The Staria Multicab has arrived and it’s the second variant of Hyundai’s futuristic MPVto touch down in SA. We attended its local launch in the Western Cape.

Since its introduction in the Republic late in 2021, the Staria has been well-received andproven reasonably popular – to date, Hyundai South Africa has sold more than 300 units.

The futuristic-looking MPV has rivals across the spectrum, from the humble Toyota Quantumto the rather expensiveMercedes-Benz V-Class. However,the Hyundai Staria range has now been expandedwith the introduction of the Multicab, which will arrivein local showrooms at the end of January 2022; apanel-van versionwill follow during the 2nd quarter of the year.

Its predecessor, the Hyundai H1 Multicab, didn’t sell nearly as well as its passenger-carrying sibling, but its sales total (989 units) demonstrates that there is a market for a 5-seat MPV with a giant load bay.

What’s New?

The new Hyundai Staria Multicab is longer, wider andhigher than the outgoing Hyundai H1. It’s also based ona longer wheelbase, which meansit offers even more interior space than its predecessor.

Speaking of space, the load-bay capacity has been increased through gains of 120 mm in length, 20 mm in width and 96 mm in height. As far as luggage capacity is concerned, the claimed figure has jumped from 2 511to 2 890 litres. Bear in mind the newcomer’sload bay is isolated from the cabin – it cannot be enlarged by dropping the last row of seats and is only accessible via thesplit rear doors.

Inside, the new Staria Multicab has ditched the functional and basic cabin that is so typical of commercial vehicles for something that’s reasonably well-equipped. A modern touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone screen-mirroring technology is standard, as is the unique isolated digital instrument panel. The layout of the dashboard and fascia is fresh and minimalist– we rather like it.

As far as standard features are concerned, the Staria Multicab effortlessly outguns its predecessor– it comes equipped withnotably more comfort and convenience items, as well assafety tech. More airbags (including side curtain ‘bag, over and abovethose for the driver and front passenger)are fitted, plus the variantcomes with an electronic handbrake with an auto-hold feature, stability control, 17-inch alloys, daytime running lights, artificial leather trim,USB ports, a wireless charging pad, blind-spot collision warning, front/rear parking sensors, a reverse-viewcamera and automatic climate control.

What is the Staria Multicab like to drive?

We completed a short, but insightful,evaluation route with the Staria Multicab. Much like the people-mover variant of the range, the Multicab feels notablymore upmarket and refined on the road than the discontinuedHyundai H1. The newcomer just seems more composed by comparison;it instils less of that “rolling body feeling” that you’re likely to experiencein large vehicles with high seating positions.

TheStaria’s 130 kW/430 Nm 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel delivers sufficientoff-the-line performance and in-gear shove, but we’re keen to see how it will farewhen there are 5 adults on board in combination with bikes, camping gear, mattresses– or whatever else mayfill up the load bay. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally does asatisfactoryjob of siftingthrough the gears, but on a couple ofsteeper inclines, the ‘box seemed a bit too eager to kick down and seemed to struggle to “find the right ratio”at slower speeds. We’ll investigate this further when we get the vehicle on test.

While we may have some reservations about the transmission’s calibration with the turbodiesel motor,the 8-speed ‘box is meant to benefit efficiency – and it does. When cruising in 8th gear on the highway, the Staria Multicab’s engine revs sitvery low, which benefits fuel economy. After an unplanned highway excursion, wesaw an indicated 7.8 L/100 km –acommendable figure for such a large vehicle.

The on-road refinement is good, too– the cabin was not unduly disturbed by road- and wind noise. Hyundai says its improved assembly processes have helped to make the Staria Multicab quieter inside than its H1 equivalent and we’re inclined to believe that…

Unlike its predecessor, which felt a bit old-school in terms of its seating position and the driving experience it delivered, the Staria Multicab feels a lot more modern/sophisticated to pilot. The steering is nice and light too, which should makethe newcomereffortless to wield in congested urban areas.

How much does the Hyundai Staria Multicab cost in South Africa?

The Hyundai Staria Multicab costs R759 900, which includes a 7-year/200 000 km mechanical warranty, a 6-year/90 000 km service plan and 7 years’ or 150 000-km worth of roadside assistance.

Summary

The sales figures of the recently introduced Staria suggest that Hyundai’s newcomer is on an upward trajectory. With the addition of the Multicab, the sheer practicality of the Staria has been increased substantially and the derivativemakes a good business case for itself. The people-mover/minibus version may be available in 9- and11-seater configurations, but those benches do reduce cargo-carrying capacity, soif you wantto take the extended family on holiday, you’d probably have to rent (and tow) a trailer just to fit everyone’s luggage in.

The Multicab offers seating for 5(with adequate space for all occupants), plus an enormous cargo bay, which, at first inspection, could probably accommodate aBajaj Qute.

To reiterate, if youwanta Staria with even more cargo-carrying capacity (if you operate a business, for example), a panel-van derivative is due in local showrooms during the Q2of 2022.

Further Reading:

The latest Hyundai Staria Prices and Specs

Hyundai Staria Passenger bus launch review