Toyota HiAce vs Hyundai Staria: Which Van Actually Suits Your UAE Business?

Dubai: If you're choosing a van for work or a big family in the UAE, these two names come up again and again. The Toyota HiAce has several engine and trim options worth understanding before you buy, while the Hyundai Staria takes a completely different, more passenger-focused approach. Here's how they actually compare.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Which one seats more people? The Toyota HiAce tops out at 13 seats in its van configuration, while the Hyundai Staria's Premium trim seats up to 9, with other configurations ranging from 3 to 11.
  
  
• Which one starts cheaper? The Toyota HiAce starts from AED 99,900 for the entry 2.7L Panel Van, well below anything the Staria is likely to cost, since Hyundai doesn't publish a price for it.
  
  

Design & Cabin: Workhorse Meets People Mover

The HiAce keeps things practical: a boxy, high-roof panel van body built around cargo space and durability rather than styling. The Staria goes the opposite way entirely, with a cabin Hyundai describes as built for "face-to-face conversation" and long, sliding seats on its bigger trims. 

For a closer look at what the HiAce's cabin and body actually offer, this breakdown covers it in detail.

Feature	Toyota HiAce	Hyundai Staria
Body style	High Roof Panel Van / 13-Seater Commuter	MPV / Wagon
Seating capacity	3 (Panel Van) or 13 (Commuter: 2 front + 11 rear in 4 rows)	3 to 9 seats depending on trim
Cabin material	Fabric seats	Long sliding seats (9/11-seater trims)
Doors	Lift-up rear cargo/luggage door	Smart power sliding doors

Performance: Choice vs Convenience

Toyota offers the HiAce with a genuine choice: 2.7L petrol, 2.8L turbo diesel, or 3.5L V6 petrol, the 3.5L producing 277.6hp at 6,000rpm and 35.8kg-m (roughly 351Nm) at 4,600rpm, paired with a 6-speed manual or, on the Commuter, an optional 6-speed automatic. 

The Staria takes a single-engine approach instead, its 3.5-litre Smartstream V6 producing 272ps and roughly 331Nm through an 8-speed automatic, reaching 100km/h in a claimed 13.5 seconds.

Spec	Toyota HiAce (3.5L)	Hyundai Staria
Engine options	2.7L petrol, 2.8L diesel, 3.5L V6 petrol	3.5L Smartstream V6
Max power	277.6hp @ 6,000rpm	272ps @ 6,400rpm
Max torque	35.8kg-m (~351Nm) @ 4,600rpm	33.8kg-m (~331Nm) @ 5,200rpm
Transmission	6-speed manual (Commuter also offers 6-speed automatic)	8-speed automatic
0-100 km/h	Not specified	13.5 seconds
Fuel efficiency	9.1L/100km	Urban 14.3L/100km, Highway 8.3L/100km

Space & Practicality: Van vs MPV

The Staria's official specification page gives a full picture here: its 7-seat Premium trim measures 5,253mm long and 1,997mm wide, riding on a 3,273mm wheelbase with 431 litres of cargo space. 

The HiAce Commuter and Hi Roof Panel Van are both longer still, at 5,915mm, riding on a 3,860mm wheelbase, though Toyota's brochure doesn't publish a cargo volume figure in litres for either body style.

Spec	Toyota HiAce (Hi Roof / Commuter)	Hyundai Staria (7-seat Premium)
Length	5,915mm	5,253mm
Width	1,950mm	1,997mm
Height	2,280mm	1,990mm
Wheelbase	3,860mm	3,273mm
Curb weight	2,530-2,540kg	2,190- 2,273 kg
Fuel tank	65L (Commuter) / 70L (Panel Van)	Not specified
Wheels	16" steel wheels	18-inch alloy wheels

Safety & Tech: Who Has the Edge

Hyundai backs the Staria with its SmartSense suite, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping and Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, and Smart Cruise Control, plus front, side, and twin curtain airbags across the cabin.

The HiAce keeps things more conventional but still well covered, ABS with Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist, tyre pressure warning, dual airbags, and cruise control on the Commuter. For the full rundown, we've covered the HiAce's safety features in more depth here.

Feature	Toyota HiAce	Hyundai Staria
Driver assistance	ABS, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist Control, Tyre Pressure Warning	FCA, LKA, LFA, BCA, SCC, RCCA
Cruise control	Standard on Commuter trim	Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
Rear view camera	Standard across all trims	Not specified
Airbags	Dual airbags (driver & front passenger)	Front, side, and twin curtain airbags

Cabin Tech: Staying Connected

Every HiAce trim, from the entry Panel Van to the 13-seat Commuter, comes with the same 8-inch Display Audio system running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, backed by a simple 2-speaker setup. 

The Staria offers the same 8-inch display audio as standard, but adds a 10.25-inch digital cluster as an option and a BOSE premium sound system on Premium trims, giving it the edge for anyone who wants a richer in-cabin experience.

Feature	Toyota HiAce	Hyundai Staria
Display	8-inch Display Audio, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto	8-inch Display Audio
Speakers	2 speakers (standard across trims)	Not specified
Digital cluster	8-inch Display Audio with Apple CarPlay	10.25-inch cluster (optional)
Audio system	Not specified	BOSE premium sound (Premium option)

UAE Pricing: What Will You Pay

The HiAce range covers a wide spread depending on body style, from the entry-level 2.7L Panel Van at AED 99,900 up to AED 150,900 for the manual 13-seat Commuter. Hyundai's Staria pages don't list a price directly, so it's worth checking Toyota's own complete 2026 pricing guide alongside a dealer visit for the Staria's exact numbers.

Model	Price (UAE)
HiAce 2.7L Panel Van	From AED 99,900
HiAce 3.5L Standard Roof Panel Van (GL)	AED 110,900
HiAce 3.5L Hi Roof Panel Van (GLS)	AED 131,900
HiAce Commuter 13-Seater, Automatic	AED 144,900
HiAce Commuter 13-Seater, Manual	AED 150,900
Hyundai Staria	TBD

The Verdict: Which One Fits You

As someone who's gone through both vans in detail, here's the honest breakdown. Go for the Toyota HiAce if you run a business that needs raw cargo capacity, engine choice, and a lower starting price; it's built for hard, daily use above all else. 

Choose the Hyundai Staria if your priority is passenger comfort, family trips, or ferrying clients around; its cabin, safety suite, and tech options are simply more geared toward people than cargo. Fleet operators should lean toward the HiAce, while anyone shuttling passengers regularly will get more day-to-day satisfaction out of the Staria.

Also Read: Toyota HiAce 2026 Variants Explained: Every Engine, Trim and Price in the UAE