Hyundai Staria goes camping

Hyundai has entered the recreational vehicle arena in its home market of Korea, with a new week-end getaway machine called the Hyundai Staria Lounge Camper.

Unveiled as a direct rival for the VW Transporter-based Volkswagen California Beach, Hyundai’s new campervan is priced from around 50 million won ($A55,000) in South Korea, where it tops out at 70 million won ($A78,000).

Based on the new Hyundai Staria people-mover launched Down Under in August 2021, the roadtrip-ready van is kitted out with almost everything you need to hit the open road for extended periods.

While Australia’s Staria is offered in eight-seat form with front-drive petrol V6 and all-wheel drive diesel powertrains priced from $48,500, in South Korea it can be had in seven-seat and nine-seat Lounge guises, while the new Camper is available with four- or 11-seat layouts.

Standard gear includes a pop-top roof – which operates electrically – with an inflatable mattress that sleeps two people, flat-folding seats that sleep another two, a 36-litre fridge, LED lighting and an external shower.

Fold-away bench space to prepare food also features, as does a sink (connected to a 70-litre water tank) and slide-out table at the rear-end. A waste-water tank also comes standard.

A 12.1-inch touch-screen in the rear section of the Staria Lounge Camper controls the vehicle’s lighting and pop-top roof.

Other cool features include an optional mosquito net and side awning, as well as lighting across the entire roof to help you spot your camp site at night.

Sadly, Hyundai Australia says there are no plans to introduce the new Staria Lounge Camper here yet, despite Australia’s appetite for the great outdoors.