Already a year old, the Hyundai Staria van still looks more like a brand-new concept vehicle than most actual concept cars. However, it's the real deal, a futuristic take on the MPV available from dealerships in markets around the world. Hyundai tipped early on that it had planned its own Staria camper van, a successor to the pop-top Grand Starex camper, and it's now debuted a pair of mini-RVs that blend the Staria's visionary looks and cutting-edge driving technologies with modern smart-camping comforts. Buyers can choose from a familiar four-person family pop-top or an 11-person semi-camper shuttle.
We're not sure Hyundai's own campers are quite as impressive as a Staria with balcony bedroom and electric privacy glass, but they're very practical vans that run the full gamut from traveling mini-smart home to overnighting adventure shuttle.
The highlight of the two-van series is the Staria Lounge Camper 4, a classic mid-size van camper aimed at comfortably accommodating the family of four throughout the week and on multi-day weekend adventures. Using an electric-lift pop-up roof, the Camper 4 sleeps two people on an upper bed and another two on the folding rear bench bed down below. During the drive, it seats all four on the front seats and two-seat bench.
The generously equipped Camper 4 includes a side kitchen with sink and 36-L fridge. It offers both indoor and outdoor dining thanks to a folding indoor table and a slide-out rear table for al fresca dining under the tailgate. The third-row rear bench doesn't offer belted seating for the ride to camp, but it can set up as a reclined lounge before folding flat to function as the rear section of the bed.
Tying the small but capable Camper 4 together is a 12.1-in touchscreen command center mounted over the kitchen. It offers control and monitoring of systems and features like the lighting, climate and pop-up roof. The camper also includes standard 70-L fresh and 40-L waste water tanks, a leisure battery and shore power electrical hookup, and an outdoor awning with integrated LED lighting.
For those who require (much) more everyday people-moving capacity, the Staria Lounge Camper 11 provides a unique mix: 11 seats of passenger space and a four-berth light camper. It seems like an intriguing solution for families who might need a particularly high-capacity MPV during the week for taking their kids and friends to and from school, sports practice and other daily activities but also want a simple camper for taking getaways on a whim. The combination of pop-up electric sleeper roof and full-width folding sleeping platform sleeps up to four people, and additional seat-fillers along for the journey could always pitch a tent or two outside.
Both Camper models come built atop a well-equipped Staria Lounge with 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine, eight-speed transmission and full suite of driver-assistance features like lane maintenance assistance, smart cruise control, and rear side/cross-traffic collision avoidance assistance. Both 2WD and 4WD options are available.
Hyundai announced the new Staria Lounge Camper lineup last week, setting the base price for the Camper 11 at KRW49.47 million (approx. US$39,600) and the Camper 4 at KRW68.58 million (US$54,875). Unfortunately, it looks like these will join the innovative Porest motorhome in remaining corralled inside Hyundai's domestic market. The Staria itself, however, has made it to various markets, including Europe and Australia (no, not the US), and we'll continue keeping an eye out for the first Staria camper vans in those global markets, whether they come directly from Hyundai or the always-industrious camper aftermarket.
Source: Hyundai (Korean)
You want something with stand-up space like a Ram Promaster or Mercedes Sprinter if you're going that route.
Way too much glass going on there as well.