Features / 3 September 2022 / Michael Taylor

Hands-on with Hyundai’s new Staria Panel Van – Everything you can use it for

Hyundai has launched the newest model in its Staria series – a panel van replacing the automaker’s previous H1.

A media event hosted by Hyundai South Africa gave TopAuto an opportunity to check out the company’s latest vehicle and the various applications it can be used for.

Practical panel van

In contrast to Hyundai’s other vehicles bearing the Staria badge, the panel van supports just three seats up front leaving an enormous amount of space in the back.

The Staria has a length of 5,253mm, a width of 1,997mm, and a height of 2,000mm, making it 103mm longer, 77mm wider, and 65mm taller than the H1. The wheelbase has also been extended by 73mm for a total of 3,273mm.

The new front-wheel-drive design means the back of the car is now completely flat due to the lack of a rear driving axle.

In total, the new dimensions provide the van with a cargo space that is 125mm longer, 20mm wider, and 96mm taller than before, equating to 509 more litres of storage, leading to a grand total of 4,935 litres of usable space.

Furthermore, the rear doors have a new horizontal design allowing them to open nearly 180 degrees, making for easy access to the cargo area.

For the drivetrain, a 2.2-litre diesel engine has been fitted in conjunction with an E-VGT turbocharger designed to minimize turbo-lag.

This provides the commercial vehicle with 130kW and a helpful 430Nm letting it carry up to 1,115kg of goods.

An eight-speed automatic gearbox completes the package, giving a fuel consumption return of 8.7l/100km.

Features on the LCV, meanwhile, comprise a multifunction steering wheel, cloth seats, manual air conditioning, cruise control, automatic headlights, daytime running lights, and 17-inch alloys.

What it’s being used for

Beyond the everyday practicality that a flat-floor panel van provides, the Staria has been converted by third-party companies for various specialized purposes.

The first of these is an ambulance, where the rear has been lined with bright LED lights and a polyurethane rubber.

It also gets a bench with under-seat storage, a seat for an attendant, and it is able to accommodate either one stretcher patient or up to three seated patients.

Oxygen tanks and IV hooks are further included, as is a 12V electrical socket, multiple cabinets for storage, and a 1,000-watt inverter for powering medical equipment.

Another model on display was a Staria hearse, which featured stitched leather seats for the driver up front and various changes made to the back such as all-round windows and rollers on the floor.

The interior itself is then a combination of high-gloss wood and carpets.