2021 Hyundai Staria detailed: Futuristic iLoad and iMax replacement targets Toyota HiAce and Granvia, and Volkswagen Transporter and Multivan

Hyundai has fully revealed the Staria, which will replace both the iLoad mid-size van and iMax people mover when it launches in Australia in the second half of this year.

The Staria is available with two, three, seven, nine or 11 seats, catering to a wide range of business or family needs, although the latter configuration is exclusive to South Korea.

Measuring 5253mm long (with a 3275mm wheelbase), 1997mm wide and 1990mm tall, the people-mover version is generously sized, while its van counterpart has a maximum cargo capacity of nearly 5000L, with it able to fit three Euro pallets at once.

Either way, the Staria is offered in two grades, with the entry-level one unnamed, while the flagship is called Premium, with it upping the ante with a more luxurious look and feel inside and out, as evidenced by its extensive tinted brass chrome trim, among other features.

Two engine options can be had: either a 130kW/431Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder or a 200kW/331Nm 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6. Both are mated to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic, although the former can be optioned with a six-speed manual.

Interestingly, Hyundai says “eco-friendly variants of the Staria are scheduled to be added in upcoming years”, so the model will eventually go hydrogen fuel-cell or hybrid, be it mild, ‘self-charging’ and/or plug-in, if that’s what you’re after.

Also of note, the Staria comes with independent multi-link rear suspension and eight airbags as well as a host of advanced driver-assist systems, including autonomous emergency braking, active blind-spot monitoring, Safe Exit Assist and Rear Occupant Alert.

As reported, the Staria features Hyundai’s latest design language, and as bold as the exterior is, the interior also has a few surprises in store, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen multimedia system on hand alongside a digital instrument cluster.

According to Hyundai Australia, local pricing and full specification details will be released closer to the Toyota HiAce and Granvia, and Volkswagen Transporter and Multivan rival’s launch. It therefore remains to be seen what the range will consist of here, so stay tuned.