Hyundai Staria

Design & Quality

Inside the cockpit of the Staria is not just modern and well-laid out, but feels futuristic.. The wide windshield and big windows fill the cabin with light, providing a refreshing and airy, lounge-like feel rather than a regular van. There is a glossy digital cluster that feels properly latest, while the ambient lighting is a good one for this segment, which shines at night to soothe your mood. The layout is clean and uncluttered, for starters, with easy-to-reach controls and a floating-style screen that's not something you worry about getting distracted. The seats are wider, support well, and are easy to keep clean, which matters for owners. Add in ventilated fronts, swivelling second-row seats, and clever storage everywhere, and it feels like Hyundai has done great homework to offer a working and functional cabin.

Front Seat

From behind the wheel, the Staria feels surprisingly car-like. The driver’s seat adjusts easily, the view out is commanding, and the controls fall neatly to hand. As expected, being a commercial minivan, long hours behind the wheel don’t feel tiring largely due to comfortable seats and ventilation to keep you cool. The steering wheel feels good to hold, and the built-in controls keep everything within reach. It’s a comfortable, practical space where you quickly feel at home is what I would describe it. 

Electronic Parking Brake

This feature is one of those small conveniences you end up using a lot and enhances overall safety, convenience and comfort. In traffic, the auto-hold keeps the van steady, and on inclines, it stops any rollback. It engages smoothly, and it just makes driving in stop-start traffic far less stressful.

Rear Seat

The 9-seater layout is excellent and spacious. The second row swivels, which kids and passengers love, whether for chatting or just changing up the space. The third row can seat adults for shorter trips, and when folded flat, the cargo space is massive. Families will love how easy the upholstery is to clean, and the rear vents keep everyone comfortable no matter where they sit. On long trips with a full load, it still feels roomy and practical.

AC Vents

The air conditioning is quite effective to deal with our extreme summer. Even after the van has been sitting in the sun, it cools down quickly, certainly an advantage. The airflow is strong and evenly spread throughout the cabin, and passengers in the back get their own vents and controls. It’s quiet and efficient, which makes a huge difference in our climate conditions.

Storage Options

I noticed just how many clever storage places there are, deep bins in the doors, overhead compartments, and trays under the seats. The boot has tie-downs to keep luggage steady, and the retractable cover keeps everything out of sight. Whether you’re carrying bigger stuff or family luggage, or groceries, the Staria has the flexibility to handle it without feeling cramped.

Armrest

Armrests in both rows add to comfort, especially on long drives. The rear one with cupholders is a small but thoughtful touch, and passengers definitely notice.

Charging Options

With USB-A and USB-C ports spread across the rows, plus a wireless charging pad up front, passengers will never be worried about devices running low. It’s a small detail, but for families with kids, streaming or businesses relying on tablets, or corporate employees during travel will feel an everyday convenience.

Boot Space

The Staria really impressed with its cargo flexibility. With all rows up, you get 831 litres, which is more than enough for luggage or a week’s shopping. Fold the seats, and it jumps to 1,303 litres, and if you clear it all out, you have a cavernous 5,000 litres. The low floor makes loading easy, and the tie-downs keep bags or gear secure. I found it perfect for family road trips or even heavy-duty use, whether it’s business equipment or sports gear.

• 7 airbags (front, side, curtain)
• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control
• Lane Following Assist

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Safe Exit Assist

• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ISOFIX anchors
• High Beam Assist

From the exterior, one element is pretty clear, which is that the Staria doesn’t feel like your regular van; rather, it looks a lot modern and futuristic, making it quite unique in its segment. It’s long and wide for obvious purposes, but never feels extremely big, on busy streets or on desert highways.

The key highlights are sharpening the one-curve profile with a fresh grille and slimmer LEDs, serving the dual purpose of enhancing the look and also improving airflow for better efficiency. With a reasonable ground clearance, we never really had issues of scraping speed bumps or tackling sandy patches. So, one has to admire the Staria; despite its size, it feels well-balanced, solid, and perfectly suited to both family trips and daily work duties.

Front

Up front, the Staria looks splendid and grand for a minivan. The full-width LED strip attracts attention and also makes it look premium, especially at night. The lower trims use halogens, but the LED setup is good, and so are the fog lamps for better visibility. The brass chrome touches lift the look great. From the driving seat, the high bonnet gives an SUV-like view that makes you feel in control. It’s not trying too hard to steer across key driving conditions, and you get that feeling of navigating something special due to its sheer size, which is bigger than an SUV.

Side

From the side, the Staria isn’t that typical van; it maintains its distinctive identity. Instead of a box, you see smooth lines, big glass, and doors that glide open at the press of a button. Sliding doors are perfect for tight parking spots, and the panoramic windows are something passengers love as the cabin is open and airy. The long wheelbase allows greater stability at speed and less worry in crosswinds, which is handy on wide-open highways. Also noticeable are the tough body panels, which can easily hold up against everyday demanding duties. So, this van certainly has a mixture of style, practicality and modernity. 

Alloy Wheels

The 18-inch alloys with dark accents suit the Staria’s size. The tires actually feel perfectly sized from a performance and design point of view, at the same time providing a great road presence to the van. The tires are no doubt solid, which help in superior grip on tarmac no matter the road conditions. Even fully loaded, the ride is composed and comfortable. Overall, tires are perfectly suited both in look and every driving condition

Rear

At the back, the design is neat and modern. The tall LED taillights are bright and visible, and the powered tailgate is easy to access. It opens wide, so loading and unloading is quite effortless. The same goes for the parking, with sensors and the 360-degree camera, you get to park quick and easily to make reversing simple, even in crowded areas. A skid plate gives a bit of ruggedness, when backing onto gravel or uneven patches. The design is functional first, but it still looks classy and upscale, which isn’t always the case with MPVs.

Colors

There’s a wide colour choice to pick from for Staria in KSA, including White, silver and grey shades.

City Performance

Generally, at first glance, the Staria feels quite big, and it is remarkably manageable on our crowded city roads. So essentially, driving isn’t a big hassle, as might be the impression upon seeing this van.  What also eases driving is that the light steering for U-turns and tight parking spots, and the turning circle, aren’t a big problem either, on busy roads. The 3.5L V6 is smooth, highly refined, and ready to roar. The breaks feel strong and sure-footed, which enhances confidence. Your seating position, which is rather high up, gives a clear view of traffic, and the cabin keeps city noise out nicely. When stuck in traffic or driving slowly, the 8-speed auto is a relief.

Highway Performance

On long highway runs, the Staria settles rather perfectly. No matter the speed, even at top-end, it is solid and steadily cruises, which is beyond impressive for a van this size. It is not very hard to arrive at a conclusion that the V6 comes with sufficient power, and the 331 Nm torque makes overtaking effortless, notwithstanding the load. The smart cruise control really took the edge off long on the highway, and reduced fatigue. On a long trip, the cabin felt quiet and relaxed. After more than a day’s drive, it never looked strained or tired, which means quite a comfortable ride.

Ride and Handling

The ride comfort is one of the Staria’s big strengths, and prospective buyers will certainly consider it after a drive. With its suspension setup, it absorbs bumps and potholes well, especially the smaller ones that pepper city roads. The larger one, especially when the van’s loaded, is noticeable, but never harsh. Similarly, the body roll in corners is minimal for something this tall, thanks to the long wheelbase. Long journeys for sure left me without any fatigue, and even when I ventured onto sandy patches or gravel roads, traction was steady. It's definitely not sporty, but it’s predictable and confident, which is exactly what customers of this segment want from a people-mover.

• 10.25-inch digital cluster

• 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

• Nappa leather seats with ventilation

• Full-auto AC with rear vents

• BOSE premium audio

• Keyless entry
• Smart Cruise Control

• 360-degree camera
• Hill-start assist
• Power sliding doors/tailgate
• Drive Mode Selection

• 4-Wheel-Drive System 

• Dual sunroof
• 64-color ambient lighting

7 Seats Luxury (SAR 180,965)

Perfect for anyone who prefers luxury and space over bigger seating capacity. With ventilated relaxation seats, a BOSE audio system, and a dual sunroof, it feels premium and well thought out. You also don’t need to feel constrained on cargo space, which is quite large even with all seats in place. The ADAS safety suit and 360-camera make it an ideal pick for families looking for comfort along with peace of mind.

9 Seats Luxury (SAR 182,115)

The price difference isn’t very big, and it gets the same smooth V6 engine and auto gearbox but with an extra row, making it more useful for larger households or shuttle duties. The wivelling second-row seats are particularly clever, making the cabin feel social or practical, depending on how you use them. You don’t lose out on features either, with the same BOSE sound, dual sunroof, and advanced safety tech included. The slightly higher price feels justified if you often carry more people, making it a top pick for big families or tourism-related businesses.

Sayarabay Recommendation

Upon careful observation, it is quite clear that between the two variants, there is hardly much difference, besides the seating capacity. So, recommending one is not something we would do. We feel both the variants come with almost identical features, cabin size and a common powertrain. So there is hardly anything missing in either of them. So, based on your personal or business needs, you can choose either 7 or 9 seaters.

It is fair to say the Staria is much more than a typical van. Right from the exterior design, premium cabin and performance, it punches above its weight. You can confidently take it in the city or on the highway, and the performance is great, and the mileage isn’t bad either, considering the size.

The most significant element is versatility: swivelling seats, smart tech, quiet refinement, and plenty of space. Against rivals like Carnival or Granvia, it stands out not just for practicality but for its futuristic character. For families or businesses in KSA, it’s a premium people-mover that delivers on comfort and character.

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