Hyundai Starex: the van that became an H-1, iLoad and iMax

The Hyundai Starex is the light commercial vehicle and minibus Hyundai built from 1996 to 2023. It replaced the Grace in most countries, and it has been sold under a long list of names: H-1 in Europe, H200 and H300 in the Netherlands, iLoad and iMax in Australia, i800 in the United Kingdom, and Grand Starex as a luxury MPV in Malaysia.

Hyundai Starex at a glance

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History of the Hyundai Starex

The first Starex of 1996 succeeded the Grace, also known as the H100, in most markets. Like the Grace it came in many forms: minivan and MPV, minibus, van, pickup, taxi and ambulance. The first cars used a 2.5-litre 4D56 single-cam diesel of 75 PS and 142 N·m, and they were at first restricted to Korea before being exported to South-East Asia and parts of Europe.

For 1998 Hyundai added a petrol engine, the Mitsubishi 4G64 of 147 PS and 218 N·m, and gave the diesel a non-intercooled turbocharger for 84 PS and 201 N·m. Two trim levels, SVX and Club, offered features unusual for a van: two-tone paint and lower body cladding, an optional twin sunroof, 15-inch “star” alloy wheels, cream moquette upholstery, a head unit with a television screen and six-disc CD changer, power windows and antenna, and an Aisin four-speed automatic with an overdrive switch. Body styles included a commercial panel van, a pickup called the Libero, a twelve-seat long-wheelbase Jumbo and seven and nine-seat short-wheelbase RV versions.

The 1999 model brought an intercooled 2.5-litre turbo-diesel of 86 PS with a bonnet scoop to feed the intercooler, blacked-out B-pillars on Club cars and a dashboard binnacle with temperature, altimeter and compass. Between 2000 and 2002, the “millennium” model added the Mitsubishi 2,972 cc 6G72 V6 of 197 PS and 278 N·m, plus multi-reflector headlamps and jewel-effect tail lights. From 2003 a 2.5-litre sixteen-valve common-rail turbodiesel of 141 PS and 360 N·m became available, with digital climate control on Club versions.

The second facelift of 2005 to 2007 brought a new front end with squared “bug eye” headlights, a taller bumper around a large square grille with three chrome bars and squared fog lamps, plus revised tail lights, an integrated antenna, a digital odometer and, in some markets, a flip-down ceiling screen. Engines were a 2.4-litre sixteen-valve Sirius petrol of 143 hp, the common-rail diesel of 141 PS and the intercooled single-cam diesel of 86 PS, now with electronic throttle control. Inside there was upgraded upholstery, rear cup holders, rubberised floor matting, aluminium accents and split folding seats.

Design and features

• Many bodies: van, minibus, pickup, taxi and ambulance on one base.
• Many markets: H-1, H200, H300, iLoad, iMax and i800 are all the same vehicle.
• Luxury touches: twin sunroofs and TV screens on Club versions of the first generation.
• Long run: almost thirty years in production, from 1996 to 2023.

Hyundai Starex versions

• Starex A1 (1996–2007): the first generation with its many facelifts.
• Jumbo and RV: long-wheelbase twelve-seat and short-wheelbase seven and nine-seat versions.
• Libero: the pickup version of the first generation.
• H-1, iLoad and iMax: the names used in Europe, Australia and Britain.
• Grand Starex: the luxury eleven-seat MPV version sold in Malaysia.

The Starex replaced the Grace and shares its export name with the H-100 family. More Hyundai models are in the Hyundai collection.

Sources

• Hyundai Starex, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, equipment, body styles, export names