Chevy’s Next Van Might Be a Rebadged Hyundai Spaceship
Hyundai’s raddest van just may be sold as a Chevy in America.
Billy RehbockWriterAvarvariiPhotographerManufacturerPhotographerAug 13, 2025
FUTURE Chevrolet Staria Render Front 3Q
What It Is A Hyundai van sold at U.S. Chevrolet dealerships—and a less far-fetched concept than it seems. We’ve hoped the Hyundai Staria, a light-duty commercial van sold in Asia and Europe, would come to our shores for years. Now, we expect Chevrolet to introduce a rebadged version of the Staria to its portfolio for 2029 as part of a pledge between General Motors and Hyundai Motor Group to co-develop and co-produce vehicles, including a commercial van.
The Staria wears styling resembling that of, appropriately, a spaceship, and it can transport up to 11 passengers when configured for that task. As for the interior, the dash is similar to that of the Hyundai Santa Cruz with its horizontal theming, but with separated panels for the gauge cluster and infotainment displays. Accommodations behind the front row range from a bare-bones utility van setup to a sumptuous Staria Lounge Limousine layout.
Why It Matters Chevy faces a van-shaped crisis as the 2020s roll by. The Chevrolet Express, introduced in 1996 and most recently face-lifted for 2003, is nearly three decades old. Meanwhile, the medium-duty BrightDrop EV has been a commercial failure because of low demand from fleet buyers.
As a result, Chevy is woefully underequipped to challenge the competition. Ford, Ram, and Mercedes-Benz respectively offer the Transit, ProMaster, and Sprinter. Not only are those rivals available with conventional gasoline powertrains, but also all-electric alternatives. If General Motors adds a rebadged Staria to Chevy’s lineup, it will come to market with one of the best-looking light-duty commercial vans on sale. While Hyundai doesn’t build an all-electric Staria, its available hybrid powertrain would be model-exclusive within the light-duty commercial van segment. What would really be wonderful is if it were offered in both passenger and camper configurations.
FUTURE Chevrolet Staria Camper Render
Platform and Powertrain Today’s Hyundai Staria uses the Hyundai-Kia N platform, which is shared with familiar models such as the Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Sonata, and Tucson. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants are likely to be offered. Hyundai equips the Staria with a variety of powertrains around the world, including a 3.5-liter V-6 and a 2.2-liter turbodiesel I-4. Six-cylinder models are paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission; the diesel engine is offered with an eight-speed auto or a six-speed manual. We advise against getting your hopes up that a manual-equipped diesel van is coming to the U.S., however.
It’s more likely Chevy’s Staria lineup will include a hybrid powertrain option with Hyundai’s 1.6-liter turbo-four mated to an electric motor. Although all-electric light-duty vans are commonplace in the U.S., Chevrolet could differentiate its badge-engineered Staria from the competition with this hybrid offering.
Hyundai also manufactures an all-electric Staria with a cargo box in the rear. Called the ST1, this model is less likely to join Chevy’s lineup. However, its specs would be competitive with the electric vans on sale here should the Bow Tie introduce a rebadged ST1 to its lineup. A 76.1-kWh battery powers a 215-hp motor, allowing for approximately 150 miles of driving range. A peak charging speed of 350 kW sweetens the deal.
FUTURE Chevrolet Staria Render Back 3Q
Estimated Price $45,000
Expected On-Sale Date Summer 2028
Billy Rehbock
Billy Rehbock’s passion for cars started with his dad’s Volkswagen Jetta GLX, his mom’s Cabriolet, and his own Hot Wheels collection. A USC graduate with a Master of Science in journalism, he’s an associate editor for the MotorTrend Buyer’s Guide and covers everything from sports cars to SUVs.
