GAC M8 vs Hyundai Staria

The GAC M8 starts from $76,590 before on-road costs, while the Hyundai Staria opens at $50,500. That makes the Hyundai Staria the more affordable entry point by $26,090.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $84,249 and $55,550 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the GAC M8 by roughly $6,270 in fuel alone.

Both the GAC M8 and Hyundai Staria hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The GAC M8 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Hyundai Staria.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the GAC M8 and 7 in the Hyundai Staria. The GAC M8 adds a 360-degree camera that the Hyundai Staria misses.

Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The GAC M8 stands out with wireless charging, heated front seats, power tailgate, GAC Premium audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the Hyundai Staria. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The GAC M8 uses a Petrol Turbo producing 140kW and 330Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds.

The Hyundai Staria responds with a Petrol making 200kW and 331Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.

The Hyundai Staria has the clear power advantage at 200kW vs 140kW. In the real-world sprint, the GAC M8 is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GAC M8 measures 5,212mm long on a 3,070mm wheelbase, 41mm shorter than the Hyundai Staria at 5,253mm (3,273mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Hyundai Staria generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 800L in the GAC M8 and 703L in the Hyundai Staria, giving the GAC M8 a 97L advantage. The Hyundai Staria seats 8 vs 7.

For towing, the Hyundai Staria leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,739/year for the GAC M8 and $2,993/year for the Hyundai Staria. That is a $1,254 annual difference in favour of the GAC M8.

Estimated annual total: $1,739 (GAC M8) vs $2,993 (Hyundai Staria). The GAC M8 saves you roughly $1,254 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 8 years / 150,000km (GAC M8) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Hyundai Staria). The GAC M8 has longer coverage.