2025 Hyundai Venue Elite review

The Hyundai Venue entered 2025 unchanged, aside from price rises of $250 across the range.
Note: This article is based on our most recent review of the Venue, as there have been no major changes to pricing or specifications since it was published.
We have updated the article with the most up to date information available, and you can read our most recent pricing and specs article here.
Despite the hike, it's still one of the cheapest SUVs in the country – at least in base manual form. The flagship Elite, on the other hand, is starting to look a bit exxy within the growing small SUV segment.
After all, you can now get a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro or new MG ZS for less, both of which are better equipped than the Hyundai.
However, sometimes when it comes to cheap cars, less can be more. Does the Hyundai Venue Elite fall into that category, or is it in need of an urgent update to remain competitive within a growing pool of affordable rivals? Read on to find out.
How much does the Hyundai Venue cost?
The Hyundai Venue range starts at $22,750 before on-road costs for the base manual, and tops out at $29,500 plus on-roads for the Elite tested here.
All four variants in the Venue range have been hit with a $250 price rise, after $500 price rises across the board last year.
The car that we are testing is a Venue Elite optioned with The Denim exterior paint ($595), bringing the total recommended retail price to $30,095 plus on-road costs.
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
What is the Hyundai Venue like on the inside?
Stepping into the Venue, it's clear where Hyundai has spent its money on this entry-level model.
You're greeted by a leather wrapped steering wheel that feels soft to the touch, and a 4.2-inch trip computer display sits between digital readouts for speed and revs behind it.
Speed and rev displays can't be moved, while the trip computer shows fuel use and engine temperature readouts in its default setting, but can be configured to show fuel economy, tyre pressure, and lane-keep assistance.
It's a nice inclusion, but the constantly fluctuating digital rev readout made me feel like I was in The Matrix.
Looking left there's a 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which will be familiar to Hyundai and Kia owners.
It's a responsive unit, and physical shortcut buttons are located below it to boost usability.
Smartphone mirroring requires a wired connection, but Apple CarPlay was responsive and reliable during our testing period. The USB-A port offers smartphone mirroring, USB-C is on hand for fast charging, and there's a 12V port for accessories.
The Venue is equipped with a wireless charging pad, which is handy for those who still prefer to use the native infotainment system. If you're that way inclined, the built-in satellite navigation is easy to use. The maps are detailed and searching for destinations is a quick process.
Elsewhere in the system, settings can be tweaked for the visual displays and safety aids, so the car can work with rather than against you.
The environment inside the car is controlled by two climate control dials flanking a circular screen that shows temperature and fan speed. The top-spec Elite comes with a sunroof, which is a premium piece of kit for a car in this price bracket.
The Venue may be a budget buy, but in top specification the tech inclusions make it a very functional car in 2025.
In order to keep the car among the most affordable SUVs on the market something has to give, and in the Venue that's quality of materials.
Outside of the nicely trimmed steering wheel and elbow padding on each door card, the cabin predominantly consists of hard plastics, including a dotted plastic dash which looks and feels cheap.
Likewise the door handles, which sit at an angle that makes them feel flimsy.
The air vent and gear lever surrounds are made of white plastic; it's not my style, although some buyers may appreciate the dash of flair.
The manually adjustable seats, finished in denim-coloured cloth with leatherette accents and white stitching, are interesting to look at and provide a decent level of comfort. There's not much side bolstering, though.
Considering the small stature of the Venue, the interior storage options are quite generous.
Up the front you'll find door bins big enough for a small water bottle and other miscellaneous items, while the central cup holders are capable of swallowing a 1L bottle.
A small lined cubby sits under the armrest, and there's an even smaller space located near the window switches in each door.
On the passenger side, above the standard glovebox is a wide tray carved into the dash which is perfect for a phone or other smaller items.
Moving to the second row, both doors feature a cubby capable of fitting a small drink bottle. There's no centre armrest though, and just one map pocket.
There's not much room for larger people, either. Kids will be able to get comfortable back there, but bigger bodies will struggle on longer journeys because there's very little legroom in this tight package.
I had a few inches of headroom though, and the combination of a sunroof and light-coloured headliner prevents the Venue from feeling claustrophobic.
Overall, you get more room than what's available in similarly priced hatchbacks, and a couple of average-sized adults will fit in the back without issue.
In keeping with Hyundai's focus on technology in the Venue, rear passengers have access to two USB-C ports, which is a rare feature in economy cars. It can get stuffy though, as there are no air vents in the rear.
Boot capacity is quoted at 355 litres, which is more than you'll get in similarly priced rivals.
The space is wide and easy to load items into, while the rear bench folds 60/40 for added practicality. It folds with a minimal step between the boot floor and seatbacks too, so the extra cargo room is usable.
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
What's under the bonnet?
The whole Hyundai Venue range is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 90kW of power and 151Nm of torque.
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Hyundai Venue drive?
The Venue may be an 'SUV', but don't expect an insulated, cushy driving experience.
Our tester never quite felt settled on regular suburban streets, transmitting harsh vibrations into the cabin. The car was also crashy over speed humps, which caused me to flinch on approach.
Base model examples are equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, but the Active and Elite feature 17-inch alloys which may have played a role in the harsher ride.
At least its compact dimensions and reversing camera make parking simple, especially in tight confines.
The automatic transmission is smooth and smart for the most part, keeping revs down where possible at lower speeds.
However, we found the steering requires a lot of effort before the car responds, which undermines your confidence navigating city laneways and narrow country roads. It's all a bit vague.
You have to be gentle with the Venue, because it doesn't like to be rushed. That sentiment extends to the engine, which is underpowered outside of urban environments.
With just 90kW and 151Nm, the naturally aspirated four-cylinder under the bonnet has to work particularly hard to reach highway speeds. It's okay once you're cruising, but getting past a dawdler requires some planning in advance.
With that said, one of the Venue's key rivals – the Kia Stonic – makes do with 74kW, and is even slower to accelerate to 100km/h. It's not exactly a segment packed with traffic light drag racing royalty.
Highway driving in the Venue reveals another issue, in the form of noise. Weighing in at just 1225kg it's a lightly built machine, and that is noticeable in the road and wind noise it produces.
We had to turn the stereo right up to drown out tyre roar and wind buffeting which peaked at speeds over 80km/h.
The Venue is more at home in the city, where its little engine doesn't need to work as hard.
We achieved an average fuel economy figure of 8.5L/100km, which is just ok for a naturally aspirated small SUV, and definitely not standout when you consider a hybrid-powered Toyota Yaris Cross will achieve less than half that.
The integration of safety technology into modern cars can't necessarily make them, but it can break them, which isn't the case for the Venue.
We barely noticed the safety systems during our time with the car, and the lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and driver attention warning functions worked seamlessly.
That makes the Venue an easier car to drive on road trips, if you can tolerate the noise and firm ride.
While the Venue is no rugged off-roader, adventurous owners can select sand, mud and snow traction control modes via a rotary dial on the centre console. The same dial can also be used to switch drive modes.
What do you get?
There are three trim levels in the Venue range.
2025 Hyundai Venue equipment highlights:
4.2-inch colour instrument cluster screen
Qi wireless phone charger
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
1 x 12V outlet, 1 x USB-A outlet, 1 x USB-C outlet
4-speaker sound system
Cruise control
Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
Tyre pressure monitoring
Remote central locking
60:40 split/fold rear seat
Cloth upholstery
Power windows
Manual air-conditioning
15-inch alloy wheels
Space-saver spare
Halogen daytime running lights
Auto halogen projector headlights
Venue Active adds:
6-speaker sound system
'Premium' seat bolsters
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
Power-folding exterior mirrors
17-inch alloy wheels
LED daytime running lights
LED positioning lights
Static bending lights
Venue Elite adds:
Bluelink connected services (5yr subscription)
2 x USB-C outlets (rear)
Electrochromatic rear-view mirror
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Sunroof (not available with two-tone roof option)
Keyless entry and start
Rear privacy glass
Single-zone climate control
LED rear combination lights
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Hyundai Venue safe?
The Hyundai Venue has a four-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2019.
The following safety equipment is standard on all Venue models:
Autonomous emergency braking (camera-based)
Automatic high-beam
Lane keep assist
Rear occupant alert
Driver attention warning
Leading vehicle departure alert
Reversing camera
Front, front-side and curtain airbags
Venue Active adds:
Rear parking sensors
Venue Elite adds:
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Hyundai Venue cost to run?
The Hyundai Venue is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Hyundai Australia is preparing to introduce a longer seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty across its local lineup.
CarExpert understands the Korean manufacturer is aiming to increase the warranty period from five to seven years from July 1 this year, with the changes backdated to January 1. All models will be covered by the new warranty, which is a base coverage period free of extension conditions.
The introduction of a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty brings Hyundai in line with sister brand Kia, as well as competitors Chery and Skoda.
To see how the Hyundai Venue compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert's Take on the Hyundai Venue
The Hyundai Venue Elite is a serviceable small SUV for younger (or older) buyers who appreciate practicality and having user-friendly tech at their fingertips.
It's got plenty of infotainment and safety gadgets, while still coming in at an affordable price point. Cargo room and second row space is also superior to most comparable city hatchbacks.
The driving dynamics leave some room for improvement, though – the ride is firm in the Elite on its big wheels, and the engine runs out of puff when you get away from the city. There's also work to be done on the steering, which undermines this car's credentials as an easy-to-park option for urban dwellers.
Given that the going rate for a well-equipped compact SUV has dropped below $27,000 drive-away with the introduction of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate and MG ZS Excite, the top-spec Venue Elite doesn't make a whole of sense in 2025.
If you're set on the Hyundai, it's probably worth dropping down to the base model which doesn't undermine many of the Venue's strengths. It's an absolute bargain at $22,750 before on-roads, as long as you know how to drive a manual.
Interested in buying a Hyundai Venue? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here
Pros
More practical than rivals
Modern tech
Useable second-row seating
Cons
Harsh ride
Cheap cabin materials
Underpowered engine
Top Line Specs
Power: 90kW
Fuel Type: Unleaded Petrol
Economy: 7.2L/100km
CO2 Emissions: 165g/km

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2025 Hyundai Staria Load Premium review

Hyundai Staria Pros Hyundai Staria Cons Hyundai's commercial hauler has polarising looks, but its practicality is hard to debate. Note: This is a revised version of our recent review of the Hyundai Staria Load, as there have been no major changes to the model since it was published. We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read our latest price and specs article here for all the details. WATCH: Paul's video review of the Hyundai Staria Highlander The Staria Load, like its related people mover namesake, the Staria, is a neat package from one of Australia's most versatile brands. There may not be performance or hybrid tech here, but what you do get is plenty of tech and features to keep you satisfied. A comfortable interior, quality infotainment, and agile steering are just a few things to get you interested; the rest you'll learn about through some time behind the wheel. Hyundai offers a large catalogue of genuine accessories too, which allows buyers to kit out their Staria Load with everything they need to improve the base package in their own specific way. It all comes in at a competitive price too, matching the comparable Toyota HiAce and undercutting the new Ford Transit Custom. In 2024, the commercial Staria outsold the people mover variant at 3503 to 1363, selling in fewer units than only Hyundai's best-selling passenger cars like the i30 and Tucson. In the van world, it doesn't quite match up to the best-selling HiAce (12,082), although it ranked ahead of the Transit Custom (3427) and LDV G10 (2843). Are you better off sticking with the crowd, or is the spaceship-style Staria Load the one you should be going for instead? The top-spec Premium variant of the Staria Load range rings up at $51,740 before on-road costs – exactly $5000 up on the range-opening two-seater. It's more expensive than even the five-seat crew van, despite missing out on side windows and those additional seats. That price is before you start adding the extra Hyundai accessories fitted to our tester, which include a cargo barrier ($958.33), a heavy-duty rubber cargo floor mat ($796.63), and all-weather floor mats ($249.80). Ours is also painted in Moonlight Blue (no longer available), which like the other premium colours brings an additional cost of $750. That means if you want a Staria Load like the one you see here, expect to add nearly $3000 to the list price – and that's before you consider on-road costs. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool While we'd stop short of calling it luxurious, there's a lot to like about the Staria Load's cabin. The thing worth remembering with the Staria Load is that it is a commercial vehicle, and as such it'd be unreasonable to expect limousine-like comfort levels before getting behind the wheel. Being the Premium grade, you do get some extra goodies like a larger infotainment display and digital instrument cluster, but as with the cheaper variants it's headlined by its work-focused setup and barebones approach. Such elements are evident in the materials used, which are all hard to the touch and utilitarian in appearance. The only soft-touch items you get are the large gear selector and steering wheel, the latter of which we've seen in other large Hyundai models like the Palisade. I'm not the biggest fan of this steering wheel, but it does feel more at home here than it does in something like the Palisade. It's wrapped in smooth, quality leather, and its size and angle are reminiscent of a small bus or an older Toyota HiAce van. A quirk in the driving configuration is the seating position. From the comfortable cloth-trimmed seat you get a commanding view of everything around you, though it does lack armrests that would make the Staria Load that little bit more cruisy. It also lacks three-person seating up front, though that means you're able to make use of the space in the middle that's otherwise occupied by a storage box in the five-seat crew van. The Staria Load's layout is otherwise conventional, which means it takes no time to get used to. What you may not be used to is having to look over the steering wheel to view the instrument cluster, because the display is mounted high atop the dash to make way for a hidden storage cubby. It all works as intended, but you may need to take an extra second to get yourself adjusted accordingly if you're a shorter individual. That generally won't be an issue though, and it's worth the compromise for the extra storage space it unlocks. Ignoring the elephant in the van for the time being, Hyundai has been creative to implement as many storage options up front as possible. There are two hidden storage cubbies on top of the dashboard for various odds and ends, as well as a more conventional glovebox ahead of the passenger seat. On the roof are also two storage shelves with elastic nets. At the base of the centre console is another tub for loose items, and a cut-out for phone storage is found just above that. A wireless charging pad is located in a larger slot under the climate control panel, which also has plenty of space for other things like the key fob. There's also a singular cupholder on top of the dash on the driver's side, which seems precariously close to the digital instrument display. Passengers can make use of the hidden cupholder on the centre console, which folds out when you press on its panel. Storage is otherwise made up of space in the door cards and shallow cut-outs beneath the windows, while there's a hidden compartment integrated into the driver's side step for recovery gear. Creature comforts in the Staria Load are kept to a minimum. There are no heated seats, power-adjustment, or digital rear-view mirrors to make use of; everything instead gets straight to the point. The most complicated item is the climate and infotainment panel, which is populated by a plethora of touchscreen buttons and headlined by that 10.25-inch display. That display is nothing new for Hyundai models, and it looks great graphically with reliable functionality. A downside to the larger screen is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay from smaller-screen models, which means you'll have to hook up your phone via cable instead. Doing so is achieved via the USB-A port next to the gear selector, and there's that convenient slot underneath for your phone to sit while plugged in. The climate control panel is clearly legible thanks to its large icons, and its centre display helps to show what's going on. There are shortcuts above for the various infotainment functions, and everything can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel. Those steering wheel buttons all function as the should and worked reliably in our week with the van. They're also the place to adjust things relating to appearance too, should you want to mess with the way the instrument cluster looks. The gloss-black button material is a gripe, but it gives a more premium look in conjunction with the textured stalks behind. It's all clean and classy – Hyundai has struck a convincing balance between practicality and interior design in the Staria Load. Displays on the instrument cluster are linked to drive mode, which can be toggled using the discreet button below the climate control interface. There are three modes and appearances to cycle through, but you can lock it in a particular theme if you prefer one over the others. Time to talk cargo. It's a van, and the space you get in the back is largely as you'd expect. Our tester was fitted with the optional rubber floor and cargo barrier, though we feel such items should be included as standard. The floor protection helps to dampen noise and reduce the risk of scratches to the interior paint – much like what the panelling fitted to the walls as standard does. The cargo barrier, which only works to keep cargo from sliding through, is nice to have even if it won't keep the cabin's climate isolated. Having the optional solid barrier (or even the optional partition screen) would be preferable for passenger comfort and noise dampening, but this is better than nothing. Space in the back of the Staria Load is quoted at 4.935 cubic metres, smaller than the HiAce at 6.2m. Even so, it doesn't feel compromised by any means. Hyundai fits a sliding door on each side as standard (unlike Ford does with the Transit Custom), though being the Premium grade it misses out on a rear barn door option, something included on both the Toyota and Ford rivals. You get the benefit of a powered tailgate instead, though it's quite long when fully open. That means you get shelter from the rain, but you'll struggle to load from the rear with a forklift, and you also won't be able to open it if you reverse even remotely closely up to a wall. The Staria Load makes up for it with sliding side doors, though their openings aren't terribly wide. On the inside you get eight tie-down points compared to the HiAce's six, but only one light positioned on the roof above the tailgate. That makes it difficult to see if you're using the side doors at night. There's only bare panelling on the roof, which echoes noise once on the road. It's the same as what you find in a Transit Custom, though Toyota adds a roof liner and a central dome light to its HiAce. The rear windows are protected by thick wire bars, and everything else is as it says on the box. It works well for the purpose it serves, though we suspect the rubber used in the optional floor contributed to the strange smell we were greeted with when stepping inside. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool Unlike the Hyundai Staria people mover, there's just one engine available for the Staria Load. All three Staria Load variants share the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission exclusively. Drive is sent to only the front wheels, unlike in the rear-drive HiAce. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool We say you shouldn't expect too much in terms of comfort from a van, and the Staria Load is a good example of why. Unladen, the ride is incredibly bouncy. Things that wouldn't bother a typical car suddenly feel like small jump ramps, and you'll find yourself going out of your way to avoid bumps and holes that could throw the van around. That's not to say it'll become unsettled over larger bumps, but it can often be enough to catch you off guard. With a couple hundred kilograms worth of cargo loaded into the back it's a different story, but if you're often driving an empty van it can become difficult to live with. While we had similar comments about the Transit Custom, it's still true that the HiAce can manage its ride a lot better even when the load space is empty. The Hyundai is quieter than the Toyota, at least compared to the bog-standard HiAce we drove with no interior options selected. Had they been comparably optioned, the noise battle may have turned out differently. The bounciness isn't helped by its wheels either, as although they're a fairly standard size at 17-inches they feel (and look) far too small for such a large van. Bumping up the wheel size an inch or two would make it look better, but would increase tyre replacement costs, worsen the bumpy-road ride and also come at the expense of on-road noise – which already isn't great. Still, it's not all bad, and if you come into the Staria Load with a rough idea of what to expect there's not much that will take you by surprise. Once you're past the initial bumps and bounces, this Hyundai turns out to be an enjoyable van to drive. It feels considerably taller than its rivals, and that helps to provide the high driving position it benefits from. There's also great visibility out front thanks to its sloped bonnet, and it's a good middle ground between a typical passenger car and the vans of old in which the crumple zones were your knees. Visibility is good out the side windows too, but that's where the limitations start. As it's a standard van with no side windows, physical blind-spot visibility is poor. Hyundai makes up for it with the cameras fitted on each side, which project a live image to the instrument cluster when the corresponding indicator is activated. We've seen such tech in other Hyundai and Kia products before, and while it seemed superfluous there, we feel this is a much more practical application. For comparison, Ford's solution to the blind-spot issue is to fit a fisheye mirror to each side mirror housing, while Toyota has nothing beyond digital monitoring. Ford and Hyundai supplement their blind-spot solutions with a monitoring system. The performance of the Staria Load isn't anything ridiculous, but it has no trouble getting up to speed in a hurry. Low-end torque is strong enough to get it out of most sticky situations, and when there's nothing in the back it can be quite spritely and agile. Surprising given its dimensions, but it makes it even better as a run-around in built-up areas. The eight-speed automatic transmission is well-behaved and almost never caught in the wrong gear, with smooth shifts and a quick response its headlining characteristics. Hyundai has made the driving experience as easy as possible from a handling perspective too, as the Staria Load boasts light steering and a tight turning circle to make up for its size. If you're a commercial vehicle buyer who needs the Staria Load for transport and logistics, it's good to have that manoeuvrability for the various tight spaces you may find yourself in. The Staria Load is fitted with adaptive cruise control with lane centring as standard, and it worked reliably in our week with the van. There wasn't a tendency to stray out of its lane, and steering inputs were consistent and smooth. Longer drives on the freeway were made easy as a result, especially if you avoided changing lanes as much as possible because of those blind-spot limitations. Downsides include its headlights, which we feel could be a bit brighter. Its high-beams worked fine, but in unlit areas it's not quite as bright as we're used to. You do get the benefit of the LED light bar across the front, which provides greater visibility for other road users. Another was the road noise, which was especially bad on wet roads. As it isn't a passenger vehicle, that isn't a deal-breaker, and it's manageable if you're fine with a bit of extra volume. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against our rivals? Use our comparison tool. There are three grades of Staria Load, each with a handful of key features to set them apart. 2025 Hyundai Staria Load equipment highlights: The Crew Van receives a centre console storage box, a three-seat second-row bench, second-row windows and two more USB-C ports. Staria Premium (liftback only) adds: Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing of the related people mover conducted in 2021. Standard safety equipment includes: While previous Starias featured blind-spot assist as standard, the 2025 model has reverted to an alarm-only system. The Staria Load Premium adds a blind-spot view monitor, as well as the model debut of Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity, which includes automatic collision notification, emergency call (SOS) function and alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool If you're in need of a van, the Staria Load is one well worth considering. It may not be as iconic as something like a HiAce or as stylish as the new Transit Custom, but if you're after strong cargo capacity in a comfortable package, the Staria Load has plenty to offer. Its interior tech is great, even without wireless smartphone mirroring, and the cabin is well-enough appointed to keep you interested without going over the top. The driving tech works reliably and never becomes intrusive either, which is more than can be said for many other Hyundai and Kia products. Hyundai's diesel engine is a strong unit too, and when mated with a reliable gearbox it makes for an enjoyable drive – even if it can be a bit bouncy with nothing in the back. Ride quality does leave a bit to be desired, and if you need to transport more than one passenger you're going to struggle with the lack of a middle seat. The options fitted to our tester, including the cargo barrier, are things that should be included as standard, because we feel they're van must-haves. Driving around with cargo sliding into the front cabin isn't ideal, and it's a lot of space to heat in winter. It also lacks the practicality of rear barn doors, and for a top-spec model it'd benefit from something like powered sliding side doors. Wireless Apple CarPlay would also complement that large infotainment display nicely. But as a van made to transport cargo and be comfortable for long hours on the road, the Staria Load obliges. It may not be our first choice, but as a rival to other well-established van nameplates it's a worthy contender. Interested in buying a Hyundai Staria Load? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers Everything Hyundai Staria Content originally sourced from: Staria Pros Hyundai Staria Cons Hyundai's commercial hauler has polarising looks, but its practicality is hard to debate. Note: This is a revised version of our recent review of the Hyundai Staria Load, as there have been no major changes to the model since it was published. We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read our latest price and specs article here for all the details. WATCH: Paul's video review of the Hyundai Staria Highlander The Staria Load, like its related people mover namesake, the Staria, is a neat package from one of Australia's most versatile brands. There may not be performance or hybrid tech here, but what you do get is plenty of tech and features to keep you satisfied. A comfortable interior, quality infotainment, and agile steering are just a few things to get you interested; the rest you'll learn about through some time behind the wheel. Hyundai offers a large catalogue of genuine accessories too, which allows buyers to kit out their Staria Load with everything they need to improve the base package in their own specific way. It all comes in at a competitive price too, matching the comparable Toyota HiAce and undercutting the new Ford Transit Custom. In 2024, the commercial Staria outsold the people mover variant at 3503 to 1363, selling in fewer units than only Hyundai's best-selling passenger cars like the i30 and Tucson. In the van world, it doesn't quite match up to the best-selling HiAce (12,082), although it ranked ahead of the Transit Custom (3427) and LDV G10 (2843). Are you better off sticking with the crowd, or is the spaceship-style Staria Load the one you should be going for instead? The top-spec Premium variant of the Staria Load range rings up at $51,740 before on-road costs – exactly $5000 up on the range-opening two-seater. It's more expensive than even the five-seat crew van, despite missing out on side windows and those additional seats. That price is before you start adding the extra Hyundai accessories fitted to our tester, which include a cargo barrier ($958.33), a heavy-duty rubber cargo floor mat ($796.63), and all-weather floor mats ($249.80). Ours is also painted in Moonlight Blue (no longer available), which like the other premium colours brings an additional cost of $750. That means if you want a Staria Load like the one you see here, expect to add nearly $3000 to the list price – and that's before you consider on-road costs. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool While we'd stop short of calling it luxurious, there's a lot to like about the Staria Load's cabin. The thing worth remembering with the Staria Load is that it is a commercial vehicle, and as such it'd be unreasonable to expect limousine-like comfort levels before getting behind the wheel. Being the Premium grade, you do get some extra goodies like a larger infotainment display and digital instrument cluster, but as with the cheaper variants it's headlined by its work-focused setup and barebones approach. Such elements are evident in the materials used, which are all hard to the touch and utilitarian in appearance. The only soft-touch items you get are the large gear selector and steering wheel, the latter of which we've seen in other large Hyundai models like the Palisade. I'm not the biggest fan of this steering wheel, but it does feel more at home here than it does in something like the Palisade. It's wrapped in smooth, quality leather, and its size and angle are reminiscent of a small bus or an older Toyota HiAce van. A quirk in the driving configuration is the seating position. From the comfortable cloth-trimmed seat you get a commanding view of everything around you, though it does lack armrests that would make the Staria Load that little bit more cruisy. It also lacks three-person seating up front, though that means you're able to make use of the space in the middle that's otherwise occupied by a storage box in the five-seat crew van. The Staria Load's layout is otherwise conventional, which means it takes no time to get used to. What you may not be used to is having to look over the steering wheel to view the instrument cluster, because the display is mounted high atop the dash to make way for a hidden storage cubby. It all works as intended, but you may need to take an extra second to get yourself adjusted accordingly if you're a shorter individual. That generally won't be an issue though, and it's worth the compromise for the extra storage space it unlocks. Ignoring the elephant in the van for the time being, Hyundai has been creative to implement as many storage options up front as possible. There are two hidden storage cubbies on top of the dashboard for various odds and ends, as well as a more conventional glovebox ahead of the passenger seat. On the roof are also two storage shelves with elastic nets. At the base of the centre console is another tub for loose items, and a cut-out for phone storage is found just above that. A wireless charging pad is located in a larger slot under the climate control panel, which also has plenty of space for other things like the key fob. There's also a singular cupholder on top of the dash on the driver's side, which seems precariously close to the digital instrument display. Passengers can make use of the hidden cupholder on the centre console, which folds out when you press on its panel. Storage is otherwise made up of space in the door cards and shallow cut-outs beneath the windows, while there's a hidden compartment integrated into the driver's side step for recovery gear. Creature comforts in the Staria Load are kept to a minimum. There are no heated seats, power-adjustment, or digital rear-view mirrors to make use of; everything instead gets straight to the point. The most complicated item is the climate and infotainment panel, which is populated by a plethora of touchscreen buttons and headlined by that 10.25-inch display. That display is nothing new for Hyundai models, and it looks great graphically with reliable functionality. A downside to the larger screen is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay from smaller-screen models, which means you'll have to hook up your phone via cable instead. Doing so is achieved via the USB-A port next to the gear selector, and there's that convenient slot underneath for your phone to sit while plugged in. The climate control panel is clearly legible thanks to its large icons, and its centre display helps to show what's going on. There are shortcuts above for the various infotainment functions, and everything can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel. Those steering wheel buttons all function as the should and worked reliably in our week with the van. They're also the place to adjust things relating to appearance too, should you want to mess with the way the instrument cluster looks. The gloss-black button material is a gripe, but it gives a more premium look in conjunction with the textured stalks behind. It's all clean and classy – Hyundai has struck a convincing balance between practicality and interior design in the Staria Load. Displays on the instrument cluster are linked to drive mode, which can be toggled using the discreet button below the climate control interface. There are three modes and appearances to cycle through, but you can lock it in a particular theme if you prefer one over the others. Time to talk cargo. It's a van, and the space you get in the back is largely as you'd expect. Our tester was fitted with the optional rubber floor and cargo barrier, though we feel such items should be included as standard. The floor protection helps to dampen noise and reduce the risk of scratches to the interior paint – much like what the panelling fitted to the walls as standard does. The cargo barrier, which only works to keep cargo from sliding through, is nice to have even if it won't keep the cabin's climate isolated. Having the optional solid barrier (or even the optional partition screen) would be preferable for passenger comfort and noise dampening, but this is better than nothing. Space in the back of the Staria Load is quoted at 4.935 cubic metres, smaller than the HiAce at 6.2m. Even so, it doesn't feel compromised by any means. Hyundai fits a sliding door on each side as standard (unlike Ford does with the Transit Custom), though being the Premium grade it misses out on a rear barn door option, something included on both the Toyota and Ford rivals. You get the benefit of a powered tailgate instead, though it's quite long when fully open. That means you get shelter from the rain, but you'll struggle to load from the rear with a forklift, and you also won't be able to open it if you reverse even remotely closely up to a wall. The Staria Load makes up for it with sliding side doors, though their openings aren't terribly wide. On the inside you get eight tie-down points compared to the HiAce's six, but only one light positioned on the roof above the tailgate. That makes it difficult to see if you're using the side doors at night. There's only bare panelling on the roof, which echoes noise once on the road. It's the same as what you find in a Transit Custom, though Toyota adds a roof liner and a central dome light to its HiAce. The rear windows are protected by thick wire bars, and everything else is as it says on the box. It works well for the purpose it serves, though we suspect the rubber used in the optional floor contributed to the strange smell we were greeted with when stepping inside. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool Unlike the Hyundai Staria people mover, there's just one engine available for the Staria Load. All three Staria Load variants share the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission exclusively. Drive is sent to only the front wheels, unlike in the rear-drive HiAce. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool We say you shouldn't expect too much in terms of comfort from a van, and the Staria Load is a good example of why. Unladen, the ride is incredibly bouncy. Things that wouldn't bother a typical car suddenly feel like small jump ramps, and you'll find yourself going out of your way to avoid bumps and holes that could throw the van around. That's not to say it'll become unsettled over larger bumps, but it can often be enough to catch you off guard. With a couple hundred kilograms worth of cargo loaded into the back it's a different story, but if you're often driving an empty van it can become difficult to live with. While we had similar comments about the Transit Custom, it's still true that the HiAce can manage its ride a lot better even when the load space is empty. The Hyundai is quieter than the Toyota, at least compared to the bog-standard HiAce we drove with no interior options selected. Had they been comparably optioned, the noise battle may have turned out differently. The bounciness isn't helped by its wheels either, as although they're a fairly standard size at 17-inches they feel (and look) far too small for such a large van. Bumping up the wheel size an inch or two would make it look better, but would increase tyre replacement costs, worsen the bumpy-road ride and also come at the expense of on-road noise – which already isn't great. Still, it's not all bad, and if you come into the Staria Load with a rough idea of what to expect there's not much that will take you by surprise. Once you're past the initial bumps and bounces, this Hyundai turns out to be an enjoyable van to drive. It feels considerably taller than its rivals, and that helps to provide the high driving position it benefits from. There's also great visibility out front thanks to its sloped bonnet, and it's a good middle ground between a typical passenger car and the vans of old in which the crumple zones were your knees. Visibility is good out the side windows too, but that's where the limitations start. As it's a standard van with no side windows, physical blind-spot visibility is poor. Hyundai makes up for it with the cameras fitted on each side, which project a live image to the instrument cluster when the corresponding indicator is activated. We've seen such tech in other Hyundai and Kia products before, and while it seemed superfluous there, we feel this is a much more practical application. For comparison, Ford's solution to the blind-spot issue is to fit a fisheye mirror to each side mirror housing, while Toyota has nothing beyond digital monitoring. Ford and Hyundai supplement their blind-spot solutions with a monitoring system. The performance of the Staria Load isn't anything ridiculous, but it has no trouble getting up to speed in a hurry. Low-end torque is strong enough to get it out of most sticky situations, and when there's nothing in the back it can be quite spritely and agile. Surprising given its dimensions, but it makes it even better as a run-around in built-up areas. The eight-speed automatic transmission is well-behaved and almost never caught in the wrong gear, with smooth shifts and a quick response its headlining characteristics. Hyundai has made the driving experience as easy as possible from a handling perspective too, as the Staria Load boasts light steering and a tight turning circle to make up for its size. If you're a commercial vehicle buyer who needs the Staria Load for transport and logistics, it's good to have that manoeuvrability for the various tight spaces you may find yourself in. The Staria Load is fitted with adaptive cruise control with lane centring as standard, and it worked reliably in our week with the van. There wasn't a tendency to stray out of its lane, and steering inputs were consistent and smooth. Longer drives on the freeway were made easy as a result, especially if you avoided changing lanes as much as possible because of those blind-spot limitations. Downsides include its headlights, which we feel could be a bit brighter. Its high-beams worked fine, but in unlit areas it's not quite as bright as we're used to. You do get the benefit of the LED light bar across the front, which provides greater visibility for other road users. Another was the road noise, which was especially bad on wet roads. As it isn't a passenger vehicle, that isn't a deal-breaker, and it's manageable if you're fine with a bit of extra volume. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against our rivals? Use our comparison tool. There are three grades of Staria Load, each with a handful of key features to set them apart. 2025 Hyundai Staria Load equipment highlights: The Crew Van receives a centre console storage box, a three-seat second-row bench, second-row windows and two more USB-C ports. Staria Premium (liftback only) adds: Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing of the related people mover conducted in 2021. Standard safety equipment includes: While previous Starias featured blind-spot assist as standard, the 2025 model has reverted to an alarm-only system. The Staria Load Premium adds a blind-spot view monitor, as well as the model debut of Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity, which includes automatic collision notification, emergency call (SOS) function and alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool If you're in need of a van, the Staria Load is one well worth considering. It may not be as iconic as something like a HiAce or as stylish as the new Transit Custom, but if you're after strong cargo capacity in a comfortable package, the Staria Load has plenty to offer. Its interior tech is great, even without wireless smartphone mirroring, and the cabin is well-enough appointed to keep you interested without going over the top. The driving tech works reliably and never becomes intrusive either, which is more than can be said for many other Hyundai and Kia products. Hyundai's diesel engine is a strong unit too, and when mated with a reliable gearbox it makes for an enjoyable drive – even if it can be a bit bouncy with nothing in the back. Ride quality does leave a bit to be desired, and if you need to transport more than one passenger you're going to struggle with the lack of a middle seat. The options fitted to our tester, including the cargo barrier, are things that should be included as standard, because we feel they're van must-haves. Driving around with cargo sliding into the front cabin isn't ideal, and it's a lot of space to heat in winter. It also lacks the practicality of rear barn doors, and for a top-spec model it'd benefit from something like powered sliding side doors. Wireless Apple CarPlay would also complement that large infotainment display nicely. But as a van made to transport cargo and be comfortable for long hours on the road, the Staria Load obliges. It may not be our first choice, but as a rival to other well-established van nameplates it's a worthy contender. Interested in buying a Hyundai Staria Load? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers Everything Hyundai Staria Content originally sourced from: Staria Pros Hyundai Staria Cons Hyundai's commercial hauler has polarising looks, but its practicality is hard to debate. Note: This is a revised version of our recent review of the Hyundai Staria Load, as there have been no major changes to the model since it was published. We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read our latest price and specs article here for all the details. WATCH: Paul's video review of the Hyundai Staria Highlander The Staria Load, like its related people mover namesake, the Staria, is a neat package from one of Australia's most versatile brands. There may not be performance or hybrid tech here, but what you do get is plenty of tech and features to keep you satisfied. A comfortable interior, quality infotainment, and agile steering are just a few things to get you interested; the rest you'll learn about through some time behind the wheel. Hyundai offers a large catalogue of genuine accessories too, which allows buyers to kit out their Staria Load with everything they need to improve the base package in their own specific way. It all comes in at a competitive price too, matching the comparable Toyota HiAce and undercutting the new Ford Transit Custom. In 2024, the commercial Staria outsold the people mover variant at 3503 to 1363, selling in fewer units than only Hyundai's best-selling passenger cars like the i30 and Tucson. In the van world, it doesn't quite match up to the best-selling HiAce (12,082), although it ranked ahead of the Transit Custom (3427) and LDV G10 (2843). Are you better off sticking with the crowd, or is the spaceship-style Staria Load the one you should be going for instead? The top-spec Premium variant of the Staria Load range rings up at $51,740 before on-road costs – exactly $5000 up on the range-opening two-seater. It's more expensive than even the five-seat crew van, despite missing out on side windows and those additional seats. That price is before you start adding the extra Hyundai accessories fitted to our tester, which include a cargo barrier ($958.33), a heavy-duty rubber cargo floor mat ($796.63), and all-weather floor mats ($249.80). Ours is also painted in Moonlight Blue (no longer available), which like the other premium colours brings an additional cost of $750. That means if you want a Staria Load like the one you see here, expect to add nearly $3000 to the list price – and that's before you consider on-road costs. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool While we'd stop short of calling it luxurious, there's a lot to like about the Staria Load's cabin. The thing worth remembering with the Staria Load is that it is a commercial vehicle, and as such it'd be unreasonable to expect limousine-like comfort levels before getting behind the wheel. Being the Premium grade, you do get some extra goodies like a larger infotainment display and digital instrument cluster, but as with the cheaper variants it's headlined by its work-focused setup and barebones approach. Such elements are evident in the materials used, which are all hard to the touch and utilitarian in appearance. The only soft-touch items you get are the large gear selector and steering wheel, the latter of which we've seen in other large Hyundai models like the Palisade. I'm not the biggest fan of this steering wheel, but it does feel more at home here than it does in something like the Palisade. It's wrapped in smooth, quality leather, and its size and angle are reminiscent of a small bus or an older Toyota HiAce van. A quirk in the driving configuration is the seating position. From the comfortable cloth-trimmed seat you get a commanding view of everything around you, though it does lack armrests that would make the Staria Load that little bit more cruisy. It also lacks three-person seating up front, though that means you're able to make use of the space in the middle that's otherwise occupied by a storage box in the five-seat crew van. The Staria Load's layout is otherwise conventional, which means it takes no time to get used to. What you may not be used to is having to look over the steering wheel to view the instrument cluster, because the display is mounted high atop the dash to make way for a hidden storage cubby. It all works as intended, but you may need to take an extra second to get yourself adjusted accordingly if you're a shorter individual. That generally won't be an issue though, and it's worth the compromise for the extra storage space it unlocks. Ignoring the elephant in the van for the time being, Hyundai has been creative to implement as many storage options up front as possible. There are two hidden storage cubbies on top of the dashboard for various odds and ends, as well as a more conventional glovebox ahead of the passenger seat. On the roof are also two storage shelves with elastic nets. At the base of the centre console is another tub for loose items, and a cut-out for phone storage is found just above that. A wireless charging pad is located in a larger slot under the climate control panel, which also has plenty of space for other things like the key fob. There's also a singular cupholder on top of the dash on the driver's side, which seems precariously close to the digital instrument display. Passengers can make use of the hidden cupholder on the centre console, which folds out when you press on its panel. Storage is otherwise made up of space in the door cards and shallow cut-outs beneath the windows, while there's a hidden compartment integrated into the driver's side step for recovery gear. Creature comforts in the Staria Load are kept to a minimum. There are no heated seats, power-adjustment, or digital rear-view mirrors to make use of; everything instead gets straight to the point. The most complicated item is the climate and infotainment panel, which is populated by a plethora of touchscreen buttons and headlined by that 10.25-inch display. That display is nothing new for Hyundai models, and it looks great graphically with reliable functionality. A downside to the larger screen is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay from smaller-screen models, which means you'll have to hook up your phone via cable instead. Doing so is achieved via the USB-A port next to the gear selector, and there's that convenient slot underneath for your phone to sit while plugged in. The climate control panel is clearly legible thanks to its large icons, and its centre display helps to show what's going on. There are shortcuts above for the various infotainment functions, and everything can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel. Those steering wheel buttons all function as the should and worked reliably in our week with the van. They're also the place to adjust things relating to appearance too, should you want to mess with the way the instrument cluster looks. The gloss-black button material is a gripe, but it gives a more premium look in conjunction with the textured stalks behind. It's all clean and classy – Hyundai has struck a convincing balance between practicality and interior design in the Staria Load. Displays on the instrument cluster are linked to drive mode, which can be toggled using the discreet button below the climate control interface. There are three modes and appearances to cycle through, but you can lock it in a particular theme if you prefer one over the others. Time to talk cargo. It's a van, and the space you get in the back is largely as you'd expect. Our tester was fitted with the optional rubber floor and cargo barrier, though we feel such items should be included as standard. The floor protection helps to dampen noise and reduce the risk of scratches to the interior paint – much like what the panelling fitted to the walls as standard does. The cargo barrier, which only works to keep cargo from sliding through, is nice to have even if it won't keep the cabin's climate isolated. Having the optional solid barrier (or even the optional partition screen) would be preferable for passenger comfort and noise dampening, but this is better than nothing. Space in the back of the Staria Load is quoted at 4.935 cubic metres, smaller than the HiAce at 6.2m. Even so, it doesn't feel compromised by any means. Hyundai fits a sliding door on each side as standard (unlike Ford does with the Transit Custom), though being the Premium grade it misses out on a rear barn door option, something included on both the Toyota and Ford rivals. You get the benefit of a powered tailgate instead, though it's quite long when fully open. That means you get shelter from the rain, but you'll struggle to load from the rear with a forklift, and you also won't be able to open it if you reverse even remotely closely up to a wall. The Staria Load makes up for it with sliding side doors, though their openings aren't terribly wide. On the inside you get eight tie-down points compared to the HiAce's six, but only one light positioned on the roof above the tailgate. That makes it difficult to see if you're using the side doors at night. There's only bare panelling on the roof, which echoes noise once on the road. It's the same as what you find in a Transit Custom, though Toyota adds a roof liner and a central dome light to its HiAce. The rear windows are protected by thick wire bars, and everything else is as it says on the box. It works well for the purpose it serves, though we suspect the rubber used in the optional floor contributed to the strange smell we were greeted with when stepping inside. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool Unlike the Hyundai Staria people mover, there's just one engine available for the Staria Load. All three Staria Load variants share the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission exclusively. Drive is sent to only the front wheels, unlike in the rear-drive HiAce. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool We say you shouldn't expect too much in terms of comfort from a van, and the Staria Load is a good example of why. Unladen, the ride is incredibly bouncy. Things that wouldn't bother a typical car suddenly feel like small jump ramps, and you'll find yourself going out of your way to avoid bumps and holes that could throw the van around. That's not to say it'll become unsettled over larger bumps, but it can often be enough to catch you off guard. With a couple hundred kilograms worth of cargo loaded into the back it's a different story, but if you're often driving an empty van it can become difficult to live with. While we had similar comments about the Transit Custom, it's still true that the HiAce can manage its ride a lot better even when the load space is empty. The Hyundai is quieter than the Toyota, at least compared to the bog-standard HiAce we drove with no interior options selected. Had they been comparably optioned, the noise battle may have turned out differently. The bounciness isn't helped by its wheels either, as although they're a fairly standard size at 17-inches they feel (and look) far too small for such a large van. Bumping up the wheel size an inch or two would make it look better, but would increase tyre replacement costs, worsen the bumpy-road ride and also come at the expense of on-road noise – which already isn't great. Still, it's not all bad, and if you come into the Staria Load with a rough idea of what to expect there's not much that will take you by surprise. Once you're past the initial bumps and bounces, this Hyundai turns out to be an enjoyable van to drive. It feels considerably taller than its rivals, and that helps to provide the high driving position it benefits from. There's also great visibility out front thanks to its sloped bonnet, and it's a good middle ground between a typical passenger car and the vans of old in which the crumple zones were your knees. Visibility is good out the side windows too, but that's where the limitations start. As it's a standard van with no side windows, physical blind-spot visibility is poor. Hyundai makes up for it with the cameras fitted on each side, which project a live image to the instrument cluster when the corresponding indicator is activated. We've seen such tech in other Hyundai and Kia products before, and while it seemed superfluous there, we feel this is a much more practical application. For comparison, Ford's solution to the blind-spot issue is to fit a fisheye mirror to each side mirror housing, while Toyota has nothing beyond digital monitoring. Ford and Hyundai supplement their blind-spot solutions with a monitoring system. The performance of the Staria Load isn't anything ridiculous, but it has no trouble getting up to speed in a hurry. Low-end torque is strong enough to get it out of most sticky situations, and when there's nothing in the back it can be quite spritely and agile. Surprising given its dimensions, but it makes it even better as a run-around in built-up areas. The eight-speed automatic transmission is well-behaved and almost never caught in the wrong gear, with smooth shifts and a quick response its headlining characteristics. Hyundai has made the driving experience as easy as possible from a handling perspective too, as the Staria Load boasts light steering and a tight turning circle to make up for its size. If you're a commercial vehicle buyer who needs the Staria Load for transport and logistics, it's good to have that manoeuvrability for the various tight spaces you may find yourself in. The Staria Load is fitted with adaptive cruise control with lane centring as standard, and it worked reliably in our week with the van. There wasn't a tendency to stray out of its lane, and steering inputs were consistent and smooth. Longer drives on the freeway were made easy as a result, especially if you avoided changing lanes as much as possible because of those blind-spot limitations. Downsides include its headlights, which we feel could be a bit brighter. Its high-beams worked fine, but in unlit areas it's not quite as bright as we're used to. You do get the benefit of the LED light bar across the front, which provides greater visibility for other road users. Another was the road noise, which was especially bad on wet roads. As it isn't a passenger vehicle, that isn't a deal-breaker, and it's manageable if you're fine with a bit of extra volume. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against our rivals? Use our comparison tool. There are three grades of Staria Load, each with a handful of key features to set them apart. 2025 Hyundai Staria Load equipment highlights: The Crew Van receives a centre console storage box, a three-seat second-row bench, second-row windows and two more USB-C ports. Staria Premium (liftback only) adds: Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing of the related people mover conducted in 2021. Standard safety equipment includes: While previous Starias featured blind-spot assist as standard, the 2025 model has reverted to an alarm-only system. The Staria Load Premium adds a blind-spot view monitor, as well as the model debut of Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity, which includes automatic collision notification, emergency call (SOS) function and alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool If you're in need of a van, the Staria Load is one well worth considering. It may not be as iconic as something like a HiAce or as stylish as the new Transit Custom, but if you're after strong cargo capacity in a comfortable package, the Staria Load has plenty to offer. Its interior tech is great, even without wireless smartphone mirroring, and the cabin is well-enough appointed to keep you interested without going over the top. The driving tech works reliably and never becomes intrusive either, which is more than can be said for many other Hyundai and Kia products. Hyundai's diesel engine is a strong unit too, and when mated with a reliable gearbox it makes for an enjoyable drive – even if it can be a bit bouncy with nothing in the back. Ride quality does leave a bit to be desired, and if you need to transport more than one passenger you're going to struggle with the lack of a middle seat. The options fitted to our tester, including the cargo barrier, are things that should be included as standard, because we feel they're van must-haves. Driving around with cargo sliding into the front cabin isn't ideal, and it's a lot of space to heat in winter. It also lacks the practicality of rear barn doors, and for a top-spec model it'd benefit from something like powered sliding side doors. Wireless Apple CarPlay would also complement that large infotainment display nicely. But as a van made to transport cargo and be comfortable for long hours on the road, the Staria Load obliges. It may not be our first choice, but as a rival to other well-established van nameplates it's a worthy contender. Interested in buying a Hyundai Staria Load? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers Everything Hyundai Staria Content originally sourced from: Staria Pros Hyundai Staria Cons Hyundai's commercial hauler has polarising looks, but its practicality is hard to debate. Note: This is a revised version of our recent review of the Hyundai Staria Load, as there have been no major changes to the model since it was published. We have updated key details such as pricing and specifications with the most up to date information available. Read our latest price and specs article here for all the details. WATCH: Paul's video review of the Hyundai Staria Highlander The Staria Load, like its related people mover namesake, the Staria, is a neat package from one of Australia's most versatile brands. There may not be performance or hybrid tech here, but what you do get is plenty of tech and features to keep you satisfied. A comfortable interior, quality infotainment, and agile steering are just a few things to get you interested; the rest you'll learn about through some time behind the wheel. Hyundai offers a large catalogue of genuine accessories too, which allows buyers to kit out their Staria Load with everything they need to improve the base package in their own specific way. It all comes in at a competitive price too, matching the comparable Toyota HiAce and undercutting the new Ford Transit Custom. In 2024, the commercial Staria outsold the people mover variant at 3503 to 1363, selling in fewer units than only Hyundai's best-selling passenger cars like the i30 and Tucson. In the van world, it doesn't quite match up to the best-selling HiAce (12,082), although it ranked ahead of the Transit Custom (3427) and LDV G10 (2843). Are you better off sticking with the crowd, or is the spaceship-style Staria Load the one you should be going for instead? The top-spec Premium variant of the Staria Load range rings up at $51,740 before on-road costs – exactly $5000 up on the range-opening two-seater. It's more expensive than even the five-seat crew van, despite missing out on side windows and those additional seats. That price is before you start adding the extra Hyundai accessories fitted to our tester, which include a cargo barrier ($958.33), a heavy-duty rubber cargo floor mat ($796.63), and all-weather floor mats ($249.80). Ours is also painted in Moonlight Blue (no longer available), which like the other premium colours brings an additional cost of $750. That means if you want a Staria Load like the one you see here, expect to add nearly $3000 to the list price – and that's before you consider on-road costs. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool While we'd stop short of calling it luxurious, there's a lot to like about the Staria Load's cabin. The thing worth remembering with the Staria Load is that it is a commercial vehicle, and as such it'd be unreasonable to expect limousine-like comfort levels before getting behind the wheel. Being the Premium grade, you do get some extra goodies like a larger infotainment display and digital instrument cluster, but as with the cheaper variants it's headlined by its work-focused setup and barebones approach. Such elements are evident in the materials used, which are all hard to the touch and utilitarian in appearance. The only soft-touch items you get are the large gear selector and steering wheel, the latter of which we've seen in other large Hyundai models like the Palisade. I'm not the biggest fan of this steering wheel, but it does feel more at home here than it does in something like the Palisade. It's wrapped in smooth, quality leather, and its size and angle are reminiscent of a small bus or an older Toyota HiAce van. A quirk in the driving configuration is the seating position. From the comfortable cloth-trimmed seat you get a commanding view of everything around you, though it does lack armrests that would make the Staria Load that little bit more cruisy. It also lacks three-person seating up front, though that means you're able to make use of the space in the middle that's otherwise occupied by a storage box in the five-seat crew van. The Staria Load's layout is otherwise conventional, which means it takes no time to get used to. What you may not be used to is having to look over the steering wheel to view the instrument cluster, because the display is mounted high atop the dash to make way for a hidden storage cubby. It all works as intended, but you may need to take an extra second to get yourself adjusted accordingly if you're a shorter individual. That generally won't be an issue though, and it's worth the compromise for the extra storage space it unlocks. Ignoring the elephant in the van for the time being, Hyundai has been creative to implement as many storage options up front as possible. There are two hidden storage cubbies on top of the dashboard for various odds and ends, as well as a more conventional glovebox ahead of the passenger seat. On the roof are also two storage shelves with elastic nets. At the base of the centre console is another tub for loose items, and a cut-out for phone storage is found just above that. A wireless charging pad is located in a larger slot under the climate control panel, which also has plenty of space for other things like the key fob. There's also a singular cupholder on top of the dash on the driver's side, which seems precariously close to the digital instrument display. Passengers can make use of the hidden cupholder on the centre console, which folds out when you press on its panel. Storage is otherwise made up of space in the door cards and shallow cut-outs beneath the windows, while there's a hidden compartment integrated into the driver's side step for recovery gear. Creature comforts in the Staria Load are kept to a minimum. There are no heated seats, power-adjustment, or digital rear-view mirrors to make use of; everything instead gets straight to the point. The most complicated item is the climate and infotainment panel, which is populated by a plethora of touchscreen buttons and headlined by that 10.25-inch display. That display is nothing new for Hyundai models, and it looks great graphically with reliable functionality. A downside to the larger screen is the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay from smaller-screen models, which means you'll have to hook up your phone via cable instead. Doing so is achieved via the USB-A port next to the gear selector, and there's that convenient slot underneath for your phone to sit while plugged in. The climate control panel is clearly legible thanks to its large icons, and its centre display helps to show what's going on. There are shortcuts above for the various infotainment functions, and everything can be controlled via the buttons on the steering wheel. Those steering wheel buttons all function as the should and worked reliably in our week with the van. They're also the place to adjust things relating to appearance too, should you want to mess with the way the instrument cluster looks. The gloss-black button material is a gripe, but it gives a more premium look in conjunction with the textured stalks behind. It's all clean and classy – Hyundai has struck a convincing balance between practicality and interior design in the Staria Load. Displays on the instrument cluster are linked to drive mode, which can be toggled using the discreet button below the climate control interface. There are three modes and appearances to cycle through, but you can lock it in a particular theme if you prefer one over the others. Time to talk cargo. It's a van, and the space you get in the back is largely as you'd expect. Our tester was fitted with the optional rubber floor and cargo barrier, though we feel such items should be included as standard. The floor protection helps to dampen noise and reduce the risk of scratches to the interior paint – much like what the panelling fitted to the walls as standard does. The cargo barrier, which only works to keep cargo from sliding through, is nice to have even if it won't keep the cabin's climate isolated. Having the optional solid barrier (or even the optional partition screen) would be preferable for passenger comfort and noise dampening, but this is better than nothing. Space in the back of the Staria Load is quoted at 4.935 cubic metres, smaller than the HiAce at 6.2m. Even so, it doesn't feel compromised by any means. Hyundai fits a sliding door on each side as standard (unlike Ford does with the Transit Custom), though being the Premium grade it misses out on a rear barn door option, something included on both the Toyota and Ford rivals. You get the benefit of a powered tailgate instead, though it's quite long when fully open. That means you get shelter from the rain, but you'll struggle to load from the rear with a forklift, and you also won't be able to open it if you reverse even remotely closely up to a wall. The Staria Load makes up for it with sliding side doors, though their openings aren't terribly wide. On the inside you get eight tie-down points compared to the HiAce's six, but only one light positioned on the roof above the tailgate. That makes it difficult to see if you're using the side doors at night. There's only bare panelling on the roof, which echoes noise once on the road. It's the same as what you find in a Transit Custom, though Toyota adds a roof liner and a central dome light to its HiAce. The rear windows are protected by thick wire bars, and everything else is as it says on the box. It works well for the purpose it serves, though we suspect the rubber used in the optional floor contributed to the strange smell we were greeted with when stepping inside. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool Unlike the Hyundai Staria people mover, there's just one engine available for the Staria Load. All three Staria Load variants share the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, which is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission exclusively. Drive is sent to only the front wheels, unlike in the rear-drive HiAce. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool We say you shouldn't expect too much in terms of comfort from a van, and the Staria Load is a good example of why. Unladen, the ride is incredibly bouncy. Things that wouldn't bother a typical car suddenly feel like small jump ramps, and you'll find yourself going out of your way to avoid bumps and holes that could throw the van around. That's not to say it'll become unsettled over larger bumps, but it can often be enough to catch you off guard. With a couple hundred kilograms worth of cargo loaded into the back it's a different story, but if you're often driving an empty van it can become difficult to live with. While we had similar comments about the Transit Custom, it's still true that the HiAce can manage its ride a lot better even when the load space is empty. The Hyundai is quieter than the Toyota, at least compared to the bog-standard HiAce we drove with no interior options selected. Had they been comparably optioned, the noise battle may have turned out differently. The bounciness isn't helped by its wheels either, as although they're a fairly standard size at 17-inches they feel (and look) far too small for such a large van. Bumping up the wheel size an inch or two would make it look better, but would increase tyre replacement costs, worsen the bumpy-road ride and also come at the expense of on-road noise – which already isn't great. Still, it's not all bad, and if you come into the Staria Load with a rough idea of what to expect there's not much that will take you by surprise. Once you're past the initial bumps and bounces, this Hyundai turns out to be an enjoyable van to drive. It feels considerably taller than its rivals, and that helps to provide the high driving position it benefits from. There's also great visibility out front thanks to its sloped bonnet, and it's a good middle ground between a typical passenger car and the vans of old in which the crumple zones were your knees. Visibility is good out the side windows too, but that's where the limitations start. As it's a standard van with no side windows, physical blind-spot visibility is poor. Hyundai makes up for it with the cameras fitted on each side, which project a live image to the instrument cluster when the corresponding indicator is activated. We've seen such tech in other Hyundai and Kia products before, and while it seemed superfluous there, we feel this is a much more practical application. For comparison, Ford's solution to the blind-spot issue is to fit a fisheye mirror to each side mirror housing, while Toyota has nothing beyond digital monitoring. Ford and Hyundai supplement their blind-spot solutions with a monitoring system. The performance of the Staria Load isn't anything ridiculous, but it has no trouble getting up to speed in a hurry. Low-end torque is strong enough to get it out of most sticky situations, and when there's nothing in the back it can be quite spritely and agile. Surprising given its dimensions, but it makes it even better as a run-around in built-up areas. The eight-speed automatic transmission is well-behaved and almost never caught in the wrong gear, with smooth shifts and a quick response its headlining characteristics. Hyundai has made the driving experience as easy as possible from a handling perspective too, as the Staria Load boasts light steering and a tight turning circle to make up for its size. If you're a commercial vehicle buyer who needs the Staria Load for transport and logistics, it's good to have that manoeuvrability for the various tight spaces you may find yourself in. The Staria Load is fitted with adaptive cruise control with lane centring as standard, and it worked reliably in our week with the van. There wasn't a tendency to stray out of its lane, and steering inputs were consistent and smooth. Longer drives on the freeway were made easy as a result, especially if you avoided changing lanes as much as possible because of those blind-spot limitations. Downsides include its headlights, which we feel could be a bit brighter. Its high-beams worked fine, but in unlit areas it's not quite as bright as we're used to. You do get the benefit of the LED light bar across the front, which provides greater visibility for other road users. Another was the road noise, which was especially bad on wet roads. As it isn't a passenger vehicle, that isn't a deal-breaker, and it's manageable if you're fine with a bit of extra volume. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against our rivals? Use our comparison tool. There are three grades of Staria Load, each with a handful of key features to set them apart. 2025 Hyundai Staria Load equipment highlights: The Crew Van receives a centre console storage box, a three-seat second-row bench, second-row windows and two more USB-C ports. Staria Premium (liftback only) adds: Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing of the related people mover conducted in 2021. Standard safety equipment includes: While previous Starias featured blind-spot assist as standard, the 2025 model has reverted to an alarm-only system. The Staria Load Premium adds a blind-spot view monitor, as well as the model debut of Hyundai's Bluelink connectivity, which includes automatic collision notification, emergency call (SOS) function and alert services including geo-fencing, valet, speed and time alerts. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool The Hyundai Staria Load is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Interested to see how the Hyundai Staria Load stacks up against its rivals? Use our comparison tool If you're in need of a van, the Staria Load is one well worth considering. It may not be as iconic as something like a HiAce or as stylish as the new Transit Custom, but if you're after strong cargo capacity in a comfortable package, the Staria Load has plenty to offer. Its interior tech is great, even without wireless smartphone mirroring, and the cabin is well-enough appointed to keep you interested without going over the top. The driving tech works reliably and never becomes intrusive either, which is more than can be said for many other Hyundai and Kia products. Hyundai's diesel engine is a strong unit too, and when mated with a reliable gearbox it makes for an enjoyable drive – even if it can be a bit bouncy with nothing in the back. Ride quality does leave a bit to be desired, and if you need to transport more than one passenger you're going to struggle with the lack of a middle seat. The options fitted to our tester, including the cargo barrier, are things that should be included as standard, because we feel they're van must-haves. Driving around with cargo sliding into the front cabin isn't ideal, and it's a lot of space to heat in winter. It also lacks the practicality of rear barn doors, and for a top-spec model it'd benefit from something like powered sliding side doors. Wireless Apple CarPlay would also complement that large infotainment display nicely. But as a van made to transport cargo and be comfortable for long hours on the road, the Staria Load obliges. It may not be our first choice, but as a rival to other well-established van nameplates it's a worthy contender. Interested in buying a Hyundai Staria Load? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers Everything Hyundai Staria Content originally sourced from:

7NEWS

2 days ago

• 7NEWS

Genesis GV80 Hybrid coming in 2026

Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites 'a source familiar with the matter' saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary's first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter. The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A 'fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028', according to the unnamed source. Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group's official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system At the heart of the Korean carmaker's latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be 'paired flexibly' with a number of the company's existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency. The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering 'faster and smoother' shifts. In the case of the Palisade's 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids. Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid's 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine. Above: Genesis Electrified GV70 This is the latest development in Genesis's rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies. 'Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space,' Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog. 'Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible.' Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they're available. 'We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele,' Mr Douglass said in April 2024. Above: Genesis GV80 Black The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas. A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market. It's unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system's outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis's sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.

The Advertiser

2 days ago

• The Advertiser

Genesis GV80 Hybrid coming in 2026

Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites "a source familiar with the matter" saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary's first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter. The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A "fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028", according to the unnamed source. Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group's official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system At the heart of the Korean carmaker's latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be "paired flexibly" with a number of the company's existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency. The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering "faster and smoother" shifts. In the case of the Palisade's 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids. Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid's 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine. Above: Genesis Electrified GV70 This is the latest development in Genesis's rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies. "Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space," Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog. "Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible." Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they're available. "We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele," Mr Douglass said in April 2024. Above: Genesis GV80 Black The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas. A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market. It's unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system's outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis's sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Hyundai details new hybrid tech ahead of Kia, Genesis rolloutMORE: Latest luxury brand to take on Lexus hybrids revealedMORE: Explore the Genesis GV80 showroom Content originally sourced from: Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites "a source familiar with the matter" saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary's first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter. The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A "fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028", according to the unnamed source. Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group's official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system At the heart of the Korean carmaker's latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be "paired flexibly" with a number of the company's existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency. The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering "faster and smoother" shifts. In the case of the Palisade's 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids. Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid's 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine. Above: Genesis Electrified GV70 This is the latest development in Genesis's rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies. "Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space," Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog. "Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible." Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they're available. "We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele," Mr Douglass said in April 2024. Above: Genesis GV80 Black The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas. A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market. It's unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system's outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis's sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Hyundai details new hybrid tech ahead of Kia, Genesis rolloutMORE: Latest luxury brand to take on Lexus hybrids revealedMORE: Explore the Genesis GV80 showroom Content originally sourced from: Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites "a source familiar with the matter" saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary's first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter. The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A "fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028", according to the unnamed source. Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group's official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system At the heart of the Korean carmaker's latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be "paired flexibly" with a number of the company's existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency. The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering "faster and smoother" shifts. In the case of the Palisade's 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids. Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid's 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine. Above: Genesis Electrified GV70 This is the latest development in Genesis's rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies. "Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space," Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog. "Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible." Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they're available. "We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele," Mr Douglass said in April 2024. Above: Genesis GV80 Black The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas. A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market. It's unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system's outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis's sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Hyundai details new hybrid tech ahead of Kia, Genesis rolloutMORE: Latest luxury brand to take on Lexus hybrids revealedMORE: Explore the Genesis GV80 showroom Content originally sourced from: Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet. Korea JoongAng Daily cites "a source familiar with the matter" saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary's first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter. The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A "fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028", according to the unnamed source. Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group's official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system At the heart of the Korean carmaker's latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be "paired flexibly" with a number of the company's existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency. The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering "faster and smoother" shifts. In the case of the Palisade's 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids. Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid's 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine. Above: Genesis Electrified GV70 This is the latest development in Genesis's rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies. "Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space," Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog. "Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible." Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they're available. "We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele," Mr Douglass said in April 2024. Above: Genesis GV80 Black The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas. A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market. It's unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system's outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis's sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn't be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark. Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest. MORE: Hyundai details new hybrid tech ahead of Kia, Genesis rolloutMORE: Latest luxury brand to take on Lexus hybrids revealedMORE: Explore the Genesis GV80 showroom Content originally sourced from: