Hyundai Mzansi has taken a bold new step with the local launch of the Hyundai Staria which replaces the popular H1 bus.
The design of the Staria is the most attention grabbing aspect of the new Hyundai bus with a bold front that will never be mistaken for anything else on Mzansi roads and having drive it at launch, its certainly an attention grabber. The Staria comes in Executive, Elite and Luxury with the latter being the range topper. The spaceship design starts at the front with the bold Hyundai grille dominating the front with LED headlamps positioned on the outer ends of the grille (only Luxury and Elite models get LED). There is also the option of having the grille in bronze finish which makes the front stand out even more. LED daytime lights are positioned above the grille in a strip just below the large windscreen.
On the side there is the choice of 17 to 18 inch wheels depending on spec. There are 2 rear side doors that have large openings allowing ease of access to the rear cabin and these are electrically operated in high spec models with these opened via the key fob or on the inside. The front doors have a large glass area which when combined with the rear glass area allow a very spacious feel inside with ease of viewing all round. There is a 360 degree camera available on the Luxury spec whilst all models feature parking sensors front and rear with a reversing camera. The STARIA also offers more safety features in the Elite and Luxury versions, such as Safe Exit Assist (SEA) which prevents the door from opening in a situation where a passenger attempts to open the power sliding door while a rear-side vehicle is passing by.
The rear design is also space age with horizontal LED lights mounted on the outer side of the rear with the Luxury models getting a very nice looking 3D like design. The tailgate is electrically operated on the higher spec models with a low loading sill allowing ease of loading stuff at the back.
Inside, there are 2 seating options i.e. 9 and 11 seater. The dash continues the design as seen on recent Hyundai models with horizontal lines dominating the layout whilst the large infotainment touchscreen which has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Wireless mobile charging, electrically operated heated plus cooled front and rear (1st row) seats, Panoramic roof with front sunroof, Nappa leather, climate controls for the front and back occupants are amongst a long list of standard features depending on model spec. The 1st row at the back can swivel to face the rear for that executive meeting whilst on the move. There are multiple seating configurations for both the 9 and 11 seater to suite the multi purpose nature of the Staria. A Bose sound system comes standard on the Luxury model whilst all models also feature Bluetooth connectivity.
Powering all Staria models is a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder Turbodiesel engine drives the front wheels via an 8 speed auto transmission with 130kW/430Nm. Hyundai claims to have optimized the engine and transmission to achieve low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels and a better shift sensation for high torque performance and improved acceleration. It also optimized the direct valve control body for increased hydraulic efficiency, the oil pump for fuel efficiency, and the gearbox’s multi-plate torque converter for control and fuel efficiency. The superior ride quality is also achieved by a 14% increase in torsional rigidity versus its predecessor, and an improvement in average body strength of 70% – the result of hot stamping applied to 10 spots on the chassis. The intelligent use of materials of various strengths in the chassis also ensures higher collision safety.
Pricing
The Hyundai STARIA range at its launch in South Africa, with its suggested retail prices, consists of:
| Staria R2.2 Executive 9-seater | R 789 900 |
| Staria R2.2 Executive 11-seater | R 799 900 |
| Staria R2.2 Elite 9-seater | R 959 900 |
| Staria R2.2 Luxury 9-seater | R 1099 900 |
A 7-year/200 000 km manufacturer warranty and roadside assistance for 7-years or 150 000 km are included in the price for all derivatives.
The Luxury version also comes standard with 7-year/105 000 km service plan included in the retail price, while the Elite and Executive have a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.