Hyundai Staria-Load 2021: Review

Following the launch of the new Hyundai Staria people-mover, the eye-catching new 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load has arrived in Australia to replace Hyundai’s popular but aging iLoad delivery van.

With the latest Toyota HiAce raising the safety bar in the medium (2500-3500kg GVM) van market, Hyundai is going a step further with an unmatched array of driver safety and convenience technology fitted standard to its latest ‘one-tonne’ van.

Sporting new Santa Fe SUV underpinnings, the new Staria-Load delivers more comfortable, passenger-car-like ride and handling. It also boasts a bigger, more accessible cargo space than its predecessor, plus improved driveability thanks to a more advanced engine and drivetrain.

While the new SUV platform is both lighter and more rigid than that of the outgoing van, the Staria-Load still comes with a solid rear axle and rear leaf-spring suspension, underlining its commercial intent.

Unlike the rear-drive iLoad it replaces, the front-drive Staria-Load is only available with the one engine and transmission combo: a refined new 130kW/430Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel mated to a smooth-shifting eight-speed torque-converter auto.

The Korean brand’s deliberate move upmarket with the auto-only Staria-Load has seen a $3000-plus pricing increase to $45,740 plus on-road costs in two-seater format, with the five-seater crew van starting at $48,240 plus ORCs.

Measuring about 5.2m long by 2.0m wide and 2.0m high, putting it somewhere between the Ford Transit Custom and HiAce, both Staria-Load variants come with double sliding doors, and either a top-hinged tailgate or barn-style rear doors.

For this review we tested the entry-level three-door, two-seat liftback model in standard Creamy White paint (the only other exterior colour is a $695 optional Shimmering Silver Metallic paint).

The 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load is guaranteed to turn heads in the Bunnings carpark, with its swoopy, ultra-modern exterior styling more reminiscent of a low-slung sedan than knockabout work van.

We’re not too concerned about the lack of black plastic bumpers and side mouldings, with the on-board parking aids helping avoid unnecessary scratches and dings on the shiny duco. But the designers may have gone too far with the front indicator lights hidden behind the grille and hard for other motorists to see when flashing.

A set of piercing white LED headlights would have also been a better fit for the safety-first fit-out, lighting up a clearer path on early-morning deliveries than the sub-par yellow beams on our test van.

But it’s hard to gripe about the long standard list of comfort and convenience features from inside the two-seater cabin, which extend to an 8.0-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, a 4.2-inch LCD instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charger and a nice leather-appointed steering wheel with integrated controls.

A highlight is the dash-mounted screen facing the driver, which has a sun shield and delivers a clear read-out of the digital speedo, tacho, and various trip computer information, via the steering wheel buttons. The electric park brake (with auto-hold function) is also well placed on the lower right dash next to the steering wheel.

Related reading:
New Hyundai Staria revealed in full
Hyundai Staria previews new iLoad
Hyundai Truck gets serious Down Under

The centre touch-screen looks great and is easy to use, and paired effortlessly with our iPhone 12. There are a couple of ‘old school’ elements like manual air-conditioning dials and a key ignition instead of push-start button, but they don’t detract from an otherwise up-to-date, user-friendly set-up

Being a van, the cabin fit-out is also practical with plenty of hard-wearing plastics and incidental storage options including two cup-holders, twin overhead shelves, multi-tier side door pockets including space for a large drink bottle, and some centre stack nooks for phones, etc.

The crew-cab model also gets a central console storage box, but we’d like to see the same rubberised material used in the phone charging area on the dash-top to prevent items sliding around.

The 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load is claimed to be one of the safest vans on the market, despite not being rated yet by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

However, a long list of passive and activity safety features does set the new van apart from its main rivals. Now benefitting from Hyundai’s SmartSense suite, the features run to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian/cyclist detection, forward collision warning, dynamic lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

‘Safe exit warning’ and ‘leading vehicle departure alert’ are also standard, along with four driving modes, an intelligent speed-limiter, tyre pressure monitoring, auto headlights, front and rear parking sensors, an electronic park brake with auto hold function and a ‘surround view monitor’ (tailgate models only).

A bonneted front-end with extra crumple zone provides some peace of mind for owners in the event of a crash, as does a total of seven airbags including a segment-first front centre airbag.

Apart from a sometimes intrusive lane keeping feature with its over-zealous auto-correct steering, the electronic nannies work well, in particular the adaptive cruise control for keeping a safe buffer in busy highway traffic and the rear cross traffic alert feature which has multiple warnings to alert the driver of passing vehicles when backing on to a busy road.

The Staria-Load is also set up for a stress-free working day. There’s no grab handle but it’s easy to get in and out of the driver’s seat with keyless entry and a wide-opening door. The side doors and a strut-assisted tailgate are also easy to open and close, with the tailgate opening high enough for a tall person to walk under or shelter without stooping.

There’s plenty of space for two large adults up front, and excellent outward vision through the big sloping windscreen and low-cut windows, despite the wide A-pillars.

Covered in a tough-looking black upholstery, the driver’s seat is well cushioned and adjustable for height for shorter drivers, and the steering wheel is adjustable for tilt and reach.

There’s no fold-down tray or centre armrests between the seats on the liftback model, but the empty space on the flat carpeted floor is big enough for a decent-sized esky or portable fridge, with twin USB and single 12V sockets nearby.

Compared to the old iLoad, the 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load van features a lighter kerb mass of 1938kg, while GVM has dropped to 3020kg.

Maximum payload is down slightly, from 1098kg to 1090kg, but the Staria-Load boasts a bigger towing capacity of 2500kg, albeit with a maximum tow ball weight of just 100kg.

You can fit more in the back of the new van, with the Staria-Load’s cargo bay measuring 2607mm long by 1640mm wide by 1436mm high, for a total volume of 4935 litres.

Hyundai says the Staria-Load will accept two Australian pallets, and it’s easier to load items with a slightly wider side aperture and a lower floor height compared to the iLoad.

The new van’s load bay comes with eight tie-down anchor points along with felt board trim and a vinyl floor covering for additional internal protection, and our test van was fitted with an optional, factory-accessory cargo barrier to protect the driver.

Slotting it into tight parking spots or loading bays is child’s play using the 360 degree, multi-camera, split-screen display, combined with front and rear acoustic sensors. The heated side mirrors also fold back electrically for squeezing down extra-narrow lanes.

The Staria-Load is backed by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty. Service intervals are pegged at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first, with the first five services priced at $360 each under Hyundai’s Lifetime Service Plan.

Also boosting the safety equation for the 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load is impressive ride and handling, making it easier to weave through busy traffic when facing a deadline. It also pulls up smartly thanks to the four-wheel ventilated disc set-up.

Ride comfort is decent for a boxy commercial vehicle, with the rear leaf springs absorbing cracked road surfaces smoothly for the most part, and the light but responsive steering and relatively flat cornering (for a top-heavy vehicle) adds to the stress-free driving experience.

The refined turbo-diesel engine pushes the van along at a decent clip, with the intelligent eight-speed auto doing a fine job of keeping the engine on song and in the peak torque curve, from 1500 to 2500pm.

There’s just a hint of lag before a swift departure from the lights, and while we had an empty cargo bay, it feels like there’s enough in reserve to cope with a one-tonne load.

Engine noise is well suppressed when cruising at 100km/h in top gear at around 1500rpm or less, and the full-length clear plastic cover on the cargo barrier helps block some of the rattles and boom from the rear of the van.

Hyundai claims an official combined fuel consumption figure of 7.0L/100km, and fuel economy read-outs on test ranged from 5.0L/100km on a freeway stretch to 8.5.0L/100km during a day of stop-start driving.

Around 10-12L/100km is probably a realistic average with a decent load on board, delivering a range of up to 650km from the 75-litre fuel tank.

With its circa $50,000 drive-away pricing, the 2021 Hyundai Staria-Load will deter budget buyers looking for a few-frills workhorse van, while others will might be put off by the dare-to-be-different styling and one-size-fits-all model range.

However, discerning buyers will appreciate the enhanced driving experience and superior safety kit, which compares favourably with the Hyundai van’s main rivals, the Toyota HiAce and Ford Transit Custom, not to mention Euro favourites like the Volkswagen Transporter.

Small business operators, tradies and fleet buyers seeking a safe, swift and stylish one-tonne work van, versatile mobile office or company ‘billboard’ should easily accept the premium pricing.

Specifications:
Price: $45,740 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 183g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested