Hyundai is a company that’s come on leaps and bounds in the past few years, thanks in
no small part to cars like this, the i30 hatchback. Aimed straight at the family hatch segment,
it mightn’t have the same star power as something like a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus,
but don’t think for a second that it’s anything of an underdog.
In fact, this is a car that’s so popular that Hyundai says it specifically had to ramp
up production of this new facelifted 2015 version at its factory in the Czech Republic
just to keep up with buyer demand. All those people can’t be wrong, right?
Open the doors and step in, and the first thing you’re greeted with is this neat infotainment
system and large, sweeping dash. On first impressions, this is a smart-looking car.
Having received various extra gizmos in an effort to further boost its appeal, it’s
loaded with touches like two massive smartphone docks with USB and aux inputs, plus a total
of two 12v sockets. It even has this neat connector included specifically for iPods,
so if you’re into your tech, this will prove one seriously welcoming interior.
Wide and spacious, other mod cons include a handy sunglasses holder and a huge storage
binnacle under the armrest, while it also gets a reversing camera, cruise control and
DAB radio. Is it perfect? Well, no. It’s something
of a shame that the cool bits are slightly let down by these plastic-y panels, and while
the infotainment system isn’t quite as fiddly as those offered by some other manufacturers
like Peugeot, it still does feel like something of a step down from VW’s.
Likewise, the controls could be better laid out and the air con feels a little like somebody’s
puffing at you through a straw, but overall the interior’s comfortable with supportive
seats and this nice leather-trimmed wheel. The back’s just as comfy, with loads of
leg and headroom, plus ISOFIX for your child seats and two cupholders in the armrest.
60/40 folding seats tumble down, flip up and fold flat really easily to free up more room,
with a maximum boot space of 1,316 litres that’s bigger than the Focus, the Golf and
also the SEAT Leon. Comfort’s the aim of the game when it comes
down to driving the i30, with a decent ride quality that soaks up most of what the road
throws at it. The suspension still can’t soak up all the
larger bumps, but overall it’s composed and confident round corners, though admittedly
not that compelling thanks to steering that’s a little lacking in feedback.
If you’re looking for something similar but a bit faster, Hyundai does now offer a
warm-hatch version called the i30 Turbo, but in honesty you’re probably better off with
a Leon FR. All i30s come with 1.6-litre engines, with
this car featuring a turbodiesel with an automatic gearbox and stop-start technology. Again,
performance fans will find themselves disappointed, but for the average Joe it offers plenty of
pull and smooth gear changes. The gearbox does tend to clunk up a bit when
you first put your foot down, but with claimed fuel economy of nearly 73mpg and CO2 emissions
as low as 94g/km when you specify the manual gearbox, realistically the only sound you’ll
hear is that of all the spare change jingling about in your pocket.
Cool, easy to live with and with an obvious appeal for drivers looking for something that
bit different, the Hyundai i30 matches style with substance in a smart and appealing package.
Add low running costs and a list price that starts from around £15k, it’s a well-price
alternative to mainstream European hatches, with a distinctive style all of its own.
Could you see yourself behind the wheel of a Hyundai i30? Let us know in the comments
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