Hyundai Staria – The Most Versatile Family Van in the UAE?

Abu Dhabi: Responding to the growing needs of large MPV buyers and the family Van segment, Korean automaker Hyundai introduced the modern and stylish Staria in the UAE in 2021. This modern, stylish van boosts the market with its spacious and comfortable cabin, great connectivity and multipurpose usability. The Hyundai Staria represents a big, bold and futuristic step into the future of MPV mobility in the UAE.

This is quite clear with its unique design, which now offers an alternative to the conventional boxy van in the segment. With utmost comfort and luxury at its heart, Hyundai offers a wide range of seating configurations, hence appealing to wider customer profiles. The Staria takes in key rivals such as Toyota Hiace, Kia Carnival, and Mercedes V-Class, but stands out for its superb balance of practicality with a premium vibe.

Primarily caters to people or cargo movers, it is a quite versatile van in its class, and Hyundai has positioned it that way with a key strategy. Customers here in Dubai get to choose either 3/9 or even more luxurious 11-seat premium variants. The top attractions of Statia include a body with wide glass that promises exceptional visibility, advanced safety systems, and a smartly designed interior that is not only elegant and comfortable but also has huge storage. This is where the van distinguishes itself by offering a great combination of practicality, ease of use and comfort, emerging as a suitable choice for families, businesses, and hotel shuttle services across the UAE.

Why the Staria Works as a Van

Generally, in the UAE, vans serve multiple purposes as they are used for a variety of mobility needs, whether for cargo or people. Businesses often deploy them for cargo deliveries, shops move goods, and hotel companies use them to move staff and as shuttle services. They need good family companions for trips, suitable for group travel and also rentals for tourists or even airport transfer. 

The Emirates are known for harsh summers, and also the cities are stretch wide and have very different road conditions, too, and so vans tend to serve well. Most van owners prefer a reliable, comfortable, high cooling performance, strong AC, great payload capacity, flexible seating, and most importantly, easy access. What also matters the most to the buyers is the ownership cost of ownership, mileage and peace of mind with superior resale value.

Knowing the market requirements and what the customers want, Hyundai has introduced the Staria, which promises to deliver on every need. There are a lot of elements going for it, this comprises a cargo-friendly dimension where you get a 3-seater van version with a decent-sized long cargo bed measuring about 2.5 m and a big loading volume of approximately 5,000+ litres, quite enough. The sliding side door, known for its wide opening, along with a tailgate and swing doors, is especially designed to enable fast loading/unloading, even in tightest, congested places. Considering the relatively tough operating conditions, the decent ground clearance and a lower loading floor make it easy to lift heavy or bulky cargo. 

When it comes to passenger or a hybrid use case scenario, the Staria provides foldable centre consoles, flexible seating design, and the seats are very comfortable with features that make it a lot desirable for longer drives. So essentially, you’re getting a van with total work elements, moving cargo and people without actually requiring two separate vehicles.

On the purely operational front, the superior combination of engine and automatic gearbox makes it perfectly suitable for congested and busy roads of Dubai or Sharjah. Not just that, but if you happen to deploy it on intercity roads across the Emirates, the performance is great. Hyundai has ensured the refined ride quality over what you have in the market right now, without minimal driver or passenger fatigue. With a brand like Hyundai, you don’t have to worry about the service or spares availability for hassle-free ownership.

Exterior 

• Futuristic spaceship-inspired design with a wide front light bar
• Full LED headlamps with LED DRLs
• Pixel-inspired LED rear combination lamps
• Large panoramic windows with a lowered beltline for better visibility
• Dual sliding side doors for easy access
• Wide-opening tailgate with low loading height
• The standard 18-inch alloy wheels in premium finishes  with inted brass
• Heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals
• Body-coloured bumpers and rear spoiler with high-mounted stop lamp

Interior 

• Choice of 6, 9, or 11 seating layouts
• Second-row relaxation seats with recline, extendable leg rests, heating & ventilation
• Nappa leather upholstery in top trims
• Dual sunroofs for an airy cabin feel
• A 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster
• The 8-inch or 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• 64-colour ambient mood lighting
• Tri-zone automatic climate control suited for the UAE heat
• Multiple USB charging ports & cupholders across rows
• Power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support
• Clever cabin storage spaces throughout

Safety 

• Six airbags with ABS, EBD, traction control, and stability control
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist with live Blind-Spot View Monitor 
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist
• Surround View Monitor
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Parking Distance Warning – front and rear
• Driver Attention Warning & High-Beam Assist
• Safe Exit Assist to prevent door from opening into oncoming traffic
• ISOFIX child seat mounts for family safety
• High-strength steel body structure for improved crash protection

Powertrain 

Feature	Details
Engine Options	Diesel or Gasoline
Transmission Options	6-speed Manual or 8-speed Automatic
Engine Specification	Smartstream G3.5
Maximum Power	272 ps at 6,400 rpm
Maximum Torque	33.8 kg∙m at 5,000 rpm
Electronic Shift Button (SBW)	Shift-By-Wire system for improved shift convenience and high-tech image when parking
HTRAC (All-Wheel Drive)	Optimizes driving performance by actively distributing front and rear wheel drive power (Available on R2.27 A/T Wagon only)
Drive Mode Select (DMS)	Multiple driving modes available; SPORT mode enhances steering and acceleration response

Variants in the UAE

To appeal to and address the widest operational need and customers' profile, the Staria is available in the widest variants of 6 in different configurations, from simple cargo vans to premium people-movers.

• Van 3-Seater – Starting at AED 109,999, this can be categorised as a workhorse. Packed with the 3,470 cc V6 engine and automatic gearbox, it’s most suitable for businesses wanting a capable, highly cargo capacity van with minimum seating capacity.
• Van 6-Seater – Starting at AED 112,999, this variant is a mix of cargo space and people movers, and serves a dual purpose. And, get features and configuration accordingly, where well-suited for crew transport, combining utility with passenger comfort.
• Comfort 11-Seater – At AED 126,999, this variant is targeted at a special buyer segment such as hotels, staff transport, and large families. To appeal to such applications, it comes with maximum passenger space, at the same time, it promises lower running costs and decent luxury than its rivals.
• Comfort 9-Seater – Priced at AED 163,999, this variant is a premium offering with a balance of features and seating. So buyers who’re looking for comfort and convenience with average seating capacity and marginal cargo needs, will find it most ideal.
• 3.5L Premium 9-Seater AT: This can be easily considered the most high-end, luxury variants that focus on passenger comfort. It is equipped with the 268 hp V6 engine, luxury seating, and a regal interior. It is suitable for families or businesses looking for a van that feels more like a lounge on wheels. 
• Smartstream 6-Seater – Featuring the same 3,470 cc, 268 hp engine, this trim on this variant is comfort and practicality with multipurpose seating. Targeted at prospective buyers looking for fewer seats but higher comfort levels.

Elevates UAE Family Travel

Within a short period, the Staria became quite a sensation in the  UAE, thanks to its appealing configuration and range of variants. Customers looking for a car that is spacious than a full-size SUV but also more stylish than a conventional van find it a highly attractive middle ground. For example, hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi find it most suitable, a premium shuttle, due to its remarkable comfort and imposing presence, to make their guests happy. The massive windows not only keep the cabin airy but also give it a great exterior look, and not to mention the strong air-conditioning system is well-suited to hot desert weather. A lot of owners of the Staria also like the fact that it is highly adaptable to their use, switching between passenger and cargo use. If one looks at the typical European vans that cost more, this Korean-built one is not just futuristic but comes at a much lower cost, something hard to ignore, the reason for its high popularity in the Emirates.

Conclusion 

This in-depth look at the Staria clearly underlines the fact that Hyundai has hit the right chord with prospective buyers by bringing this highly suitable van to our market. The Hyundai Staria undoubtedly comes across the most distinctive MPV on UAE roads today, combining some of the finest elements: van-like practicality with the comfort and features of a modern family car. Given its size, it isn’t the most fuel-efficient like a crossover, but that is balanced by the ability to offer practicality. Appealing to a wide range of customers, be it big families, hotel fleets, or businesses, the Staria is here to serve them in style, either for cargo or people mover. So it is fair to assume a market as competitive as ours, where values are key along with presence and practicality, this Hyundai has carved its own space and is likely to remain a strong contender for years to come.