Testing a used Hyundai against a Volkswagen, is a sure win for the Hyundai,
because a Hyundai offers much more value for money, right?
Right. Let's start with the Volkswagen Golf.
If we're honest, it doesn't need an introduction of course.
Since the Golf was first presented in the 1970's, it's always been the car rivals always have looked up to.
Of course, the Golf had a lesser period, but when the seventh generation Golf arrived in 2012,
and since then the only way was up. When it comes to quality, this car is right up there.
If we take a closer look at the Golf, we can see it doesn't really excel in anything.
It isn't the best driving car in its segment...
It also isn't the most spacious car around. It just does everything...
It also isn't the best looking car in its segment either, it really blends in with all the other cars.
But it just does everything in a way, it doesn't annoy anybody.
In theory, there isn't anybody who could dislike the Golf,
and that's the big power in a Volkswagen Golf.
Right. What stands out if you're driving a Golf for a day? Well, it's got a lot of clever features.
Take the storage in the doors for example. They're huge.
They're covered with felt as well, and you could put everything you'd like in there.
Even 1,5-litre waterbottles fit in there. And if you were to put your keys in there,
they won't rattle about because of the felt. It also makes sure the keys don't scratch the door.
If you want to fold down the rear seat, it'll only take two pushes of a button.
The seats will come down easily,
the seatbelts have small conductors, which make sure the seatbelts won't get stuck between the folded seats,
you get extra hangers for clothes... Those little details are the reason people like to pay extra for a Golf.
Did I mention that it doesn't excel in anything?
Well... I have to say when it comes to comfort, silence aboard and seats; it does pretty well.
Then again, I think the Volvo V40 has better seats...
Then, the Hyundai i30. Currently on sale for €3.000 less than the Golf.
That seems like a lot, but let's take a look at the original prices.
The i30 was €4.500 cheaper than the Golf when it was new, and this i30 is one year older than the Golf...
So you could say its value depreciated less than the Volkswagen,
and I wouldn't say that if I looked at them at first.
The Hyundai i30 has been around for a few years now, and I have to say...
With every i30 Hyundai presents, the car makes a big step forward,
as opposed to the Volkswagen Golf, which only evolves slowly.
But, every time I get into the i30, which is from the previous generation,
I always get the feeling I'm getting into a rental car.
The materials keep getting better though,
but things like a display like this, or the feeling the buttons give me...
It isn't on the same page as Volkswagen just yet, because that's the manufacturer Hyundai targets.
What they did do properly at Hyundai, is the drivability.
The dampers, springs, the steering... It's all similar to the Golf,
it isn't worse than a Golf, so you won't have to pass on this car. On the contrary!
Other than that, it misses a little bit of refinement.
It also isn't as well-equipped as the Golf.
Take the luggage space for example, I mean we are driving station wagons from the family-segment,
so it's pretty important. But this i30 is 77 litres down on the Golf,
and that's quite a lot.
Also, this i30 is the absolute base model, whilst the Golf is a Comfortline.
That means the Golf has more equipment aboard, but base model or not;
an USB-port is always present in a i30. If you want an USB-port in a Golf, you'll have to pay extra.
If you stumble upon a i30 with a similar trim as the Golf, you could absolutely say it's got more equipment for the same price.
But you won't find them as exuberantly equipped as Hyundai used to do, in the old days. Not for the same low price.
Then. The engines. If you hold the brochures next to eachother,
the Hyundai takes a beautiful victory, thanks to its 1.6-litre producing 30 horsepower more than the Golf,
which only has a 1.2-litre producing 105 horsepower.
However, this is an old school 1.6-litre, so it's naturally aspirated.
So if you take a look at the torques, the Golf trumps the i30.
And that means that have about the same performance on paper.
So actually, this is the ideal car for people who dislike all compact, turbocharged engines.
For people who don't think much of turbo's.
There are much less parts on a 1.6-litre like this, so there's less stuff to break...
This engine will just keep going.
An i30 does have one major advantage.
This very car we're driving right now, still has one year of factory warranty left,
because Hyundai offers a standard 5-year warranty for all their new cars.
You won't see Volkswagen offering something like that any time soon.
Then again, Hyundai also has a sister company called Kia,
and they offer 7 years of warranty as standard.
Also, I think if you trade in this car after five years, or if you trade in the Golf after five years,
you'll get the €3.000 you've spent extra on the Golf back, because it's residual value will be higher.
So in short; You're going to have to get a great deal...
...if you prefer an i30 above a Golf. Or, since we've mentioned her before: the Kia Cee'd.