Hyundai has facelifted their i30, so it now has a new nose with new V-shaped headlights, a new engine range, a new multimedia system and...
they've looked at the current range of versions. Where necessary, they changed a few things. To see how those things turned out,
we'll be comparing it to the Ford Focus. That has only been around for two years, so there's no facelift available yet. However, Ford did...
introduce a new engine for the Focus. A 1.0-litre mild-hybrid.
The i30 doesn't have any diesel engines in its range anymore. Only petrol engines. Two of them actually. A 1.0-litre 3-cylinder and a...
1.5-litre 4-cylinder. Both are mild-hybrid systems and you can choose between a manual or an automatic gearbox.
The smaller engine produces 120 horsepower whilst the bigger engine produces 160 horsepower. We're driving the latter, combined with...
the automatic DCT-gearbox. The maximum amount of torque is available across a wide range of RPM.
That means the automatic gearbox doesn't have to change gears every now and again. Also, the engine is very quiet.
Just like the drivetrain, the chassis is very comfortable. The car has Multilink-suspension at the rear, which is usually used by sportier cars.
Also, it's got Michelin PilotSport-tires, so there's no lack of grip.
The springs are dampers have a very comfortable setting and the steering isn't too communicative. So it's not really meant for tearing up the track.
Hyundai was clearly aiming at comfort with this i30, and we can see that in the driving aids as well.
You've got a lane keeping-assist, active cruise control, stuff like that makes driving a car a tad easier.
You can get the i30 Wagon in N-Line trim as well, which is the most complete i30-version available.
That you're driving an N-Line, is made very clear to you. There's N-logo's everywhere. On the steering wheel, the gear lever and even the seats.
And, for the dynamic accent, it has red stitching as well. Remarkable if you ask me, considering this car is aiming at comfort.
The instrument cluster is partly digital. The middle part really. That changes color if you change the driving mode.
But the most important news in the interior however, is the new multimedia system.
It used to be flanked by a few physical buttons to reach certain menu's, but now the buttons have been removed. Instead, you've got...
touch-buttons underneath the screen. The system still works very nicely, with quick reactions and a logical menu structure.
Also, something I really like, operating the air conditioning is done by these buttons on a separate panel.
The used materials feel pretty comfortable. They've really reduced the usage of hard plastics, good job there.
If we look further, it's relatively spacious. I say relatively, because I'm driving a version with a glass roof.
That means the headroom is a little bit limited. Other than that, there's more than enough room around you.
In the back, there's more than enough legroom for a C-segment car and if we move even further back,
because that's what it's all about in a station car, we've got a boot which can hold 603 litres. That's really good.
Ford still lets you choose between petrol or diesel engines in their Focus, and you can choose your preferred gearbox as well.
Very conventional. However, as a third option, Ford also offers mild-hybrid systems in their Focus. That's right, there are two versions.
However, they're pretty much the same. It's a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder with either 120 horsepower or 155 horsepower.
Today, we're driving the latter, and the engine kind of gives you a very raw impression. It sounds like it has to work for it,
and it gives you that feeling as well. As if it were coming from its toes, despite producing about the same amount of power as the Hyundai.
That has everything to do with the way you experience it, because it produces enough power. You don't need to change gear constantly.
There's always enough torque available. But what I said, you have to change gear yourself. You can't get an automatic gearbox with...
this version. If you do want an automatic gearbox, you have to get a conventional diesel or petrol version.
Luckily, it's not a punishment to use this manual gearbox. The gear changes are really tight.
Just like the Hyundai, the Focus has a sporty Multilink rear-suspension as well. It doesn't have sporty tires or anything, but the way the...
springs and dampers are set is sportier than in the Hyundai. That gives the car a much more dynamic chassis.
Without it becoming uncomfortable, the car feels more dynamic as well. The steering is completely in sync with that as well. There's enough feeling...
to it. The Focus really involves you in the drive, more than the i30 does. When we're talking about driving assists and safety systems, it's safe...
to say that Ford is ahead of Hyundai on that one. For example, the instrument cluster. Whenever I'm approaching a situation for which I have to slow down,
on a roundabout or a crossroads, the instrument cluster will alert me when to release the throttle. That way, I can save a bit of fuel.
Behind the steering wheel, you've got a fully-digital instrument cluster. Over here, there's a multimedia system with a touchscreen, but it's...
a tad less advanced than what Hyundai has to offer. However, Ford did things properly with their climate control-buttons as well,
because they've put them in a separate panel with physical buttons. As it should be.
When it comes to the used materials, Ford is on par with Hyundai. It all feels nicely and it looks good, with good finishing as well.
Barely any hard plastics as well. However, the Ford does come with better seats than the Hyundai. They sit just a tad nicer. Just like the Hyundai,
this car comes with seat extenders, which is always nice. Especially if you've got long legs like me.
Also, despite my tall posture, I've got headroom in this car. There's no glass roof to reduce space.
Really nice. If we move to the back seat, there's a tad less legroom than in the Hyundai. However, because there's more headroom, you can just...
sit up straight and you'll be fine. If we move to the boot, Ford can proudly say it's precisely five litres bigger than the boot in the Hyundai.
All in all, it's nicely balanced.
Thanks to all of the effort Hyundai has put into facelifting the i30, it's now perfectly capable of rivalling any other car in this segment.
And I'm not only talking about the car itself, but about the price as well. The i30 is only slightly more expensive than the Focus.