Following up with its teaser last month, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has now announced that the entry-level 10-seater variant of the Hyundai Staria will be launched here in Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2022. Order books for the new, cheaper variant have now opened, with an estimated pricing starting at RM17X,XXX, the company said in a press release.
According to HSDM Managing Director, Low Yuan Lung, the 10-seater Hyundai Staria has been heavily requested by its customer base, after the introduction of the seven-seater Premium variant last year, priced at RM366,768.
“We have been getting enquiries for the 10-seater variant, as there has been anticipation that the 10-seater variant will replace the Starex. Like the Starex, this 10-seater variant is ideal for big families, tour operators, and businesses, but with vast improvements and more functionalities in every aspect of the vehicle as compared to the Starex,” he said.
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The 10-seater Hyundai Staria will be offered in three variants: Lite, Plus, and Max, all of which powered by the same 2.2-litre CRDi turbodiesel mill, providing 177 hp and 431 Nm of torque. Just like the Premium variant, the 10-seater variants will also be paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox across the range.
Apart from the new seating configuration on the inside, there really isn’t all that much visually that sets the new variants apart. The 10-seater Hyundai Staria still gets the same futuristic spaceship-like silhouette on the outside, complemented by the slim full-width daytime-running lights and positioning lamps in front.
The front grille seems to get a different design on the 10-seater, and will be finished in the same colour as the rest of the body, while the lower variants will also most likely get smaller wheels. But what remains to be seen is how the variants line-up against each other in terms of their equipment.
We do know that the seats will be arranged in a 2-3-2-3 arrangement, and a check on Hyundai Malaysia’s website shows that they’ll all be wrapped in black monotone Nappa leather upholstery. The company also says that it’ll feature one of the best legroom in the segment, and the seats can also be converted into an expansive cargo space when all of the seats are pushed together, thanks to the long sliding seat function.
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Hyundai also mentioned a “full-flat mode” for the seats, which we presume means it’ll be completely removable like the CKD eight-seater Kia Carnival, offering much more flexibility according to the user’s needs.
As mentioned above, the 10-seater Hyundai Kia Carnival is now available for booking, with a fee of RM1,000. Interested customers can now walk into any authorised Hyundai showrooms to place a booking, or online via HSDM’s online shopping platform, Click to Buy, linked here.
