Top 10 major differences between the Hyundai Staria Max and Staria Premium

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors, the official distributor of Hyundai cars in Malaysia, recently expanded the Staria MPV lineup by adding the all-new 10-seater version to it. The latest model offers seating space for a total of 10 occupants and comes in three different trims - Lite, Plus, and Max, priced much lower than the earlier launched Staria Premium. 

As the title suggests, here we bring the top 10 major differences between the Hyundai Staria Premium and top-spec seven-seater Staria Max. But before diving into that, let’s have a look at their prices and engine specifications. 

Pricing for the 10-seater Hyundai Staria starts at RM 179,888 (with a standard warranty package) and goes all the way up to RM 209,888 (with a standard warranty package) for the top-spec Max. The extended warranty and service package adds a premium of almost RM 10,000 to the standard prices. The Staria Premium, on the other hand, retails for RM 366,768. 

Coming to under-the-hood specifications, here both MPVs are equipped with the same 2.2-litre turbo diesel mill, which cranks out a maximum power of 177 hp and a maximum torque of 431 Nm. Shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission enabling the vehicle to run from zero to 100 kmph in 12.4 seconds. The list of drive modes includes Smart, Normal, Eco, and Sport.

Time to shed light on the difference between the Staria Max and Staria Premium -

Seating layout

Designed for big families and businesses, the 10-seat MPV features a 2-3-2-3 seating layout. It promises ample space for all passengers thanks to the vehicle’s 5,253 mm length, 1,997 mm width, 1,990 mm height, and 3,273 mm long wheelbase.

On the other side of the pool, the Staria Premium offers us seating space for seven passengers only with a 2-2-3 seating configuration. The middle row features two individual Premium Relaxation Seats that can be individually adjustable with a one-touch relaxation mode.

Seats adjustability and functions

With the 10-seater MPV, we just get 8-way powered driver seat adjustability with 4-way lumbar support, whereas the Premium trim offers the following options for different seats -

• Driver - 8-way powered with 4-way lumbar support
• Front Passenger - 4-way powered with a walk-in device
• 2nd Row Passenger Captain seat - 8-way powered with a 4-way left, right, front & back manual adjustment, 2-way backrest, 2-way seat cushion, and 4-way leg rest 

The Premium MPV also offers heated and ventilated seat functionality (with 3 levels) for the driver, front passenger, and second row.

Boot space

All three rear rows of the 10-seater can be folded flat, expanding the MPV’s boot space to 1,024 litres. With this much space, one can easily fit in a bed for camping, oversized items, or extra luggage. However, this is not possible in the 7-seater model because of the individual Premium Relaxation seats in the middle, which can’t be folded. Thus, the 7-seater model offers a maximum loading capacity of 431 litres.

Sunroof

While there is no sunroof available with the 10-seater model, the Premium MPV is equipped with a dual sunroof system.

Sound system

The automaker equipped the lower-priced Staria with a standard audio system with four speakers and two tweeters. However, the premium model brings the Bose Premium Sound System to the table, which is connected to a total of twelve speakers. It offers an immersive sound experience with automatically calibrated speaker volume according to the driving speed.

Ambient light

There is no ambient lighting system available on the Staria Max, while at the same time, the Premium version offers a 10-colour ambient mood lamp. The shades of the lamp can be customised with soft or lively moods suiting personal preferences.

USB ports

The Staria Max is kitted with eight USB ports, of which seven are for charging whereas the seven-seat model incorporates six ports, five of which can let you charge your smartphone.

Brass trims

Both MPVs have almost the same front fascia, which looks sleek, modern, and futuristic. However, with the dearer trim, we get some exclusive brass trims adding a flavour of class to the mix. These comprise a tinted brass chrome bumper and 18-inch tinted brass alloy wheels, which are also available in dark chrome finishing.

Headlights 

The wide front grille of the MPV is edged by low-mounted vertical headlights, which are full LED on the Staria Max and dual-LED (low and high projection) on the 7-seater variant.

ORVMs 

While the ORVMs of both vehicles come with electric control and folding system, the Staria Premium also gets the mirror heating functionality. 

So, those were the key distinctions between the Staria Max and Premium. Which of these would you prefer to buy? Let us know in the comments.

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