Hyundai i30 Review

Published on 14 June, 2017

As hatchbacks go, the i30 doesn't do much wrong

Overview

Overview

Believe it or not, Hyundai do actually make other cars besides the Tucson. If you're one of the few people who still prefer a good old fashioned hatchback to an SUV, the i30 certainly deserves a place on the shopping list. Spacious, practical and affordable, it also comes with a five year unlimited mileage warranty as standard. The i30 might not set the world on fire in any one particular area, but as a comfortable family cruiser, it really doesn't do much wrong.

Interior Gallery

Whether you need a lot of it or not, space is always nice to have and the interior dimensions of the i30 are quite generous. The boot, at 395 litres is larger than all three class leaders in the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Opel Astra. It also has a handy false floor, and the seats fold completely flat if you need to extend that further again.

All three backseat passengers get plenty of legroom and there’s two sets of isofix anchors for child seats. Back in the front, things are just as comfortable for the driver. There’s a nice bit of distance between the two front seats for shoulder room, as well as plenty of handy storage areas to keep the cabin tidy.

It’s quite a nice cabin too. Like most cars these days, it's very much focused on the touchscreen infotainment system. It’s quite a pleasant one to use, although you'll need to upgrade to the Deluxe Plus trim for the larger eight inch display.

This will also add a few more nice features such as half leather upholstery, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and a ski hatch. But even the entry level model comes well kitted out with Bluetooth, cruise Control, keyless entry and a five inch touch screen display.

The new model hasn’t got an NCAP rating yet but with six airbags and autonomous emergency braking, it’s expected to perform well.

The engine line-up consists of two petrols – the standard 1.4 litre, and a one-litre turbo which is becoming an increasingly popular option in this segment.

Our test car was the 1.6l diesel which will continue to be the most popular seller for the time being, thanks to its low tax bill of €180 and impressive fuel economy of 3.8 litres per 100km.
It’s a well-planted and reassuring drive – punchy enough with 110hp, it accelerates well, and picks up speed quite easily. The handling is pleasant enough - the steering is well-weighted, the suspension is well-judged, and while there’s nothing remarkable or fun about it – it's overall a comfortable and competent cruiser.

The i30 is a great all-rounder and while it might not up there with the household names in the segment just yet, as the Hyundai brand continues to grow in Ireland, you can bet that won’t be the case for long. A five year unlimited mileage warranty should help preserve those resale values too.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives