Hyundai Staria Electric: Hyundai’s biggest 5.25 m EV makes its debut

Back in 2021, the Hyundai Staria looked like it had driven straight out of an 80s retro-futurist film. Even so, it was odd that such a sizeable MPV came without any kind of electrified powertrain, which would have better matched its forward-looking styling.

Fast-forward almost five years and the picture has changed completely. At the Brussels Motor Show, Hyundai gave the Staria Electric its world premiere. As well as broadening the South Korean brand’s electric line-up, it becomes Hyundai’s biggest EV ever, measuring 5.25 m in length.

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 160 kW (218 cv) and 350 Nm of torque, paired with an 84 kWh battery that enables up to 400 km of range (WLTP). Interestingly, it is claimed to reach 184 km/h, although there is still no official 0–100 km/h figure.

It also promises rapid charging thanks to an 800 V electrical system. Hyundai quotes just 20 minutes to lift the battery from 10% to 80%. Maximum DC charging power has not been disclosed.

What else has changed?

In visual terms, the Staria Electric largely retains the look of the original model. Up front, the full-width LED daytime-running light bar remains the key feature, positioned above the main headlamps, which sit at the outer edges of the grille.

From the side, the vast glass area and very low waistline continue to stand out, while the rear - more traditional in shape - uses vertical tail-lights. The sliding rear doors are still part of the package.

Space for a futsal team

Inside, the cabin is centred around two 12.3-inch displays - one for the instrument panel and another as the central screen - a layout already familiar from other Hyundai models.

In Wagon form, the Staria Electric can carry up to nine people across three rows, with seats that slide and fold. The Luxury version, by contrast, is limited to seven seats.

Even with all three rows in place, the boot offers up to 435 litres in the Luxury, rising to an impressive 1303 litres in the Wagon. That substantial gap is explained by the spacing between the three rows - shorter in the Wagon - but that also translates into less legroom.

Hyundai positions the Staria Electric Wagon and the Luxury differently: the former is presented as the more suitable choice for shuttle services or group transport, while the latter targets other parts of the market, such as executive travel. The South Korean manufacturer also says both can work as family cars… for large families.

When will it arrive?

Although it reached Europe in 2022, the Hyundai Staria was never sold in Portugal. Even so, we did get the chance to drive it - watch (or rewatch) that brief video test.

That will not be the case with the Hyundai Staria Electric. Its European launch is scheduled for the first half of 2026, and Portugal is included this time, even though for our market it has only been confirmed that it will arrive by the end of the year.