2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite v 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel comparison
Two cars from the one brand that dress very differently but hide the same fundamentals underneath. Which one is the better machine for moving families?
Overview
What’s going on at Hyundai right now that it offers three different vehicles designed to carry seven people or more, and all priced around $50,000–$70,000? Are Australians that enamoured with prime movers that there’s enough demand to justify the existence of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Palisade SUVs and the Hyundai Staria people mover? Possibly so.
Now these three vehicles might be similar in price and purpose, but it takes just one glance to see how different they are in the metal. The Hyundai Santa Fe is a medium-to-large SUV with five full-size seats in the front two rows and a third row with two occasional seats that are ideal for small kids but not great for adults.
The Hyundai Palisade offers three rows of full-size seats in its long and wide SUV body, making it the better choice of these two if you really do need to carry teens or adults in the third row and don’t like the letters DVT.
The Hyundai Staria, however, makes even the spacious Palisade look a little cramped. This van-derived people mover can not only carry eight adults in comfort, you can fit their luggage in its cavernous boot at the same time.
We’ve got a Hyundai Staria on long-term test at the moment, and we’re big fans of the way it looks and what it can do. We’re also aware of the stigma attached to people movers, but we’re going to ignore that and evaluate the Staria and Palisade on their merits.
In order to get a Palisade and Staria variant around the same price, we had to choose the flagship Staria Highlander, complete with turbo diesel engine and all-wheel drive. In Palisade-land, the same money only gets you to the second-top variant, the Palisade Elite. It, too, has a 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine and all-wheel drive, but you do give up a few luxury items as we will see further on.
But hey, if you want to be a fashion victim and choose the SUV-look Palisade over the delivery van-look Staria, well… Looking good costs more it seems.
So, now that we have our two combatants, let’s get familiar with each of them.
Introduction
Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai has updated the Palisade large-SUV range barely 12 months after it arrived in Australia, reducing the entry price by $6000 and adding a third variant to the line-up in the hopes of attracting more buyers to the brand’s biggest vehicle.
The Hyundai Palisade is a vehicle designed for growing families and gives the Hyundai Santa Fe and other medium-to-large SUV owners something to move into once they outgrow their current car. Available in seven- and eight-seat configurations (at no cost difference), the Palisade is considerably longer, wider and taller than the Santa Fe, dimensions that put it close to the very big Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series.
For 2022, Palisade pricing kicks off at $55,000 for the ‘just call me Palisade’ eight-seater powered by a 3.8-litre petrol V6 driving the front wheels. Buyers can opt for a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel all-wheel drive instead for $59,000, both before on-road costs (ORCs).
Compared to the MY21 base model, MY22 ‘loses’ the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite navigation, 12-speaker Infinity sound system, Driver Talk function, and the choice of seven or eight seats, replacing them with eight seats as standard, an 8.0-inch touchscreen without navigation, and an unbranded sound system.
Next up – and new to the range for 2022 – is the Palisade Elite, which is priced from $61,500 plus ORCs for the petrol front-drive and $65,500 plus ORCs for the diesel all-wheel drive. That’s just $1500 and $500 respectively above 2021 base-model pricing despite gaining all those goodies mentioned above that have been deleted from the base model plus bi-LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, wireless phone charging, LED ‘combination’ tail-lights, a power tailgate, heated front seats, a single-panel sunroof and rear privacy glass.
The Palisade Highlander variant continues atop the range, priced from the same $71,000 plus ORCs (petrol FWD) and $75,000 plus ORCs (diesel AWD) as before, and now represents even better value with the addition of new 20-inch ‘Calligraphy’ alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and exterior cladding, and the no-cost option of black nappa leather upholstery in addition to existing beige and burgundy options.
The base Palisade is an eight-seater, while the Elite and Highlander are available in seven- and eight-seat configurations at no extra cost.
For this review, we are testing the 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite AWD powered by the 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine and in seven-seat configuration with ‘Rain Forest’ paint colour and grey/black interior. The MSRP of $65,500 becomes $71,590 on-road in Melbourne, final pricing may vary by location.
Hyundai Staria
Meet the family shuttle inspired by a spaceship that turns more heads than a Ferrari (though not always in a good way). It’s called the 2022 Hyundai Staria, the new name for the successor to the Hyundai iMax eight-seat family freighter.
As before, the new Hyundai Staria is also available as a delivery van (now renamed Hyundai Staria Load rather than Hyundai iLoad).
While the original Hyundai iLoad and iMax twins were based on heavy-duty commercial vehicle underpinnings, the new-generation Hyundai Staria and Staria Load are based on the same underpinnings as the latest Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. In other words, this is a ground-up redesign. But you probably figured that out just by looking at it.
The changes under the skin bring many advantages (namely in terms of safety and technology). However, as we would discover, it’s not quite as polished as we were expecting. More on that shortly.
There are three models in the range – Staria, Staria Elite, and Staria Highlander. All three model grades are available with a choice of turbo diesel all-wheel drive or V6 petrol front-drive power.
Prices range from $48,500 plus on-road costs to $66,500 plus on-road costs, an increase of up to $16,000 as Hyundai stretches the new model upmarket. As this article was published, Hyundai’s website showed drive-away prices ranged from $53,000 to $72,600.
A detailed price and specs story on the 2022 Hyundai Staria can be found here.
Rivals include the Kia Carnival (Australia’s top-selling people mover for 16 of the past 17 years), and people-mover variants of Mercedes and Volkswagen delivery vans.
The Hyundai Staria is closer in size and philosophy to the Mercedes and Volkswagen vans; however, the sleeker new-generation Kia Carnival serves the same purpose with more car-like driving characteristics.
| Key details | 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite diesel AWD | 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel AWD |
| Price (MSRP) | $65,500 plus on-road costs | $66,500 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Rainforest Green | Abyss Black |
| Options | Premium paint – $695 | Tan leather interior – $295 |
| Price as tested | $66,195 plus on-road costs | $66,795 plus on-road costs |
Inside
Hyundai Palisade
I’m tipping nobody will ever get into a Hyundai Palisade and say “gee, it’s a bit pokey in here”. I’m no Andre the Giant (5ft 9in or 172cm), so maybe I’m not the best guinea pig to prove the Palisade can take full-grown adults in every row. But my driver’s licence says I’m an adult, I stopped growing a couple of decades back, and I fit into all three rows.
I reckon there’s a chance you’d even get three of me across the very back seat, but my mother didn’t have triplets, so again I can’t be certain. Also, the wheel arches eat into the width so it wouldn’t be comfy. To be honest, the third row isn’t the easiest to get in and out of, and it’s not the most comfortable – a high floor means your legs are raised. Anyone bigger than me will need the second row to slide forward a bit, but that’s all possible.
The first and second rows are obviously the best places for those of voting age. They’re all individual seats, which means there’s a walkthrough from the second to third row, and the second-row seats have fold-down armrests.
All three rows are catered for in terms of cupholders and USB charging ports. The huge storage bin in between the electrically adjustable front seats has a wireless charging mat, and an even bigger storage area at ankle level below the main bin.
With all three rows in position, boot space is a smallish 311L, but this swells to a considerable 704L once the 60/40 split third row is stowed flat into the floor. A couple of handy buttons in the boot that flip the second row flat give you even more space (1297L) – enough to comfortably swallow me lying down (see above for measurements). The tailgate on the Elite is powered, unlike the DIY tailgate on the base variant.
As for baby seat capabilities, there are ISOFIX mounts in the two middle-row seats and one in the third row’s kerbside seat. Each second-row seat has a top tether anchor, and there are two more in the third row (kerbside seat and middle seat) for a total of four.
This is actually a better arrangement than the Hyundai Staria people mover I tested a few weeks back, which only had ISOFIX points in the two outboard middle-row seats, thus compromising access to every other seating position in the second and third rows.
The climate control has separate zones for driver, passenger and second row – third-row occupants get what they’re given. There are multiple vents supplying air to all three rows.
Hyundai Staria
The cabin of the 2022 Hyundai Staria is huge, and the futuristic styling continues inside on the flagship Highlander model tested here.
Large 10.25-inch digital displays for the driving instruments and infotainment system, as well as mood lighting around the cabin’s ‘waistline’, give the interior ambience a lift.
However, the beauty is only skin-deep. While the Hyundai Staria looks good in brochures and has plenty of showroom appeal, the plastics are hard to the touch and the vehicle’s dual purpose as a commercial vehicle starts to become apparent.
All versions of the Hyundai Staria are eight-seaters initially; however, a six-seat (2-2-2) Lounge Edition may follow. Only the second-row seating has top tethers (three) and ISOFIX attachment points (two) for child restraints.
With all seat positions occupied, there is still ample space for luggage – one of the many advantages of a people mover that’s the same size as a delivery van. All seating positions have a lap-sash seatbelt and adjustable headrests.
The top two model grades have leather upholstery (black, light tan or dark blue on the Highlander, or plain black on the Elite).
There are sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle (power-operated on the top two model grades). A power-operated tailgate is also included on the top two grades.
Visibility is excellent for drivers and passengers thanks to the massive glass area and low window line.
There are three tiers of storage pockets in the front doors, a massive centre console, and ample cubbies in the dash. You’ll never find your phone again – unless you remember to use the wireless charging pad that’s standard on all three model grades.
All models come with six USB ports (two up front and two each for second- and third-row seats), one 12V socket up front, and 16 cupholders – all of which should be enough to keep everyone charged and hydrated.
The top of the range also comes with dual panoramic sunroofs, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and LED interior lighting.
| 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite diesel AWD | 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel AWD | |
| Seats | Eight | Eight |
| Boot volume | 311L to third row / 704L to second row | 831L to third row / 1303L to second row |
| Length | 4980mm | 52530mm |
| Width | 1975mm | 1997mm |
| Height | 1750mm | 1990mm |
| Wheelbase | 2900mm | 3273mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Hyundai Palisade
The Palisade Elite has a 10.25-inch touchscreen that houses all the infotainment systems, including digital radio, full media connectivity, Bluetooth phone functionality (including wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and satellite navigation.
The Infinity audio system has 12 speakers throughout the cabin, and includes a clever Quiet Mode function that reduces audio outputs in the back two rows, presumably to let the kids fight and bicker without disturbing Mum and Dad’s ’90s Spotify playlist.
The Palisade Elite has a wireless charging pad in the oddments bin between the front seats.
Hyundai Staria
The base-model Hyundai Staria has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The wireless connection has proven problematic in other Hyundai/Kia vehicles tested. The company is working on a fix.
Helpfully, the top two models of the Hyundai Staria range (the Elite and Highlander, which is tested here) have wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (as well as Bluetooth) and it works seamlessly.
The infotainment system has a 10.25-inch high-resolution screen. Buttons and dials are absent, so you need to take your eyes off the road briefly to adjust volume or switch functions – or use the controls on the steering wheel.
Safety and Technology
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade has not been independently crash-tested by ANCAP, so it doesn’t have a star rating. In fact, we’re not sure if it will get five stars or four because it lacks a centre airbag, which can be a requirement to achieve top safety marks.
Standard safety equipment includes radar cruise control with stop-start, lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-zone warning with intervention if you’re about to cut across someone in an adjacent lane. It also has driver-attention warning and forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection for the autonomous emergency braking. Hyundai calls its active safety package ‘SmartSense’.
The Palisade also has a rear camera, plus front and rear parking sensors to make manoeuvring easier. Tyre pressure monitors and a digital speed display are also standard. Hyundai does not have speed sign recognition technology yet. Instead, speed warnings are based on navigation data, which can be out of date, and doesn’t detect roadwork zones.
Other technology talking points include a sensor key with pushbutton start, rain-sensing wipers, high-beam assist, one-touch indicators (which can be programmed to flash three, five or seven times), tyre pressure monitors, a full-size spare tyre, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital radio, embedded navigation, and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Hyundai Staria
All versions of the Hyundai Staria come with the works when it comes to advanced safety as well as the basics, with the exception of a difference in camera coverage.
The base model has front-view and rear-view cameras; the top two models have 360-degree camera coverage. The images are clear during the day but the resolution is weak at night.
The 2022 Hyundai Staria has been given a five-star result by the independent crash testing body ANCAP.Standard equipment on all models: seven airbags (including one between the front seats, and curtain airbags along each side that go all the way to the third row), autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, speed sign recognition, blind-zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance, safe-exit warning, front and rear parking sensors, and tyre pressure monitoring. A full-size spare tyre (with matching alloy wheel) is also standard.
The excellent LED low- and high-beam headlights are a safety bonus on dark country roads.
| At a glance | 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite diesel AWD | 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel AWD |
| ANCAP rating & year tested | Unrated | Five stars (tested 2021) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Hyundai Palisade
All Hyundai passenger vehicles come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre new car warranty for personal use.
Servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Upfront plans for the Palisade diesel are $1407 for three years or $2345 for five years, which averages out at $469 per year.
By way of comparison, the petrol Palisade is $1197 for the first three years and $1995 for five ($399 per year). The Kia Carnival’s servicing comes in at $2462 for the first five years.
As for fuel costs, the Palisade diesel carries a claim of 7.3L/100km city/highway combined. During our test week, it hovered around 8.2L/100km, although it’s worth pointing out most of that was with one person on board.
Hyundai Staria
Prices range from $48,500 plus on-road costs to $66,500 plus on-road costs. As mentioned earlier, this is an increase of up to $16,000 as Hyundai stretches the new model upmarket.
As this article was published, Hyundai’s website showed drive-away prices ranged from $53,000 to $72,600.
This compares to the Kia Carnival with drive-away prices ranging from $50,890 to $70,790 as this article was published, and the Toyota Granvia between $70,700 and $83,400 drive-away.
Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) whether you choose the 3.5-litre V6 petrol or 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel.
The cost of routine maintenance is identical for both, too, at $360 per visit for the first five visits up to five years/75,000km.
Warranty is five years/unlimited kilometres for private buyers, and five years/160,000km for commercial owners such as hire car drivers, hotels, or Uber operators.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Staria averaged between 9.0 and 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in a mix of freeway and inter-urban conditions, and in the hands of two drivers not focused on fuel economy. We’d call it fair for this size and style of vehicle.
| At a glance | 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite diesel AWD | 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel AWD |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 15,000km | 12 months / 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1407 (3 years) | $2345 (5 years) | $1080 (3 years) | $1800 (5 years) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.3L/100km | 8.2L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.2L/100km | 9.0-11.0L/100km |
| Fuel type | Diesel | Diesel |
| Fuel tank size | 71L | 75L |
Driving
Hyundai Palisade
It’s called the TARDIS phenomenon, after Doctor Who’s telephone box spaceship, and if you don’t get the reference then you’re not old enough to need a family SUV.
The Palisade looks big in my driveway, and the measuring tape says it is big – 4980mm bumper to bumper, 1975mm wide and 1750mm tall. But it drives smaller, and that’s a very good thing.
For starters, the steering is light and has a quickish ratio (2.9 turns lock to lock), which means manoeuvring the SUV takes less effort than expected. It’s also easier than expected thanks to a pretty good 11.8m turning circle (kerb to kerb) and parking sensors/cameras front and back.
The turbo-diesel engine has plenty of torque to move this big bus with relative ease too. Sure, nobody will ever call the 2.2-litre turbo diesel a performance engine, but combined with the eight-speed auto, this drivetrain is ideally suited to the Palisade’s acceleration and momentum needs.
The Palisade’s suspension and ride quality is a mixed bag of very good and just okay. It delivers a nicely cossetted, wafting ride on most surfaces, but the size and weight become apparent when sharper ruts crash through, like they do on one road on my test loop that the local council uses to train new road gangs.
I didn’t get any meaningful involvement with the Palisade’s all-wheel-drive system during my urban week with the car, because unusually for Melbourne it didn’t rain all week and lockdown prevented any rural family outings.
One quick note about carrying capacity before I conclude. The Palisade weighs 2069kg, which is acceptable for a vehicle of this size. But its gross vehicle mass – maximum permissible weight including occupants and luggage – is 2680kg. That means you’ve got only 611kg to divide between seven occupants and luggage. Exceeding the GVM is illegal, so bear that in mind if five rugby club mates ask for a lift.
Hyundai Staria
We tested the top-of-the-range Hyundai Staria Highlander powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel paired to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. There are no plans for a cheaper, front-drive diesel at this stage.
Outputs are rated at 130kW at 3800rpm, and 430Nm between 1500 and 2500rpm. Helpfully early for a vehicle that’s likely to be doing plenty of laden trips at urban speeds.
First impressions? The spaceship looks are a love-it-or-hate-it design. Most of us in the office happen to like it, but that opinion wasn’t universally felt by others we came across during our two-day preview test drive.
I can see both points of view. The vast front end offers plenty of opportunity for a facelift should one be deemed necessary sooner than planned. What matters most, however, is what it drives like for a people mover.
The first thing you need to get accustomed to, if you’re new to van-based people movers, is that this thing is tall: 1.99m. That’s the same height as a Toyota Granvia and a few millimetres taller than a Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series.
So you need to be selective which shopping centre carparks you approach. If you’re worried, the much sleeker Kia Carnival – at 1.78m tall – limbos way under most height limits.
Hyundai recommends a roof clearance height of 2.1m to be on the safe side. Opening the tailgate exceeds this height limit.
There is another limit to look out for: payload. With a gross vehicle mass of 3040kg and a kerb weight of 2325kg for this top-of-the-range model, that only leaves 715kg for all on board – including luggage. Without luggage, all eight occupants would need to weigh an average of 89.4kg each. The base model V6 has a payload of 778kg (or 97.25kg per person).
Despite being based on SUV underpinnings, the Hyundai Staria is not as car-like to drive as we were expecting. Of course, the laws of physics apply here – and a tall, box-shaped vehicle should not hug the road like a sports car. Although we are yet to do a back-to-back test, I reckon it’s a safe bet to say the Kia Carnival feels more sure-footed on the road.
As is the case with many van-based people movers, the Hyundai Staria creaks and groans turning into driveways as all the rubbers behind the doors make their presence known. It’s not a deal-breaker, but the body doesn’t feel as tight as a car or an SUV – despite the radically overhauled body and underpinnings.
We’re keen to see how it compares to the likes of the Kia Carnival and Toyota Granvia.
The Hyundai Staria’s emergency braking from 100km/h was fair to average rather than outstanding – despite the fitment of larger brake discs front and rear for the new model – pulling up in 42.5m, a touch longer than a double-cab ute. Further brake tests yielded slightly longer braking distances despite extended cool-downs, so we reckon 42.5m is the best-case scenario.
Of course, these vehicles are not meant to be performance cars, but we were curious to compare acceleration. The Hyundai Staria diesel did the 0–100km/h run in 12 seconds time after time, a bit slower than the average city hatchback. The V6 petrol would almost certainly be perkier.
The eight-speed gearbox is a smooth operator, though some people may prefer a traditional gear lever rather than push buttons, which take you a fraction of a second to check have engaged properly.
All-wheel drive would be handy on wet roads or add peace of mind when driving to the snow, but to be frank, the AWD system was not apparent during our time with the car in dry conditions.
The steering feel is what you might expect from a people mover (user-friendly, gets the job done), though splitting hairs I’d say it was at times a bit too light or a bit too heavy, depending on how tight the turn.
While the top-selling Toyota HiAce is rear-wheel drive, which delivers an exceptionally tight turning circle (for a van) of 11.0m, the 2022 Hyundai Staria’s turning circle has grown from 11.22m from its rear-drive predecessor to 11.94m with the new model.
Towing capacity on the new van has improved to 2500kg, up from 1500kg previously.
One final observation: the Hyundai Staria is a touch noisier overall than I was expecting – from the engine and tyres – given its new SUV underbody. It’s not a deal-breaker, but there’s room for improvement.
| Key details | 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite diesel AWD | 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel AWD |
| Engine | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel | 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel |
| Power | 147kW @ 3800rpm | 130kW @ 3800rpm |
| Torque | 440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm | 430Nm @ 1500-2500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 71kW/t | 56kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 2069kg | 2325kg |
| Tow rating | 2500kg braked, 750kg unbraked | 2500kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.8m | 11.9m |
Conclusion
Okay, let’s deal with the elephant in the room first: vehicle ratings. If you’ve scrolled down looking for our usual ten-point scoring system, you’ll notice it’s not there. It has been removed for this comparo because it will confuse rather than clarify.
Each car’s ratings are firstly about how well the car performs in this discipline, and secondly how it ranks compared to category rivals. When we do cross-category comparisons like this one, the scores can’t be compared.
Now, on with the show. Let’s kick things off with interior space. Yes, the Staria is bigger, but the Palisade is not underdone in this area. You can fit adults in every row of seating, and you can fit three adults in the second or third rows without much discomfort.
The Staria is 22mm wider externally yet Hyundai’s own shoulder room measurements put the Staria miles ahead on the inside. Second-row shoulder room is 1781mm v 1545mm, and the third row is 1645mm v 1402mm.
The Staria has more room front to back, so adults will have more legroom in all three rows if they want it. Again, Hyundai’s own measurements peg second-row legroom at 1077mm v 1062mm and third-row space at 1010mm v 798mm.
The Staria’s back two rows slide fore and aft, the middle row can even do this in a 33/66 format, allowing you to have your favourite child (or more troublesome tike?) within closer reach of the front row.
The Palisade’s second row slides fore and aft, but not the third row, which means you have a fixed 311L of luggage space if you’re driving with a full house. In this case, the Staria’s 831L is impossible to beat – and incredibly handy.
So, if carrying friends and family is your lot, the Staria is unbeatable. But, if your desires go beyond that, then read on.
Powertrain next, and superficially there’s very little difference. Both have Hyundai’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine, eight-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system. The Staria’s powertrain is detuned slightly, leaving it 18kW and 10Nm down on the Palisade, which makes a big difference in reality because the Staria is roughly 250kg heavier.
That means the Staria has less pulling power, accelerates more slowly and uses more fuel. The Staria also doesn’t have the dynamic poise or ride quality to match the Palisade, but that doesn’t mean it’s poor. Just not the equal of the Palisade.
So, if driving performance is your holy grail, the Palisade is the better choice. But, if your desires go beyond even that, then read on.
Let’s look at ownership costs. Both vehicles are Hyundais, so both have five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties. Both also require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, but it’s the Staria that will cost you less based on Hyundai’s capped-price servicing plan. Over the first five years you’ll save almost $600.
We also crunched the numbers on insurance premiums, using a 45yo male living in Lane Cove NSW with a good driving record. The Palisade costs $1253 per year whereas the Staria costs $1179.
So, the Staria is cheaper to service and insure, but it uses 1–2 litres more fuel per 100km. Over a year, that’s $300–$600 more out of your pocket.
But the ace up the Staria’s not inconsiderable sleeve is equipment. Remember at the start of this comparison we said that to keep these two close on price we ended up with the top-spec Staria but the second-to-top-spec Palisade. Here’s what that means.
On the active safety front, the Palisade has trailer stability assist, but the Staria doesn’t. The Palisade Elite does not have Blind Spot Monitor, Safe Exit Assist, Surround View Monitor, dual-pane sunroof, or rear-door window shades, but the Staria does.
Both have electrically opening and closing tailgates, but only the Staria has electrically opening and closing side doors.
So, the Staria is better value for money because it has more safety, comfort and convenience for the same price.
Does that mean it wins? If space and value for money are your deities, then yes.
If this were an on-paper comparison, then the Staria makes more sense and is the better value. But in the real world, the Palisade is the nicer vehicle to drive. We’re guessing the decision for many will come down to the occupancy rate of that third row. Or the styling, because we live in a world where looks are important, right? We’d all love to think we are pragmatic and practical when it comes to spending money, but we don’t wear hessian sacks for pants.
So we are going to leave this right here, and let you decide how you want to move your family. Is practicality your thing, or do you worry about perception? Good luck with your decision!
The post 2022 Hyundai Palisade Elite v 2022 Hyundai Staria Highlander diesel comparison appeared first on Drive.