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Photo of a Hyundai H-1

Hyundai H-1

Eight aboard, 842 liters behind: the iMax makes room for the whole crew.1

Researched November 2, 2026 from 26 sources

Also called

  • millenniumA name used for the first-generation 2000–2002 facelift.2
  • Drift BusHyundai Australia's one-off iMax N was inspired by an April Fool's prank image from Hyundai Germany.3

At a glance

0100200
74–194 hpPower
012.525
14.4–22.1 s0–100 km/h
0100200
154–180 km/hTop speed
0250500
142–451 N·mTorque
01,2502,500
2,186–2,230 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.26891011

Engine
2.4 L gas I4; 3.0 L gas V6 and 2.6 L diesel I4 (A1); 2.5 L diesel I42
Layout
Front engine; rear-wheel drive or 4WD, depending on version2
Gearbox
A1: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto; TQ: 5/6-speed manual, 4/5-speed auto2
Built at
Ulsan, South Korea; Ghabbour, Egypt; TMC, Algeria; HIM, Indonesia; Assan, Turkey2

The story

Created to mix sedan comfort with van utility, the H-1/Starex debuted in 1997. The 2007 Grand Starex redesign ran internationally until 2023; its eight-seat iMax had an 842-liter boot but seats that would not fold flat.124

1997: H-1 arrives as a family wagon19972003: Common rail brings 360 Nm20032007: Grand Starex starts a new generation20072012: Six-speed manuals reach UK/Australia20122013: Factory 4WD for the Grand Starex20132016: Series II iMax gains front side airbags20162019: Travel gets a new face and SCR20192021: South Korea stops; 300-car Elite NS20212023: Elite FE ends the run in Thailand2023 Hyundai HD1000 Minibus: 1977–1981Hyundai Grace / H100: 1986–2004Hyundai Grace / H100Hyundai H-1 / Starex (A1): 1996–2007A1Hyundai H-1 / Grand Starex (TQ): 2007–2023TQ 19801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones2492021
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1977–1981Hyundai HD1000 Minibus
1986–2004Hyundai Grace / H100
1996–2007Hyundai H-1 / Starex (A1)
2007–2023Hyundai H-1 / Grand Starex (TQ)
1997H-1 arrives as a family wagon
2003Common rail brings 360 Nm
2007Grand Starex starts a new generation
2012Six-speed manuals reach UK/Australia
2013Factory 4WD for the Grand Starex
2016Series II iMax gains front side airbags
2019Travel gets a new face and SCR
2021South Korea stops; 300-car Elite NS
2023Elite FE ends the run in Thailand
  1. 1997

    H-1 arrives as a family wagon

    Hyundai introduced the H-1, also called Starex, to combine a sedan's comfort with the usefulness of a van.4

  2. 2003

    Common rail brings 360 Nm

    The first-generation 2.5-liter common-rail turbodiesel arrived with 139 hp, 360 Nm and a 16-valve DOHC head.2

  3. 2007

    Grand Starex starts a new generation

    The Grand Starex redesign arrived; passenger versions sold as iMax in Australia and i800 in the UK.24

  4. 2012

    Six-speed manuals reach UK/Australia

    UK and Australian diesels gained a six-speed manual; automatic versions kept their power and raised peak torque to 441 Nm.2

  5. 2013

    Factory 4WD for the Grand Starex

    Hyundai added selectable 2WD/4WD to the Grand Starex for unpaved roads and icy conditions.5

  6. 2016

    Series II iMax gains front side airbags

    The 2016 Series II iMax gained front side airbags but still lacked curtain airbags; its ANCAP rating remained four stars.1

  7. 2019

    Travel gets a new face and SCR

    The 2019 H-1 Travel combined a redesigned nose with SCR urea injection; all three diesels met Euro 6d-TEMP-EVAP.6

  8. 2021

    South Korea stops; 300-car Elite NS

    Grand Starex production ended in South Korea on March 18; Thailand's H-1 Elite NS arrived on November 8, limited to 300 units.2

  9. 2023

    Elite FE ends the run in Thailand

    The H-1 Elite FE Final Edition arrived on September 26 with a 9-inch touchscreen, as international production reached its final year.27

Every generation

  • Hyundai Grace / H100
    Hyundai Grace / H1001986–2004
  • Hyundai H-1 / Starex
    A11996–2007
  • Hyundai H-1 / Grand Starex
    TQ2007–2023
  • Hyundai Staria
    Hyundai Staria

Power over the years

From 79 hp to 194 hp in 3 years.

050100150200 20002005201020152020 hp 1997 · 79 hp · 1997 German 2.5 turbodiesel1998 · 83 hp · 1998 4D56 turbodiesel1998 · 145 hp · 1998 4G64 gasoline1999 · 85 hp · 1999 intercooled 2.5 diesel2000 · 194 hp · 2000–2002 6G72 V62003 · 139 hp · 2003–2004 2.5 common rail2008 · 168 hp · 2008 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi2010 · 108 hp · 2010 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi2011 · 114 hp · 2011 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi2012 · 134 hp · 2012 UK/Australia diesel manual2019 · 175 hp · 2019 Grand Starex Urban 194 hp 2000–2002 6G72 V6 79 hp 1997 German 2.5 turbodiesel
28912
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1997791997 German 2.5 turbodiesel
1998831998 4D56 turbodiesel
19981451998 4G64 gasoline
1999851999 intercooled 2.5 diesel
20001942000–2002 6G72 V6
20031392003–2004 2.5 common rail
20081682008 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi
20101082010 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi
20111142011 H-1 Travel 2.5 CRDi
20121342012 UK/Australia diesel manual
20191752019 Grand Starex Urban

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    H-1 Travel Select / Trend / Premium

    2019

  • Standard

    iMax Active / Elite

    2019

    168 hp
  • i800 SE / SE Nav

    Standard

    i800 SE / SE Nav

    2017

  • Standard

    H-1 Elegance / XG / Royale (Indonesia)

    2020

  • Special

    Grand Starex 4WD

    2013

  • Special

    Grand Starex Urban

    2019

    175 hp
  • Grand Starex Royale (Malaysia)

    Special

    Grand Starex Royale (Malaysia)

    2017

    168 hp
  • Grand Starex Limousine

    Special

    Grand Starex Limousine

    2018

  • Limited

    H-1 Limited Edition (Indonesia)

    2015

  • H-1 Elite NS (Thailand)

    Limited

    H-1 Elite NS (Thailand)

    2021

    300 built

  • Limited

    H-1 Elite FE Final Edition (Thailand)

    2023

How to spot one

Look for

  • First-generation SVX and Club: contrasting cladding along the lower body.2
  • iMax: boxy body with a traditional minibus profile.1
  • H-1 Travel: prominent body bulges over the wheel arches.6
  • H-1 Travel: large sliding doors on both sides.6

Year by year

  1. 2000–2004

    First generation: clear multi-reflector headlights and jewel-style rear lamps; 2003–2004 kept the preceding exterior.2

  2. 2005–2007

    First generation: squared bug-eye headlights, an oversized square grille with three vertical chrome bars and square fog lights.2

  3. 2009 (Malaysia)

    Grand Starex Royale gained a new grille, body-color mirrors instead of black, and a rear-window wiper.2

  4. 2011 (Malaysia)

    Malaysian models gained LED daytime lights, side skirts and a rear spoiler with a built-in brake light.2

  5. 2017 (Malaysia)

    Malaysia's Grand Starex Royale received a huge chrome grille, side cladding and rear-bumper exhaust outlets.16

  6. 2018 / model year 2019

    Second generation: redesigned front; H-1 Travel gained a bigger, chrome-edged grille with five horizontal bars and new clear-lens headlights.26

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Hyundai H-1
    H-1
    Photo of a Kia Carnival (2016)
    Kia Carnival (2016)

    Kia Carnival (2016)

    The Carnival has a lower, sleeker wagon shape; the iMax stands taller with a boxy minibus silhouette.1

Against its rivals

  • Kia Carnival Platinum

    H-1 vs Kia Carnival Platinum

    Price before on-roads lower is better

    H-146,490 AUD
    Kia Carnival Platinum58,290 AUD
    1
  • SEAT Alhambra

    H-1 vs SEAT Alhambra

    0–100 km/h lower is better

    H-117.6 s
    SEAT Alhambra10.2 s
    13

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 10 stories from its legend
    • “35th in Clubsprint, in a bus”
    • “DBSK's rolling screening room”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 26 sources
  1. Hyundai iMax v Kia Carnival 2016 Comparison - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
  2. Hyundai Starex - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  3. Hyundai iMax N ‘Drift Bus’ revealed: tyre-shredding eight-seater track special | Hyundai News | Hyundai Australia hyundai.com
  4. Vehicle History 1990 H-1 | Corporate | Footer - Hyundai Worldwide hyundai.com
  5. 현대차, 그랜드 스타렉스 4WD 출시 - 카이즈유 신차소개 m.carisyou.com
  6. Der Hyundai H-1 Travel: Pressetext hyundai.news
  7. ราคาอย่างเป็นทางการ Hyundai H-1 Elite FE : 1,499,000 บาท | รุ่นส่งท้าย Final Edition - HeadLight Magazine headlightmag.com
  8. 2019 Hyundai Grand Starex Urban Targets Premium Van Market (w/ 11 Photos, Specs) | CarGuide.PH | Philippine Car News, Car Reviews, Car Prices carguide.ph
  9. Hyundai H-1 – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  10. 2020 Hyundai iMax Elite review | CarExpert carexpert.com.au
  11. 2019 Hyundai iMax Elite Review | Practical Motoring practicalmotoring.com.au
  12. Hyundai H-1, Baujahr 2008 bis 2020 ► Technische Daten zu allen Motorisierungen auto-motor-und-sport.de
  13. Hyundai i800 MPV (2008-2019) review | Carbuyer carbuyer.co.uk
  14. Hyundai i800 (2008 - 2019) review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  15. Varian Hyundai H-1 di Indonesia | Hyundai Mobil Indonesia hyundaimobil.co.id
  16. 2017 Hyundai Grand Starex Royale facelift - RM169k - paultan.org paultan.org
  17. 현대차 '그랜드 스타렉스' 출시…승합차서 승용차로 탈바꿈 - 전자신문 etnews.com
  18. Hyundai H-1 Limited Edition Diperkenalkan Pada GIIAS 2015 oto.com
  19. ยลโฉมจริง!! 2021 Hyundai H-1 Elite NS พ่อบ้านสายเที่ยวหรูพิเศษเพียง 300 คัน | Car2Day car2day.com
  20. 현대 HD1000 d.namu.moe
  21. Hyundai Grace – Wikipedia de.wikipedia.org
  22. DBSK’s Van Interior Looks like a Hotel Room | Soompi soompi.com
  23. WTAC 2019 Results | World Time Attack worldtimeattack.com
  24. Buying a used Hyundai iLoad/iMax (2008-2012) - carsales.com.au redbook.com.au
  25. Solutions to Hyundai Starex's smoke-belching and stalling engine topgear.com.ph
  26. Стоит ли брать Hyundai H-1 Starex с пробегом: все «болячки» подержанного «Старекса» auto.mail.ru
  • carsales.com.au
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • hyundai.com
  • m.carisyou.com
  • hyundai.news
  • headlightmag.com
  • carguide.ph
  • de.wikipedia.org
  • carexpert.com.au
  • practicalmotoring.com.au
  • auto-motor-und-sport.de
  • carbuyer.co.uk
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • hyundaimobil.co.id

Photo credits

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