Hyundai has recently announced the addition of a new premium variant for its Staria Load van range. The Staria Load Premium is targeted at owner-operators and smaller fleets who are looking for a commercial vehicle that offers more luxury and comfort compared to typical one-box commercial vehicles. The van has a starting price of $51,240 before on-road costs, which is $5,500 more expensive than the standard Staria Load in the single-row two-seat configuration.

The Staria Load Premium can only be ordered in a two-seat standard-wheelbase configuration with a liftback, with the only option available being premium paint, which costs $695. Much of the Premium’s equipment fit-out is borrowed from the passenger-carrying version of the Staria and includes several nice-to-have features such as a 10.25” infotainment display, keyless entry and ignition, a power-operated liftgate, a 10.25” digital dash, built-in satellite navigation, LED headlamps and taillamps, a distinctive LED light bar that stretches across the Staria’s nose, climate control and 17” alloys.

In addition to these features, the Staria Load Premium also comes with a 360-degree camera view, wireless phone charging pad Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The van is powered by the Staria Load’s standard 2.2L turbodiesel inline four engine that generates 130kW and 400Nm of torque, which drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic.

With plenty of mod-cons to make life on the road a little easier, the Staria Load Premium is an ideal vehicle for those who spend a lot of time out of the workshop and visiting sites, and should be an especially attractive proposition for sole-trader tradies and delivery drivers. For added peace of mind the van is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as well and the service intervals are set for every 12 months or 15,000km, with each service capped at $360 for the warranty period.

The van’s 360° camera view, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring are some of the safety features that both provide a more secure driving experience, as well as added convenience when faced with long highway cruises, high-density traffic and even just when backing up to a tight loading dock. The wireless phone charging pad and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring should also be appreciated by drivers seeking to stay connected to customers while on the road.

Overall, Hyundai’s Staria Load Premium offers a higher level of comfort, convenience and safety features, making it an ideal choice for commercial vehicle users who want something more than just a “basic white van”. For those looking for a basic van, the rest of the Staria Load range remains unchanged for the 2023 model year, with only the Premium being a new addition.