Hyundai's i30 Tourer brings practicality to the range

What is it?

The Hyundai i30 Tourer is a much more practical estate version of the company’s i30 hatchback – a car that’s sold nearly a million units since it was launched in 2007 and has risen in popularity since.

On the outside it looks very similar to the hatch at the front end with lovely sleek lines and plenty of chrome, especially in Premium or Premium SE spec. The rear is where the i30 Tourer starts to become interesting because you get a car with hatch looks and estate practicality. Thanks to a tapered window line that is almost coupe like, the car is overall a rather stylish affair and is much better looking than its closest rivals – the Skoda Octavia Estate and Kia Cee’d Sportswagon.

What’s new?

Inside it’s a breath of fresh air over the old model. A large infotainment system sits in the centre of the car and there are minimal buttons, so there’s no cluttered appearance. The styling on the outside is obviously very different too and actually looks fresh and modern, unlike the stuffy outgoing model that was instantly forgettable to look at.

The engines are similar in terms of choice of diesel and petrol, but now they are much more frugal, with our test car managing an impressive 56mpg as we drove it across France and Belgium – not too far off the official claim.

What’s under the bonnet?

There are several engines to choose from, including a 1.6-litre diesel with 109bhp, which is the one we drove. There is also a more powerful 134bhp diesel and two petrols – a 1.0-litre with 118bhp and a 1.4-litre with 138bhp. Both petrol engines are also turbocharged.

The diesels are the most fuel-efficient, especially the lesser-powered version, which manages 60mpg on the combined cycle and emits 112g/km of CO2 emissions.

What’s it like to drive?

We began in Ashford, Kent on our epic drive to France via Belgium. Throughout the entire journey the car didn’t fail to impress with its refinement and comfort. The space in the boot was very good too with lots of room for our luggage and food.

The steering isn’t direct or dynamic, but it is light and mildly responsive at times, especially on the twisty roads of northern France. It also has an excellent radar-guided cruise control system that felt like that of a Mercedes or BMW.

But one thing it lacks is any excitement or enthusiasm for the driver to actually enjoy the car. It feels like a car that is literally just an A to B cruiser and nothing more. It does the job of being a family-friendly estate car perfectly, but doesn’t give the driver much feedback about the road. It is also very sluggish at times, although this was caused by the 109bhp diesel we had rather than the car itself. Opt for the higher-powered version and it will feel quicker, but not by much.

It is important to note that despite its faults, I rather like this car, and in terms of styling it is miles better looking than any of its rivals and even in top Premium SE spec, it’s vastly cheaper than the equivalent Skoda, Kia or Peugeot.

How does it look?

From the outside, the all-new i30 Tourer is a very good-looking car. Lots of curvy styling and sharp angled headlamps resemble those from the hatchback. Past the front end, things are also very impressive, with an aesthetically pleasing dropped curve to the window line.

The badge may not be the most desirable but people really should consider this car. Ignore that it isn’t German or Japanese, because it really does have appeal. It looks very smart and stands out just a bit more than the hatchback.

What’s it like inside?

Inside, things are pretty good too, with lots of very nice soft-touch plastics and super-comfortable seats. But there are a few niggles – chiefly the fact that although most of the plastics feel fine, the lower down you feel the cheaper it gets, with scratchy plastics that don’t belong in a car that is the best side of £20,000.

Overall though, it’s a nice place to be and feels very well screwed together, with lots of convenient cubbyholes to store your bottles of water, bags of sweets and mobile phone.

What’s the spec like?

There are several different specs to choose from. Our car was from the middle of the range, finished in Premium trim and costing from £22,885. It comes with sat nav, an electric driver’s seat, sporty alloy wheels, LED headlamps, DAB radio and 17-inch alloy wheels to name a few. For leather upholstery and a panoramic roof, you have to upgrade to Premium SE, which costs from £24,155.

The Premium spec offers everything you would want in a car, however, and includes a very intuitive infotainment system. We would recommend opting for the Premium SE, though, so you can take advantage of an excellent panoramic sunroof and leather interior.

Verdict

It may not be inspiring to drive but it isn’t aimed at car enthusiasts, it’s aimed at families and for that it is perfect. Not only does it have a huge boot to store lots of luggage and daily necessities, it also has a plethora of cubbyholes throughout the cabin and even under the boot floor. As family wagons go, this is a decent alternative to more established marques.

FACTS AS A GLANCE

Model: Hyundai i30 Tourer
Base price: £17,495
Price as tested: £22,885
Engine tested: 1.6-litre CDRi
Power (bhp): 109
Torque (Nm):280
Max speed (mph): 117
0-60mph: 11.1 seconds
MPG: 60
Emissions (g/km): 99