Overview

HYUNDAI has taken its futuristic-looking Staria people mover further upmarket for MY27, introducing a new seven-seat Lounge flagship that combines a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain with the sort of second-row accommodation more commonly associated with premium chauffeur vans.

Sitting at the top of the refreshed Staria passenger range, the Lounge is priced from $73,740 plus on-road costs, a substantial $19,440 step up from the $54,300 eight-seat petrol and diesel Staria variants.

But this is more than an equipment upgrade.

The Staria Lounge is exclusively a seven-seater, ditching the regular model’s eight-seat layout in favour of a pair of individual second-row ‘relaxation’ seats, while adding Nappa leather upholstery and heating and ventilation for occupants in the first two rows.

There is also a significant change under the bonnet where Hyundai’s new 1.6-litre T-GDi petrol-electric hybrid replaces the petrol and diesel engines offered in the regular Staria.

Driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid develops a combined 180kW and 366Nm while returning a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 6.5 litres per 100km.

That compares favourably with the 7.2L/100km figure of the Staria diesel and particularly the thirsty 10.5L/100km petrol model, making the Lounge the most economical passenger Staria despite also being the most luxurious.

There is a catch for anyone intending to tow, however. Hyundai lists zero braked or un-braked towing capacity for the hybrid, whereas petrol- and diesel-powered Staria variants are rated to tow up to 2500kg braked.

On the road, the hybrid also brings more than improved fuel consumption.

Hyundai has equipped it with its e-Motion Drive technology, using the electric traction motor to influence vehicle behaviour through three functions – e-Ride, e-Handling, and e-Evasive Handling Assist.

The first uses electric motor counter-torque to reduce pitching after travelling over speed humps, while e-Handling alters motor torque during corner entry and exit to improve steering response and stability. Evasive Handling Assist uses the motor to influence front-to-rear weight transfer during sudden avoidance manoeuvres.

Hyundai has also revised the Staria’s suspension for 2027, fitting new front sub-frame bushings intended to improve rough-road comfort and rear hydro bushings designed to allow more natural body movement over bumps.

Additional noise suppression includes a thicker foam dashboard insulator, improved acoustic sealing around the rear passenger compartment and, on hybrid models, revised engine-mount structures intended to reduce transmission and road noise intrusion.

All of which should play nicely with the Lounge’s intended role as the Staria you buy as much for the people sitting in the back as the person behind the wheel.

The two individual second-row relaxation seats are the headline act, backed by Nappa leather upholstery in a choice of Obsidian Black, Burgundy, or Beige, suede headlining and pillar trim, rear privacy glass and acoustic laminated windscreen and front door glass.

Heated front and rear seats are joined by ventilated seating for the first two rows, while Lounge-specific equipment includes dual power sliding doors, a power tailgate, dual tilting and sliding sunroofs, ambient interior lighting, rear door and quarter-window curtains, and a heated steering wheel.

There is even an in-cabin rear camera along with Hyundai’s Rear Passenger Talk/View system, allowing those up front to more easily keep tabs on, and communicate with, occupants further back.

Externally, the Lounge retains the Staria’s distinctive one-curve silhouette but gains its own premium treatment and unique 18-inch alloy wheels.

The broader 2027 update brings revised headlights, front bumper and grille together with a new integrated horizon light spanning the frontal treatment, while vertical rear combination lights continue to frame the large lift-back tailgate.

Inside, the updated model gains Hyundai’s latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system, accompanied by a column-mounted shift-by-wire selector that frees up space around the centre console.

The Lounge also steps up to a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, satellite navigation, and surround-view monitor, while Hyundai Digital Key 2 allows a compatible smartphone to unlock and start the vehicle. Digital access can be shared with up to 15 other devices.

Hyundai Bluelink connected services are included, bringing functions such as remote climate and vehicle controls, live traffic information, vehicle diagnostics, emergency calling and vehicle status information, while over-the-air software updates can cover safety, braking, performance, and driver-assistance systems.

Safety and driver assistance equipment includes Hyundai SmartSense technology, Highway Driving Assist, front, side and rear parking sensors, Rear Occupant Alert and a surround-view camera system.

The result is a markedly different proposition from the regular Staria.

Where the standard eight-seater remains the pragmatic family bus, the Staria Lounge Hybrid pushes Hyundai’s people mover towards the luxury end of the market, trading an eighth seat and towing capability for substantially more comfort, refinement and equipment.

More importantly, its 180kW hybrid drivetrain and claimed 6.5L/100km consumption address one of the traditional shortcomings of a large petrol-powered people mover, fuel use, while the Lounge treatment gives Hyundai a genuine premium alternative for buyers who value second-row comfort over SUV styling.

Driving Impressions

We were a tad excited at the prospect of driving Hyundai’s new Staria Lounge hybrid as it ushers in new tech’, a slightly new look and new features that hold plenty of appeal, particularly the promise of frugal fuel consumption at a time of spiralling oil prices.

The Lounge’s arrival is perfectly timed coinciding with an upswing in the luxury people mover (passenger van) market driven by a rash of completely over-the-top Chinese entrants that can cost well over $100k.

It’s a bargain by comparison and delivers on most luxury fronts right down to twin centre “Relaxation” pews, Nappa leather upholstery, and premium 12-speaker Bose audio. 

The tech’ offering is comprehensive as mentioned above but that doesn’t really impress us as we were more concerned about the practicalities and how the thing drives and feels rather than its gimmicks.

We like the slightly revised but still eggmobile exterior look that brings changes to the head and taillights, grille and bumpers and the Lounge scores a bigger centre screen than other Staria models, with a selection of hard buttons for critical controls and plenty still accessed via on-screen menus.

The interior has an understated style that is appealing and functional though ambient lighting and dual sunroofs are superfluous in our opinion. We like the individual driver’s instrument pod and the size and shape of the leather clad seats. Obviously, the centre relaxation seats are the place to be, but someone has to drive and that job is far from onerous in the Staria Lounge.

We can report it’s pretty good on the drive feel and practicality fronts led by the punchy powertrain that is almost as grunty as the 2.2-litre diesel used in other Staria models and only a smidge below the thirsty 3.5-litre petrol V6 in terms of outright power.

We were taken aback by the fact that it’s only a 1.6-litre (turbo) four banger under the bonnet but when combined with the strong integrated electric motor and what Hyundai calls e-Motion Drive that optimises suspension pitch, torque vectoring and weight transfer, its overall performance is surprisingly capable for a 2300kg people mover.

Get on the gas and the engine noisily chimes in assisting relatively rapid forward motion then button off and it slips into EV mode, or the engine is merely ticking over in near silence.

Overall, the powertrain including a conventional six-speed auto (with pesky column-mounted selector) delivers flexible and at times silent operation and is a good match for the Staria Lounge especially as it’s likely to be a “celeb” bus mostly used in cities or resorts.

But the fact that it’s not tow rated is a big problem for the above application as luggage space is at a premium behind the third row and potential operators would need to, but can’t tow a trailer for suitcases…

We have some misgivings about the front-wheel drive that has a predilection to spin the wheels with injudicious use especially starting off on a wet road.

Ride and handling is surprisingly good for a people mover of this size and weight aided by technology like the e-Motion Drive, new bushing systems, sub-frames and other tricky stuff.

The gearbox functions sweetly, the ride is supple, it steers relatively well and the brakes and tyre grip are impressive.

But the ADAS is, as expected intrusive, overbearing and a pain in the neck as it attempts to take control requiring capable drivers to selectively switch it off at each restart.

We like the fact that there’s no costly plug-in facility to pay for or fettle for EV functionality. It’s all done efficiently and unobtrusively by the car apart from occasional engine noise under heavy throttle.

We saw the fuel economy average from the low 5.0s settling at about 6.5L/100km when tootling around town and between suburbs.

Out on the freeway, the Lounge comes into its own delivering near limo’ levels of comfort, decent performance and smooth, silent operation.

We were not able to fill it with seven peeps but suggest a full passenger complement would minorly dent performance and ride characteristics.

On balance, we think the Hyundai Staria Lounge is a good thing with a few caveats… tow rating, front wheel drive limitations and overbearing ADAS. If you look past or aren’t concerned with these then it could be a goer, especially given the Hyundai brand has been here for decades and not just five minutes.