Hyundai has never been shy about turning the volume knob past 11, and the Staria proves it. Now the brand is plugging in its most spaceship-like MPV yet, aiming squarely at rivals like the Kia PV5 and Ford E-Tourneo Custom with a fully electric Staria that’s officially headed for Europe—and potentially the UK.
First launched in 2021, the Staria looked less like a minivan and more like something that had slipped through a wormhole from the year 2045. Underneath its monolithic skin sits the same platform as the Santa Fe, and until now European buyers have only had diesel power to work with. That changes with the debut of the Staria Electric, revealed at the Brussels motor show and approved for right-hand-drive markets.
At 5255mm long and nearly two metres tall, the Staria Electric isn’t just big—it’s unapologetically enormous. A 2375mm wheelbase supports either seven or nine seats, making this the largest electric vehicle Hyundai currently offers. The company sees its appeal extending from large families to airport shuttle fleets to anyone whose idea of an “active lifestyle” involves hauling half their life at once.
Power comes from an 84kWh lithium-ion battery feeding a 216bhp motor driving the front wheels. Hyundai hasn’t published a 0–62mph time, but given the output and size, expect something around the eight-second mark. Top speed is a claimed 114mph, and towing capacity tops out at a respectable two tonnes—figures that keep it competitive with both ICE and electric people-movers.
The real eyebrow-raiser is underneath. Despite being based on an internal-combustion platform, the Staria Electric uses 800-volt electrical architecture—the same tech found in Hyundai’s dedicated EVs. That enables rapid charging from 10 to 80 percent in just 20 minutes, implying average charging speeds north of 180kW. For a vehicle this size, that’s genuinely impressive.
Visually, the electric version doesn’t stray far from the facelifted ICE model. You still get the unmistakable wraparound LED light bar, twin sliding doors, massive glasshouse, and a cavernous interior with a flat floor and cathedral-like headroom. Hyundai says suspension tweaks and additional sound insulation have been added to better suit the quieter EV powertrain.
Inside, the dashboard mirrors other modern Hyundais, with twin 12.3-inch screens and a welcome number of physical buttons for key functions. The column-mounted gear selector frees up space in the centre console, reinforcing the Staria’s lounge-on-wheels vibe.
Hyundai plans to offer the seven-seat Luxury version and the four-row Wagon variant in Europe during the first half of the year. UK availability hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the intent is clearly there.
If minivans are due for an electric reinvention, the Staria Electric makes a compelling case—big, bold, fast-charging, and utterly unconcerned with blending in. Whether British buyers are ready for something this unapologetically futuristic is the only remaining question.
Source: Hyundai