HYUNDAI STARIATiming chain or Belt?

The Hyundai Staria is a van produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. It is the direct successor to the Hyundai Starex, but implements a new front-wheel-drive platform instead of the rear-wheel drive of its predecessor.

The Staria was officially unveiled in March 2021 and is currently in its first generation, with no previous models under the same name. In addition to the passenger version, there is also a commercial variant called the Staria Load. The van is offered in configurations from 5 to 11 seats in its minibus version.

Regarding engines, 4-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel options with 177 hp and 440 Nm of torque are available; as well as 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engines with 272 hp in its naturally aspirated variant, or 237 hp in the LPG-powered version.

Transmissions are a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic for the diesel and LPG engines, while the V6 gasoline is exclusively paired with the automatic transmission. Drive is front-wheel drive for all engines, except for the diesel which is also offered with a four-wheel-drive system.

The platform that brings the Hyundai Staria to life is called the Hyundai-Kia N3, a modular chassis shared with other similarly sized models from the automotive group such as the Kia Carnival. This allows it to house the different mechanical assemblies and aforementioned configurations efficiently.

In terms of design, the Staria stands out for its original and futuristic lines created under the "Inside-Out" concept. This translates to large glazed surfaces, as well as the use of curvilinear shapes both on the exterior and interior that give it an almost spaceship-like feel, something very unique in the van segment.

In addition to the standard version, the Hyundai Staria is also marketed in a few extra variants:

Regarding alternatives to the Hyundai Staria in the current market, we find vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz V-Class, the Volkswagen Multivan, or the Toyota Alphard.