Over the years, South Korean manufacturer Hyundai have increasingly improved and impressed with the range of cars and choices on offer and this week we take a look at the latest Hyundai I30.
Having previously looked at owning an i30 of the previous generation for the wife, we were pleasantly surprised at the changes which have taken place in this all-new model.
The obvious change on the outside is the more edgy, sharp look while still making this all round hatchback appealing with a sleek flow.
It certainly will give its rivals in the low cost family hatch category (Ford Focus, Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra for example) a run for their money and with 10 colour choices of paintwork you certainly will be spoilt for choice.
For the purposes of our review, we drove the 1.0 T-GDi SE Nav in Stargazer Blue.
I must admit, the engine surprised me, I expected to be unimpressed with the small capacity engine compared to my own daily driver a 2.5 litre 5 cylinder 300bhp Focus ST but I have to say it was a comfortable, effortless driving car and more than punchy around town.
For what it is, it does what it says on the tin. It provided low running costs and is an adequate petrol engine with sensible fuel return. The range offers super reliable engine choices along with two gearbox options as follows.
- T-GDi, (120ps) 6 speed manual Petrol – 171Nm
- 1.4 T-GDi, (140ps) 6 speed manual or 7 speed DCT Petrol – 242Nm
- 1.6 CRDi, (110ps) 6 speed manual or 7 DCT Diesel – 280Nm
The interior of the i30 allows for a comfortable experience for both driver and passengers alike. The cabin area is roomy allowing for 5 to travel. Seats were supportive to some degree and there is also an option for partial leather trims.
The arm rest in the centre console with storage comes as standard within the SE Nav model for the driver which is a nice touch. If lane indicators are your thing these are also included which seems to be added to many of the new cars in which I test, they allow you to be warned should you wander into another lane (good for poor visibility).
The infotainment system in this car offers a large touch screen display with sat nav and entertainment easily navigated around. This can also be accessed from the steering wheel controls.
I would however say the steering wheel was a disappointment for me, if I am being super critical I felt that it didn’t quite fit in with the lines of the rest of the car and should have been a bit smaller and more onto a sportier feel.
As with any range there normally is selection of trims to choose from and this Hyundai is no exception as you have the choice of five.
- S Model starts from £16,995
- SE Model starts from £18,885
- SE NAV Model starts from £19,805
- Premium Model starts from £22,355
- Premium SE Model starts from £23,440
Optional extras can be added to the above. But as I am sure you would agree an affordable driving experience can await you in this range. If these prices weren’t enough to entice you low emissions across the range lends itself to affordable tax and a five-year warranty is included.
The boot space within these cars certainly allows for a pram, weekly shop, or the dog to be transported comfortably making it a suitable vehicle for all the family to enjoy. Should the standard boot not be enough for transporting, the back seats do fold down to allow for extra cargo or there is an estate version.
The overall driving experience was forgettable with a little too much body roll over back road driving however with this comes a very comfortable suspension setup which made it even on bumpy or uneven roads a pleasant journey for all when not in a hurry. Ease of parking was helped by the feature of front and rear parking sensors and good visibility from windows.
Words: Graham Curry Photos: Hyundai UK
