The Hyundai Staria will be launched in Malaysia tomorrow, October 27. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) announced the date via teasers on its Facebook page, accompanied by graphics saying “A class of its own” and “Drive the future”.
UPDATE: The Staria is now launched in Malaysia – full report here.
Order books for the futuristically designed MPV opened last week. We will be getting the Staria with seven seats and a 2.2 litre turbodiesel with 177 PS and 431 Nm of torque. The CRDi is mated to an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission sending drive to the front wheels. The van it replaces – the long-serving Starex – is rear-wheel drive.
If the design of the Staria is galaxies apart from the Starex, so will be its positioning, and price. We’re getting the Premium variant, a seven-seater with individual Premium Relaxation Seats in the middle row. These two business class-style chairs can slide fore and aft and come with a one-touch relaxation mode that reclines the seat electrically and extends the ottoman.
The interior is so big that even with the VIP seats reclined, Hyundai says that there’s enough room for adults to sit in the third row. The Premium also comes with luxuries like 64-colour ambient lighting and a Bose sound system. Hyundai’s latest SmartSense ADAS suite should be present too.
How big is the Staria exactly? Well, the Starex is one of the largest common vehicles on our roads, and the Staria – at 5,253 mm long, 1,997 mm wide and 1,990 mm tall – is 103 mm longer, 77 mm wider and 55 mm taller still. Its 3,273 mm wheelbase is 73 mm longer than the old van. The Staria is also much bigger than the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, and will surely stand out at the lobby with its spaceship design.
One important point is that the Staria is a more sophisticated MPV that the Starex, thanks to unibody construction and multi-link rear suspension. It also has revamped dampers and brakes, and Hyundai promises for a more comfortable ride. The Staria’s smooth head and streamlined body also improves aerodynamic efficiency.
The Staria was launched in Thailand in July for the equivalent of RM256,800 for the highest spec SEL 11-seater. But we’re getting the top Premium with the fancy chairs and luxury goodies, so expect this jaw-dropping MPV to have a higher price tag, one that could be in excess of RM350k. CBU South Korea, of course. The Vellfire 2.5L from UMW Toyota Motor is priced at RM367,881 with SST exemption, by the way.
Like big cars but prefer SUVs? The very busy Hyundai local distributor is also readying the Palisade for our market. The Palisade is Hyundai’s flagship full-size SUV that seats up to eight, and is powered by a 3.8 litre V6 engine. HSDM said earlier this year that the Palisade will arrive in 2021, and we spotted the SUV locally yesterday – check it out here.
What do you think of the Staria as a luxury Alphard/Vellfire alternative?
GALLERY: Hyundai Staria
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Hyundai has made huge strides the last 2 decades.They are among the top 10 auto manufacturers worldwide now.
However,this Staria either looks too “Starwars”,or in Cantonese “koon choy chea”…funeral mpv.
At that stupendously premium price,it is either BID or a museum art piece.
Sime Darby is treating its Hyundai cars as Korean Rolls Royce in pricing in reality.
There are plenty of Aphards,Vellfires in the recon market that easily shines out after a state of the art upgrade at any top car spa.
The price tag does not justify covidian prudence.
Looks more imposing than the Alphard/Vellfire! Me Like it.
Still looks like a van…nothing imposing
Interior is nothing futuristic. It’s only befitting the name VAN!
I always misread Hyndai Satria
I do not know how to appreciate the design.
This is for the T20 and above group for sure. Car seem good large size but seem underpowered and 350k? pricy. Brand new vellfire Im not sure how many units sold a year. I suppose not a lot. Recond is selling well yes between 180-220k. So staria 350k expectation to outsell the vellfire new? I will say its difficult.
When you guys will launch Hyundai Kona EV? That one is someting to look forward to
Normal car ady 150k, EV tambah how much? Can still sell kah.
very nice and futuristic looking
Sooner or later, it will be on par, or even surpass the Alphard…
“so expect this jaw-dropping MPV to have a higher price tag, one that could be in excess of RM350k.”………… RM350K !! really ? Good Luck with that price . People would rather go with proven Toyota Vellfire or Alphard second high specs than a Hyundai
This staria price range makes bmw and mercedes feel cheap.
What happened to mitsubushi delica? No wonder the company failed.
Looks straight of a design from some kid’s drawing board
At RM350k this Van cant sell, windows too huge for hot climate here, 2nd row windows also manual slide? Nothing to be excited and proud to be seen inside it, it will be a good dust collector in the showroom and extra work for the sales team to wipe it too, If RM150-170k maybe customer will consider, wishing all the best to HSDM tommorrow
both staria n palisade already on the road in indonesia.
Indonesia gets these and other new vehicles before Malaysia.