Hyundai Staria-Load 2022 review: Crew Van - GVM test

The Staria-Load is based on Hyundai’s N3 chassis platform shared with the latest Santa Fe SUV. The new platform is not only lighter and larger with more cargo space than the iLoad, but according to Hyundai it’s also a massive 70 per cent stronger with a 14 per cent increase in torsional rigidity.

The new FWD architecture is the opposite of the iLoad’s RWD, but it retains four-wheel disc brakes and MacPherson strut front suspension, along with the proven load-carrying ability of leaf springs to suspend the new rigid-beam rear axle.

The Staria-Load is bigger than the iLoad in all key dimensions. (Image: Mark Oastler)

The Staria-Load is bigger than the iLoad in all key dimensions. Its 5253mm length is 128mm longer,  its 1997mm width is 77mm wider, its 2000mm height is 65mm taller, its 3273mm wheelbase is 73mm longer and its 11.94-metre turning circle is less than a metre larger.

The driver’s cabin is comfortable and spacious, with a bright and airy feel thanks largely to conspicuously large glass areas. There’s also ample leg and headroom for a crew of three adults on the rear bench seat, which is comfortable even though it has no adjustments. Our only gripe is the continued lack of a fold-down inboard armrest on the driver’s seat.

Our 362km road test comprised a mix of Normal and Sport driving modes in city, suburban and highway driving, with about one third of that distance carrying a big payload. Hyundai claims an official combined figure of 7.0L/100km and the dash display was showing 8.1 when we stopped to refuel. However, our figure calculated from fuel bowser and tripmeter readings came in at 9.9, so based on our numbers you could expect a ‘real world’ driving range of around 750km from its 75-litre tank.

When you deduct the Crew Van’s 2002kg kerb weight from its 3020kg GVM, you’re left with 1018kg or just over one tonne of payload capacity - and up to 100kg of that can be carried on the roof.

It’s also rated to tow up to 2500kg of braked trailer, which is a 1000kg or one tonne increase over the iLoad. And with a big 5520kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) the Staria-Load can legally tow that weight while carrying its maximum payload.

Sounds impressive, but the tow-ball download (TBD) limit is only 100kg. Given that TBD is typically around 10 per cent of trailer weight, from our experience you would be hard pressed to keep the TBD under 100kg with a trailer weighing 2500kg.

New chassis and body architecture has resulted in a cargo bay that’s larger in all key dimensions, along with a lower loading height and wider sliding side-door openings, which all have obvious benefits for the five-seater.

The crew area is accessed through those sliding doors on each side and a single-lift tailgate or optional twin barn doors at the rear. The cabin bulkhead with integral window is a moulded composite structure that provides both acoustic insulation from rear tyre noise and an effective cargo barrier.

New chassis and body architecture has resulted in a cargo bay that’s larger in all key dimension. (Image: Mark Oastler)

Cargo bay load floor is 1750mm long and 1640mm wide with 1250mm between the wheel housings, so it can also take either one Aussie pallet or two Euro pallets. It also offers a cavernous 2.89 cubic metres of load volume.

Cabin storage sets a new benchmark for crew vans, with a large-bottle holder and bin in each front door, large overhead shelves on each side, single glove-box, small-bottle/cup holder and storage tray on the top of the dash and more storage shelves and a pop-out small-bottle/cup holder in the central fascia. Between the front seats is a large box with sliding lid, which serves as a handy desk when closed and allows access to a cavernous storage space below containing two more small-bottle/cup holders.

Large-bottle holder and bin in each front door. (Image: Mark Oastler)

Back seat passengers also benefit from this box, with rear access to pop-out small-bottle/cup holders and a large drawer. An unusual but welcome crew van storage idea is the front-hinged rear seat base-cushion, which rotates forward through 90 degrees to an upright position revealing two large bins beneath it. The door linings are also unusually generous for this vehicle type, by providing twin bottle holders and bins on each side. And there’s even more storage space between the back seat and bulkhead.

We loaded 650kg into the cargo bay which combined with accessories and crew equalled a total payload of 900kg, that was about 100kg under its maximum rating.

Even with the bulk of this cargo positioned on or behind the rear axle line, there was still a good 40mm of static bump-stop clearance remaining in the rear leaf springs, which ensured sure-footed support with no bottoming-out over bumps.

With accessories and crew equalled a total payload of 900kg. (Image: Mark Oastler)

Steering and braking were also largely unaffected and in Normal mode the drivetrain scoffed at our 13 per cent gradient 2.0km-long set climb, self-shifting down to fourth gear and maximum torque at around 2000rpm to easily pull this load to the top. Engine-braking on the way down was not as robust, but in our experience not unexpected in small displacement (sub-3.0L) turbo-diesels.

The Staria-Load is covered by Hyundai's five years/160,000km warranty with scheduled servicing every 12 months/15,000km whichever occurs first. Total capped-price servicing for the first five scheduled services is $1800, or $360 per service.