Lock and load — Premium the Staria attraction

Hyundai has added a new Premium variant to its Staria commercial range with additional safety, technology and convenience features.

Just to set the scene, Staria Load is the van version of the Staria people mover which arrived here in mid-2021, replacing the previous iLoad and iMax.

There was more than a name change when the two vehicles arrived because they brought a futuristic new style unlike anything else in the relatively bland van/people mover fields.

Staria Load models come with either two or five seats and with the choice of Liftback or Twin Swing rear doors. Premium is available only as a two-seat Liftback.

All variants are powered by a 2.2-litre CRDi turbo-diesel engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive

Both van and people mover versions have a 5-star ANCAP safety rating with the Premium adding a blind spot view monitor and high beam assist.

In addition to the highest ANCAP rating Staria is the first vehicle in its segment to be awarded Platinum status in ANCAP’s Commercial Van Safety Comparison analysis for occupant and pedestrian protection, with a score of 90 per cent.

Premium also features a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch navigation infotainment unit, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, smart key with push button start, and a smart power tailgate.

There’s also additional colour choices with Abyss Black, Graphite Gray and Moonlight Blue joining the existing Creamy White and Shimmering Silver in the standard Staria Load range.

The extra features come at a price however with the Premium costing $5500 more than the standard two-seat Liftback.