The Staria has been a polarising product in the market since it arrived in 2021, but now the contemporary-looking people mover is set to get a fully electric powertrain to match its futuristic aesthetics.
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Hyundai’s Staria burst onto the scene in 2021, looking like it had just rolled off the set of a sci-fi film and to the surprise of many, it still employed traditional powertrains. The South Korean manufacturer is changing all of that now with what will be a zero-emissions electric powertrain to match its futuristic styling. Spy photos from Europe have shown a prototype of the boxy people mover in testing, with speculation pointing towards a fully electrified powertrain.
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Fortunately, this forthcoming Staria EV has already been caught in the wild without a stitch of disguise in a Korean parking garage earlier this year. The uncovered shots show a front end that drops the current model’s bold black grille in favour of a body-coloured nose. Technical specs remain under wraps, but Hyundai has already provided hints that the Staria-based ST1 commercial van will be fitted with a single electric motor producing 160 kW and 350 N.m, paired with a 63 or 76 kWh battery—enough for a WLTP range of up to 320 km.
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A slightly larger battery from Hyundai’s all-electric family might be the logical choice in the people mover but nothing is confirmed yet. 800-volt architecture means that some batteries can replenish 100 km worth of range in just 10 minutes using a 350 kW charger. Until its official reveal later on this year, speculation will remain rife but it is also expected that the full Staria range will continue to offer a variety of different powertrain offerings including petrol, diesel and hybrid choices for buyers.
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