2023 Hyundai Staria Premium+ Review | Philkotse Philippines

The Starex is probably one of the vehicles that made Hyundai a household name in the Philippines. More often than not, you’ve seen multiple configurations of how the Starex was used in the local market. 

2023 HYUNDAI STARIA REVIEW - The Comeback Kid! | Philkotse Reviews (w/ English subtitles)

It can ferry families on road trips, can transport individuals that need medical attention, can take children to and from school, and so on. Its versatility was able to provide mobility solutions, making it one of the most popular Hyundai vehicles in the country. 

After wearing several hats, the Starex reached its final stop as Hyundai introduced the nameplate’s successor. Say hello to the Hyundai Staria, a modern-looking van that aims to continue the Starex’s success. That said, can the Staria live up to its predecessor’s success? Here’s Philkotse’s 2023 Hyundai Staria Premium+ full review. 
 

There’s arguably no denying that the Staria is one of the most modern-looking vehicles in the Philippines to date. It pops out instantly when driven on the road or when seen in a parking lot.

The top-of-the-line Hyundai Staria Premium+ is fitted with dual LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a large grille in a brass chrome finish. The front skirt and the Hyundai badge also come with a brass chrome finish. The Staria’s front end is among the reasons why it has a unique look. 

Its front end gets a particularly eye-catching look

The headlight housing is slightly curved, wrapping to the bumper’s shape. This creates a seamless look when the vehicle is viewed upfront. The brass chrome grille further adds to the Staria’s unconventional yet stylish design as it veers away from the usual silver chrome finish. And of course, you can’t help but notice the Staria’s DRLs, which reminds you of Robocop or the Daft Punk electro music duo. 

Those wide windows offers a great visibility for its occupants

You’ll realize how huge the Staria is once you view it from the side. Window panes dominate the vehicle’s side profile, which further highlights its large body. The side profile is not as busy as the front. I find it too simple but distinctive at the same time, which somehow looks like a computer mouse for giants. The 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels as well as the side mirror and door handles with copper trim are enough to add style points.  

The Hyundai Staria from the rear

The same design approach can be seen at the rear – simple but distinctive. The large LED taillights with pixel patterns do the trick in keeping the Staria’s futuristic look. For some reason, the Staria’s taillights remind me of the Ioniq 5’s light pattern. 

The top-of-the-line Staria Premium+ offers seating for seven occupants. It has a 2+2+3 seat configuration. This means that second-row passengers are assigned to captain seats. The said seating layout offers abundant space, which makes this specific Staria variant fit for individuals who want to be chauffeured.

The cockpit of the Staria Premium+ 

While space is abundant inside the Staria Premium+, I was a bit surprised to see a good amount of hard plastic materials throughout the cabin. I felt that Hyundai could have put more soft cushion materials, especially on high touch points. 

The front cabin for instance is filled with hard plastics, which is understandable considering that this Staria variant is meant for people who prefer to be chauffeured. But still, I expected a bit more considering how modern the exterior looks.

The front cabin gets plenty of hard plastics

The good thing though is that the driver’s seat gets an adjustable armrest, which can be utilized when crawling through rush hour traffic. I also appreciate the Staria’s straightforward dashboard layout as it doesn’t require much learning curve to get used to all the vehicle buttons and functions.

All the essential vehicle buttons are stacked neatly in the center, below the infotainment touchsreen. While the controls for the power sliding doors and sunroof are segmented well, allowing easier operation.

The Staria also has a good amount of storage space in the front cabin, allowing you to stow away handy items to keep a clutter-free interior. Meanwhile, the aircon vents on the front cabin are seamlessly integrated into the dashboard while the steering wheel has tilt & telescopic adjustment. This Staria is also equipped with paddle shifters.

The second row gets the best seats in the Staria

Second-row passengers get the best seats inside the Staria. The captain chairs come with several power-adjust features to give you a plush travel experience. It comes with the following adjustment: a two-way backrest, a two-way seat cushion, and a four-way leg rest. These can be individually adjusted based on your own preference. Not just that, it also has three-stage ventilation and heating functions.

All occupants can get plenty of sun

The seats offer good cushioning that makes long road trips and slow city traffic more bearable and pleasant. The second-row seats also have butterfly headrests that can prevent your head from tilting side-to-side in the event that you fall asleep. Less worry about waking up with a stiff neck.

For a third row, it's pretty comfortable

The third row can accommodate up to three adults. Leg- and head-room are not a problem since the Staria offers a lot of interior space. The third-row seats can also be adjusted by a forward-backward sliding motion. You can also fold the backrest or tilt up the seats on the third row, giving you versatility in case you need to load cargo. 

Hyundai makes up for the plasticky interior materials by making the Staria’s tech and safety features as modern as possible.

Connecting one's smartphone to the Staria's headunit is easy thanks to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

At the center lies the eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, a feature that further contributes to the Staria’s neat cabin. The wireless CarPlay is complemented by the wireless phone charger, resulting in a one-two-punch combo. 

I find these two features both essential and functional especially when the driver is Waze-dependent. Aside from that, you don’t need your phone’s cable to activate CarPlay. Plus, it’s just more seamless and more convenient. 

The Staria's rear camera in action

The infotainment touchscreen transforms into the live image feed from the Staria’s reverse camera. The camera gives a relatively clear picture of what’s behind the vehicle. It also comes with dynamic guidelines that can further assist you when reversing. Aside from the reverse camera, the Staria also has a 360-degree view, which will make you more confident when tackling cramped parking spaces or tight streets.  

Staria's 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster

The 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, on the other hand, adds to making the Staria’s cabin have a more modern look. The interface is similar to the Tucson’s gauge cluster. The digital display has clear graphics, allowing easy access to essential vehicle data. The interface remains legible too even though you’re driving during broad daylight.  

The Staria comes with an electronic shifter, which means that you need to press your desired gear. It also comes with an electronic parking brake with an auto brake hold. 

In terms of safety, the Hyundai Staria Premium+ is loaded with features including advanced driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and forward collision avoidance assist. 

It also has a tire pressure monitoring system, forward collision avoidance assist junction, parking distance warning, and blind spot monitor, among others.

The Staria Premium+ also has six airbags, an anti-lock braking system, a hill start assist, and electronic stability control, among others.
 

The Staria's 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine

The Hyundai Staria is powered by a 2.2-liter turbodiesel CRDi engine that puts out 175 hp and 430 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has four drive models: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Smart. Of note, the Staria Premium+ comes with an all-wheel-drive layout.   

The first thing that I noticed when driving the Staria is that the 2.2-liter diesel engine needs a bit of a push, especially from a standstill. It sort of feels heavy on the start as well as when tackling sudden uphill roads. One possible reason for this is due to the Staria’s overall size. 

Its gear shifter comes in a button-type control scheme

Just so we’re on the same page, it’s not underpowered. I just find that it needed a bit of a push from a standstill or when tackling sudden uphill roads. Good thing the Staria comes with paddle shifters, which allows you to manually downshift in case you need more engine power.   

Once it has gained momentum, the Staria’s is relatively quick considering its size. It is also stable and planted when cruising on the expressway while the transmission shifts smoothly, making your drivers more pleasant. However, the Staria’s wireless Apple CarPlay disconnects at some parts along SLEX.
 
The Straia’s steering wheel also feels light, which is beneficial when you’re driving around the city. It lessens driver fatigue and helps you execute turns easier and with lesser effort. Another thing I appreciate about this vehicle is its suspension. It leans on the comfort side, resulting in better road impact absorption. 

Despite its size, it can confidently handle wide turns

Despite its size, the Staria can also confidently take on wide turns – given that you drive sensibly. There’s still a hint of body roll but it doesn’t take away driver confidence. 
 
The Staria’s forward visibility is one of the things I appreciate. The large windows, coupled with the huge side mirrors, further add to having a clear view of the vehicle’s surrounding area. The A-pillars sort of creates a blind spot tho. But then again, this vehicle has a 360-degree camera to address that concern.  
 

In terms of fuel efficiency, I was able to get 6.5 km/l while driving the Staria around the city at an average speed of 12 km/h. The number gets better once city traffic frees up a bit as the Staria clocked in at 9 km/l at an average speed of 20 km/h. On the open highway, the Staria posted 16 km/l at an average speed of 90 km/h. 

The Staria gets somehow similar fuel eco numbers when compared to one of its segment rivals, the Kia Carnival. When we drove the Carnival, it registered 9.5 km/l at an average speed of 20 km/h. It then got the upper hand when it comes to fuel consumption on highway runs as it posted 20.3 km/l at an average speed of 85 km/h.

There’s no denying that the Staria is one of the most distinctive vehicles in the local market right now. The Staria’s unique and futuristic exterior styling surely leaves a lasting impression. But, its overall design package, at least on how it looks on the outside, is not for everyone. Some might find it too trendy while some could fall in love with its modern appeal.

The Staria oozes with style

But, I do think that everyone would most likely be on the same page when it comes to the Staria’s interior. The abundant cabin space is one of its strongest selling points. Yes, the use of hard plastic materials surprised me but Hyundai makes up for it by offering what matters most when you’re looking for a van – space and enough comfort features. The Staria Premium+ is also equipped with a lot of safety and tech features, which makes its Php 2,930,000 price tag reasonable. That said, the Hyundai Staria has all the tools it needs to live up to the Starex’s success in the Philippines.