Hyundai H1 vs Hyundai Staria

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Hyundai H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel Automatic
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 441 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Hyundai Staria in South Africa

Hyundai Staria

2.2D Executive Diesel Automatic
ZAR 975,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 130 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality H1
🔑 Ownership Tie
H1 starts ZAR 975900 cheaper H1 from ZAR 899,900 · Staria from ZAR 975,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec H1 Staria
Engine Power 125 130
Torque 441 430
Engine Size 2497 2199
Claimed Mileage 11.8 12.5
Ground Clearance 185 175
Boot Space 820 175
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2220 2220
Seating Capacity 9 11
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

H1

70
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

Staria

61
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

H1 has a slight advantage, but Staria remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality H1 +9 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 18/20
Ownership 20/20

Staria

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Family Usage

Staria

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Staria

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H1 Staria
Length 5125 5253
Width 1920 1997
Height 1925 1990
Wheelbase 3200 3273
Ground Clearance 185 175
Kerb Weight 2220 2220
Seating Capacity 9 9
Boot Space 820 175
Towing Capacity 2500 2500 kg (Braked)
Rear Track Width 1675 1720 mm
Gross Vehicle Weight 3030 3040 kg
Front Track Width 1665 1735 mm
Turning Radius 5.6 5.9 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Doors 5 5
Seats 9 11
Boot Space Seats Folded 3076 Available
Front Headroom 1010 Available
Rear Headroom 1000 Available
Front Legroom 1090 Available
Rear Legroom 990 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1530 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1530 Available
Number of Doors Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec H1 Staria
Engine 2.5 CRDi VGT Diesel 2.2 CRDi Diesel
Engine Type Diesel Diesel
Displacement 2497 2199
Cylinders 4 4
Power 125 130
Torque 441 430
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger Yes (VGT) Yes
Top Speed 180 180
0-100 km/h 12.5 11.0
Power @ RPM 3600 3800
Torque @ RPM 2000 1500
Valves per Cylinder 16 16 (4 per cylinder)
Compression Ratio 17.5 15.9:1
Engine Position Front Front
Fuel Grade Required Diesel Diesel
Engine Code D4CB Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Available
Maximum Engine RPM 4000 Available
Engine Oil Capacity 6.5 Available
Engine Type Config Inline Inline
Variable Valve Timing Yes Yes
Cylinder Bore Available Available
Piston Stroke Available Available
Power 150 150
Cylinder Layout Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai H1 wins with 70 pts vs 61 pts for Staria

In structured scoring, H1 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Staria may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the H1 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: H1 0 vs Staria 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: H1 18, Staria 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: H1 20, Staria 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: H1 18, Staria 9. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 14, Staria 14. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The H1 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H1 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between H1 and Staria in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H1 scores 14 vs 14.

Efficiency: H1 scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: H1 scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: H1 scores 18 vs 9.

Ownership: H1 scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives H1 the advantage in this comparison.