After being spotted on the Department of Energy's (DOE) list of recognized hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) has finally revealed its newest electrified vehicle.

Say annyeonghaseyo to the 2026 Hyundai Staria Hybrid, which trades its turbo-diesel engine for a turbo-hybrid powertrain. Like the Santa Fe Hybrid, the Staria Hybrid now comes with a 1.6L turbocharged hybrid engine that's mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It makes a combined 245 PS and 265 Nm of torque between 1500 and 4500 rpm.

In comparison, the 2.2L turbo-diesel makes 177 PS with 430 Nm of torque. However, this particular engine is now only available for the Cargo MT variant and is only offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Back to the Staria Hybrid, the electrified MPV gets some exterior changes compared to the outgoing turbo-diesel model. It now comes with a revised front grille, new 18-inch alloy wheels, and cube-shaped projection LED headlights. The result is a more sophisticated-looking MPV, while maintaining the spaciousness and practicality of the Staria.

Hop aboard, and the Staria now comes with a larger touchscreen infotainment display that now measures 12.3 inches. It features a more intuitive interface for both entertainment and navigation, as well as a dedicated display for the hybrid system. It also supports wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, intelligent voice recognition, and automatic climate control.

When it comes to seating, the range starts with the GL, which is available in 9- and 11-seater models. Meanwhile, the mid-range GLS is only offered with seating for 9 people. Moving up the model range, the Premium and Premium Plus models come with seating for 9 and 7 people, respectively.

The GL Staria HEV gets fabric upholstery, while the GLS and Premium HEV variants get leather as standard. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line Premium Plus is upholstered in Nappa leather. For easier ingress and egress, the Premium and Premium Plus get dual power-sliding doors, along with a power tailgate. However, the GL and GLS only get manual sliding doors and a manual tailgate.

In the GL and GLS variants, the driver gets a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, while the Premium and Premium Plus variants get a massive 12.3-inch instrument cluster. A 12-speaker Bose sound system is also standard equipment in the Premium and Premium Plus versions, while a 6-speaker sound system is fitted on the GL and GLS models.

Other available in-car features include fast-charging USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, a dual-pane power sunroof, a surround view monitor, and parking sensors for the front, side, and rear.

The Staria Hybrid is also the first vehicle in Hyundai's lineup to feature Bluelink, which serves as the brand's Connected Car Service. This keeps drivers seamlessly connected to their vehicle via Hyundai Live Services. This allows users to access real-time weather updates, as well as inform owners of vehicle status, including diagnostics and health reports.

For extra peace of mind, the Staria Hybrid is available with the Smartsense suite of ADAS. This gives the MPV adaptive cruise control with stop & go, lane-following with keeping assist, blind-spot collision avoidance, and forward collision avoidance.

“The Staria is one of the most iconic nameplates in our current lineup, completing our Hybrid range while carrying a legacy Filipinos trust. Building on the Starex’s role in family life, we are proud to be launching the Staria Hybrid, which brings a more connected, comfortable experience for modern and practical Filipino families,” said Jiho Son, president of HMPH.

The Staria Hybrid is available in three colors: Creamy White, Abyss Black Pearl, and Shimmering Silver Metallic. Exclusive interior colors for the seven-seater and nine-seater premium variants come in Bordeaux Brown and Anthracite Brown, respectively.

Pricing of the Hyundai Staria Hybrid is as follows:

- 2.2 Diesel Cargo 6MT – PHP 1,499,000

- 1.6T HEV GL 6AT 9S – PHP 1,999,000

- 1.6T HEV GL 6AT 11S – PHP 2,079,000

- 1.6T HEV GLS 6AT 9S – PHP 2,389,000

- 1.6T HEV Premium 6AT 9S – PHP 2,999,000

- 1.6T HEV Premium Plus 6AT 7S – PHP 3,199,000