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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai H1
Hyundai H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 899,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 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 Staria
Fuel Economy Staria
🛡 Safety Staria
📦 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 kW 130 kW
Torque 441 Nm 430 Nm
Engine Size 2497 cc 2199 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 12.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 185 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 820 l 175 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2220 kg 2220 kg
Seating Capacity 9 9
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Both H1 and Staria are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Staria +3 pts
Efficiency Staria +10 pts
Safety Staria +16 pts
Practicality H1 +25 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage

Staria

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Staria

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec H1 Staria
Model Introduced Year 2008 2021
Generation Second generation H1 based on a proven commercial-derived platform; the architecture prioritises durability and packaging over dynamics First generation Staria; completely new platform and design language — not a successor to the H1 in terms of underpinnings or architecture
Facelift History Second generation H1 launched in SA in 2008; periodic infotainment and feature updates have been applied but the platform is long-standing Launched in SA in 2021 as a full replacement for the H1; no facelift yet in SA
Facelift Launched Since 2008 2021
Facelift Version Ending Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed MPV
Color Note Not confirmed White, Black, Silver, Grey
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Executive grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed MPV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed MPV
Spec H1 Staria
Ground Clearance 185 mm 175 mm
Wheelbase 3200 mm 3273 mm
Length 5125 mm 5253 mm
Width 1920 mm 1997 mm
Height 1925 mm 1990 mm
Kerb Weight 2220 kg 2220 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 3030 kg -
Seating Capacity 9 9
Boot Space 820 l 175 l
Towing Capacity 2500 kg -
Front Track Width 1665 mm -
Rear Track Width 1675 mm -
Turning Radius 5.6 m -
Load Bed Length 820 l 175 l
Load Bed Width Not confirmed -
Front Legroom 1090 mm -
Rear Legroom 990 mm -
Front Headroom 1010 mm -
Rear Headroom 1000 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1530 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1530 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 3076 l 175 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Volume 820 l 175 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 9 9
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 l 75 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 3030 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 185 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance Min 185 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 185 mm 175 mm
Height Mm 1925 mm 1990 mm
Length Mm 5125 mm 5253 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 820 l 175 l
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed -
Cargo Volume 820 l 175 l
Tare Mass Kg 2220 kg 2220 kg
Turning Circle 5.6 m -
Turning Circle M 5.6 m -
Width Mm 1920 mm 1997 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 3076 l 175 l
Max Payload Not confirmed -
Payload Kg Not confirmed -

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H1 leads by 0 points

Both H1 and Staria are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 67 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 92% confidence
67
#1 Winner

H1

92% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 86 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 59
Efficiency 41
Safety 76
Practicality 86
Ownership 65
Leads by 0 points
67
#2

Staria

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 62
Efficiency 51
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Staria +3 Efficiency Staria +10 Safety Staria +16 Practicality H1 +25 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H1

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 86/100
Ownership 65/100

Staria

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai H1 wins with 67 pts vs 67 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 41 vs Staria 51. 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 76, Staria 92. 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 65, Staria 65. 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 86, Staria 61. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 59, Staria 62. 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 59 vs 62.

Efficiency: H1 scores 41 vs 51.

Safety: H1 scores 76 vs 92.

Practicality: H1 scores 86 vs 61.

Ownership: H1 scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H1 the advantage in this comparison.