of shelves for belongings and paperwork. There are hefty shelves around gear shifter and even one in the ceiling. Between the seats there is also huge amounts of open space. It’s easier than we were expecting to get in and out of, too. With a well-placed lower step built into the door rim.

Cargo dimensions are listed at 2607mm in length, 1640mm in width, and 14336mm in height, creating a volume of 4935 litres. That makes it the smallest among the popular peers, with 6200L offered in the Toyota HiAce, 5200L offered in the LDV G10, and 5400L offered in the Ford Transit Custom (low roof). The Staria’s sliding door opening width is 870mm, and the cargo area can haul up to 800kg of weight.

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: Powertrain & handling

Moving this two-tonne beast along is a tried and tested 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, as seen in a few other models in the Hyundai car yard. The engine ploughs this space ship through the air with 130kW of power and a confident 430Nm of torque.

You can really feel that torque, as gliding up to speed feels effortless and the engine doesn’t need to struggle with higher revs. It will be especially handy when you have a heavy cargo load. We timed 0-100km/h in 10.33 seconds, empty.

Unlike the HiAce and LDV G10, the Staria is front-wheel drive. Channelling all that torque only through the front wheels, along with the sheer weight (1948kg, tare), means it is easy to produce accidental wheelspin on take-off. It fights for traction.

The eight-speed conventional automatic is also a familiar component from Hyundai. It provides a wonderfully smooth transition through the gears, as well as decisive and appropriate gear selections throughout slow and highway speeds.

It also contributes to a commendable fuel consumption that is impressive among its peers. Officially, it burns 7.0L/100km on the average cycle. Expect to see 8.9L/100km if your route restricts you to slow city areas, and as low as 5.9L/100km on the freeway.

Our average over a mix of city and highway speeds flagged 7.5L/100km. The official average is markedly better than the LDV G10 diesel’s 8.2L/100km, the HiAce’s 8.0L/100km, and the Ford Transit’s 7.5L/100km ratings.

In the way of ride quality, Hyundai has done a remarkable job to make the Staria Load Premium feel soft and comfortable to ride in. Especially when you consider its size, limited suspension travel, hauling abilities, and the fact that the rear is made up of a rigid axle with heavy duty leaf springs. Expectedly, when you go over bumps at speed with no cargo weight, things get a bit bouncy.

Light steering with few turns to lock, many driving visual aids and large front windows make the Staria Load Premium surprisingly easy to drive. It makes for a compatible workhorse for those who drive for a living.

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• Safety tech: Finally, a commercial van that has been granted the safety tech standards of all other car markets.
• Interesting design: A unique external design that pushes the norms of boxy vans.
• Price: This is reasonably priced – really only the LDV G10 undercuts it
• Decent performance: A healthy amount of torque for pulling heavy loads, and available from just 1500rpm
• Surprisingly easy and comfortable to drive: Light steering, cushioned front suspension, practical interior with lots of storage, and two generously sized digital screens boost tech appeal.
• Servicing: Hyundai offers capped price servicing for $360 for each of the first five services on the Staria Load Premium. Servicing is required every 15,000km or 12 months.

2023 Hyundai Staria Load Premium: Key considerations before you buy

• 2WD: It’s only available in front-wheel drive, and the torquey engine makes it easy to trigger wheelspin
• Limited warranty: Hyundai’s unlimited kilometre warranty is not offered on the Staria like it is on the brand’s other models. It is limited to 160,000km and five years.
• Cargo space: It offers the smallest cargo volume among the popular competitors.
• Stereo: The four-speaker stereo sounds adequate, but it doesn’t go loud enough to drown out the high road noise coming in from the rear. The speakers start to distort early.
• No wireless Apple CarPlay or wireless Android Auto