Following the footsteps of its relative, the Kia Carnival, Hyundai added a petrol-electric hybrid option to the Hyundai Staria in South Korea. The Korean H brand announced pre-orders for the Staria Hybrid with prices ranging between KRW 34.33 million to KRW 36.53 million (~RM 122.5k-130k).

The hybrid system is the third engine option offered for the Staria in Korea. The other two powerplants offered are the 3.5-litre V6 LPG unit and a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel mill. The latter is the only unit option that is available in Malaysia.

The 1.6-litre turbo hybrid powerplant produces a combined maximum output of 245 PS and 367 Nm. The Staria Hybrid is targeted as a more eco-friendly and economical option with a claimed fuel consumption of 13 km/L (7.69 L/100 km).

Adding a hybrid version of the Staria satisfies a growing demand for hybrids among Korean car buyers. Between January to November 2023, a record 254,258 hybrid cars were sold, up 54.7% from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, EV sales dipped 7.9% to 107,453 units in the same period according to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. While Hyundai and Kia are ramping up on EVs, Toyota which is widely shunned in Korea, saw a rise in demand for the Alphard Hybrid even if it's far more expensive than the Staria and Carnival.

Also read: Patriotism takes a back seat, 2023 Toyota Alphard wins over proud Koreans - 1-year waiting list, 500 orders in 2 weeks

While the Carnival received a facelift alongside the addition of a hybrid, the 2024 Staria doesn’t receive an extensive visual upgrade. Instead, minor quality-of-life updates were added including Traffic Jam Assist, USB-C charging ports, and standard front parking sensors.

Also read: 2024 Kia Carnival facelift unveiled, 3 powertrains offered including 1.6 turbo hybrid

The Staria Hybrid looks similar to the LPG and diesel variants and is equipped with automatic climate control with air purifier, an automatic defogger, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a rear-view camera as standard. It is available as a cargo van as well as 9- and 11-seater configurations.

In Malaysia, the Hyundai Staria is fully imported (CBU) from Korea and is available only as a 10-seater across 3 variants:

• Lite – RM 181,888
• Plus – RM 198,888
• Max – RM 211,888