KIA Picanto Panel Van vs Hyundai Staria Panelvan

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.

KIA Picanto Panel Van in South Africa

KIA Picanto Panel Van

1.0 LS Panel Van Auto Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 269,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 49 kW 🔧 94 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
VS
Hyundai Staria Panelvan in South Africa

Hyundai Staria Panelvan

2.2D Panel Van 8AT Diesel Current
ZAR 699,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 130 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Staria Panelvan
Fuel Economy Picanto Panel Van
🛡 Safety Staria Panelvan
📦 Practicality Staria Panelvan
🔑 Ownership Picanto Panel Van
Picanto Panel Van starts ZAR 449,905 cheaper Picanto Panel Van from ZAR 249,995 · Staria Panelvan from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Picanto Panel Van Staria Panelvan
Maximum Power 49 kW @ 6000 rpm 130 kW
Maximum Torque 94 Nm @ 3500 rpm 430 Nm
Engine Size 998 cc 2199 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 16.4 km/l 11.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 155 mm 186 mm
Boot / Load Bay 620 l 4935 l
Airbags 6 Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 950 kg -
Seating Capacity 2 seats 3 seats
Warranty 7 Years/150 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Staria Panelvan holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Picanto Panel Van.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Staria Panelvan +45 pts
Efficiency Picanto Panel Van +12 pts
Safety Staria Panelvan +21 pts
Practicality Staria Panelvan +13 pts
Ownership Picanto Panel Van +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Picanto Panel Van

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Catalogue-index leader

Staria Panelvan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Picanto Panel Van

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Staria Panelvan

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Picanto Panel Van Staria Panelvan
Model Introduced Year 2018 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Based on third-generation JA Picanto platform; commercial derivative Current South African Staria Panelvan listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Updated with third-generation Picanto platform in 2021 Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2021 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Van Panel van
Color Note Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Mid grade in the South Africa lineup Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Van Van
Tare Mass Kg 950 kg 1990+ kg
Vehicle Type Van Van
Spec Picanto Panel Van Staria Panelvan
Length 3595 mm 5253 mm
Width 1595 mm 1997 mm
Height 1480 mm 1990 mm
Wheelbase 2400 mm 3273 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 186 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 151 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 75 l
Boot/Cargo Space 620 l 4935 l
Kerb Weight 950 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1400 kg -
Payload Capacity 450 kg -
Towing Capacity 0 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 3 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows -
Doors 3 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.8 m -
Front Headroom 970 mm -
Rear Headroom Not Applicable -
Front Legroom 1040 mm -
Rear Legroom Not Applicable -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

Staria Panelvan leads by 15 points

Staria Panelvan holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Picanto Panel Van.

Index leader 70 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 71% source coverage
70
#1 Index leader

Staria Panelvan

71% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 67
Efficiency 51
Safety 89
Practicality 72
Ownership 65
Leads by 15 points
55
#2

Picanto Panel Van

92% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Ownership 77 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 63
Safety 68
Practicality 59
Ownership 77
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Staria Panelvan +45 Efficiency Picanto Panel Van +12 Safety Staria Panelvan +21 Practicality Staria Panelvan +13 Ownership Picanto Panel Van +12

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

Staria Panelvan

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 72/100
Ownership 65/100

Picanto Panel Van

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 63/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 59/100
Ownership 77/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Hyundai Staria Panelvan leads the catalogue index with 70 pts vs 55 pts for Picanto Panel Van

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, Staria Panelvan leads. However, Picanto Panel Van may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This Picanto Panel Van and Staria Panelvan comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Picanto Panel Van 22 vs Staria Panelvan 67.

Efficiency index: Picanto Panel Van 63 vs Staria Panelvan 51.

Safety-equipment index: Picanto Panel Van 68 vs Staria Panelvan 89.

Practicality index: Picanto Panel Van 59 vs Staria Panelvan 72.

Ownership-cover index: Picanto Panel Van 77 vs Staria Panelvan 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.