Hyundai Staria EV spied in Korea
Spy photos have revealed Hyundai’s popular Staria people-mover is going fully electric. It will sport a distinctly different rear end compared with its petrol and diesel siblings.
Shared by Autospy, the prototype displays a mostly closed-off grille housing a charging port. It inherits the slim, rectangular-style headlight clusters from the Korean-market Staria Lounge.
Finished in a unique two-tone paint job, this camouflaged Staria also lacks any fuel filler door. That clearly suggests it is a pure electric rather than plug-in hybrid set-up.
The biggest surprise lies at the back: from the front to the C-pillar, it looks familiar. However, the rear overhang is significantly shorter. This more compact tail section marks a notable departure from the regular Staria’s design.
According to a June 2024 report by The Korea Economic Daily, Hyundai intends to build the Staria EV in Europe. Production should start in the first half of 2026. Plans include selling it not just in Europe but in Asia-Pacific markets as well. So likely it will make its way to New Zealand and Australia.
An 84kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery with a claimed 324km of range is said to be on the cards. That places the Staria EV in direct competition with Europe’s Ford E-Tourneo and Volkswagen ID. Buzz. It will also come up against Chinese electric MPVs such as the LDV MIFA 9 and Zeekr 009.
This EV variant may replace an earlier proposal for a hydrogen-powered Staria. Hyundai initially targeted that for a 2023 launch but it never materialised.
For now, the Staria is sold in New Zealand with a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. Overseas, Hyundai already offers a 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid version of the Staria producing around 180kW. However, it remains unconfirmed for Kiwi showrooms.
Should it arrive, it would line up as a direct competitor to the Carnival Hybrid.
No official word has been given on when the fully electric Staria might hit our shores. However, families and fleet buyers looking for a futuristic, eco-friendly people-mover should keep an eye out for Hyundai’s next big announcement.
Check out our review of the Hyundai Staria people mover.
