Hyundai Staria Electric - a spaceship van for the family

10 January 2026

The automotive world has been waiting for this one. Hyundai has finally pulled the cover off the fully electric version of its most futuristic vehicle - the Hyundai Staria Electric. It made its first appearance at the Brussels Motor Show, bringing the brand's space-age design into the world of battery-powered transport. For families and shuttle drivers looking for electric cars that stand out, this van is hard to miss.

The first thing you notice about the Staria is that it does not look like a normal van. It keeps the "one-curve" shape that made the gas-powered version famous. The front end is very clean. It has a single, long light bar that stretches across the entire width of the hood. Because electric cars do not need big open grills for cooling an engine, the front is smooth and closed off, helping the van cut through the air a little bit better.

Hyundai calls their design theme "Inside-Out." It's confusing, but it means they designed the interior space first and built the body around it. The beltline - where the metal meets the glass on the doors - is very low, which creates massive windows. The result is great visibility for the driver and a bright, open feeling for everyone inside, although it makes the AC work overtime on a sunny day.

When you buy a van, you buy it for space, and Staria Electric uses its flat floor to give passengers more than plenty of room to move. It will come in two main versions: the Luxury model with seven seats is for families who want comfort. The second row seats are apparently heated and cooled, which is new for Hyundai.

Then there is the Wagon version. This one fits nine people. It is built for larger families or shuttle services. The seats can slide and fold to make room for luggage. Even with the seats up, there is good storage space. The Wagon has up to 46 ft³ of space behind the third row if you adjust the seats right.

Surprisingly, the new Staria Electric uses an 84 kWh battery - a rather disappointing choice for a vehicle this big. Hyundai says it can travel up to 249 miles on a full charge based on WLTP testing. That means at highway speeds its range will drop to just over 186 miles, which isn't really impressive for a vehicle that's marketed as a people hauler.

The good news is the charging speed. The van uses the same high-tech 800V system we already know from the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. If you find a fast DC charger, you can charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. Hyundai hopes this will make long road trips much easier. For charging at home, Staria gets an 11 kW charger built in.

Unfortunately, things get a little questionable from here on. The Staria Electric is powered by a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. This motor delivers 160 kW, an equivalent of about 218 horsepower.

For a heavy van carrying up to 9 people and their luggage, 218 horsepower is not a lot. Some competitors in China are making electric vans with over 500 horsepower. The Staria is not slow, but there's no way you can call it rapid. Hyundai claims that the electric motor provides smooth power without the noise and vibration of a gas engine, making the ride very quiet and relaxing. Smooth and steady seems to be Hyundai's idea.

The interior is nothing to shout about - the dashboard comes with two large 12.3-inch screens. One is for the driver's gauges, and the other is for maps and music, and there's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. Hyundai also included a feature called Vehicle-to-Load (V2L). This lets you power a laptop, camping lights, or even a coffee maker right from the car battery - great idea for camping trips or outdoor work, providing your camping spot is within a 124 miles radius of the nearest charger.

The van is also capable of towing. It has a towing capacity of 4,410 lb (braked). In theory, this means you can pull a decent-sized trailer or boat. But towing a two-ton boat trailer, plus passengers and luggage, with 218 horsepower will be an exercise in patience and planning. That 400-km range? It'll be more like 124 miles, providing you take it slow and steady.

To help with safety, Staria comes with Hyundai SmartSense. This system includes cameras and radar to help you stay in your lane, avoid crashes, and park in tight spots. Hyundai says the Staria Electric will go on sale in Korea and Europe in the first half of 2026, with other markets to follow later. The low horsepower is a real letdown for EV enthusiasts, but the fast charging and space-age looks might be enough to win over some buyers.

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