hyundai launched the Staria in the spring of 2021, and right away it was clear that this big car didn’t wont to fit in. Instead of the customary “family van”, the MPV came with smooth surfaces, large windows and a distinctive light signature, which one cannot easily mistake on the road. now, after less than five years on the market, the modernization is coming for the 2026 model year. The changes are often subtle at first glance, but they are all the more focused on things that are dealt with every day.
Hyundai has so far presented the facelift in South Korea, where the modernized Staria is also available for order. And even if the Staria does not appear nearly as often in Europe and the Czech Republic, it is here that the next steps of the brand can be fascinating, mainly because of the plans for an electric version.
There are news on the bodywork,but it needs to be looked at carefully
Those who expect a radical overhaul of the appearance will rather look for details. The basic silhouette remains the same, so the Staria still feels modern and “cosmic” as expected. Still, a few things have changed up front.
Hyundai modified the light signature.At the front, there is a new uninterrupted LED strip across the entire width, complemented by engraved Staria logos on the sides.The lower headlights are better embedded in the bumper, and the pattern of the air inlets for cooling is also different.
For the higher Lounge equipment, the mask also changes. It received decent chrome accents and optically separates more from the lower part of the bumper.Hyundai has not yet confirmed anything concrete about the purely electric version of the Staria as part of this presentation, although test prototypes with a different front bumper have already appeared.
A new color, Classy Blue Pearl, has also been added. In addition,the Lounge equipment expands the range of paints with the galaxy Maroon Pearl shade.
The interior remains familiar, but the technology and controls have moved on
Inside, Hyundai didn’t try to ditch the whole layout. Rather, he focused on the elements that the driver and crew perceive the moast. The most obvious is the growth of displays. Both the digital instrument panel and central infotainment have grown from 10.25 to 12.3 inches and run on the brand’s latest software. It also supports remote updates, i.e. so-called OTA.
The dashboard received new ventilation outlets and a new storage space was added in the form of a compartment or “tray”. Changes also apply to the center console. Hyundai has added more physical controls and instead moved away from the touch buttons that the previous model had.
The steering wheel is also more modern. In the Lounge equipment, there is an electronic transmission selection control on the steering column, similar to what Hyundai uses, such as, in the Ioniq electric models. A practical novelty is the auxiliary handle next to the driver’s seat, which is supposed to facilitate boarding. At the same time, there are new upholstery color options and more assistance systems as standard.
What remains the same is the wide range of interior layouts. The Staria continues to be offered from two-seater commercial versions to eleven-seater variants spread over four rows.
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