UK Drive: Hyundai's i30 offers a premium feel for a not-so-premium price

What is it?

The i30 is a hatchback that rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon and Kia Cee’d. There are several engine choices and it sits well among the executive hatchback market, thanks to a roomy cabin, competitive price and good engine range.

Depending on which variant you choose, there is a surprising amount of kit as standard and it also feels rather good to drive, especially on the motorway where it is a comfortable cruiser.

What’s new?

The latest version of the i30 hatchback is certainly a breath of fresh air compared to its predecessor, which was beginning to feel very dated, especially inside where it was almost retro in appearance.

This latest incarnation not only looks better, but feels more energetic to drive and has a much improved interior. There is also a lot more kit on offer, especially in Premium SE specification like our test car where you find lots of luxuries such as heated leather seats, sat-nav, climate control, electric driver’s seat, LED headlights and even a heated steering wheel.

What’s under the bonnet?

Our car was fitted with a 1.4-litre petrol engine that develops 138bhp, goes from standstill to 60mph in 8.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph. We also had the six-speed manual, although a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox is also available.

There are two other engines to choose from including a 1.0-litre petrol that develops 118bhp, and a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel with 116bhp under the bonnet.

With the 1.4-litre engine fitted, there is a claimed 52.3mpg on the combined cycle, which was certainly achievable on our stint into London.

What’s it like to drive?

From the off the i30 was surprisingly refined and felt rather nippy through the bends and on back roads through the Hampshire countryside. It grips well and really does inspire confidence – handy especially in wet conditions.

The ride is one of the car’s strong suits and never once did it feel uncomfortable with the suspension seemingly soaking up all the lumps and bumps whatever the road surface.

However, acceleration is not so great. While the car performs very well as a motorway cruiser, actually getting to those speeds was bizarrely difficulty. Accelerate from second up into third and there’s a lot of turbo lag that was rather frustrating to say the least.

The actual driving sensation wasn’t so smooth either compared with the i30’s German rivals. Push a Golf up to speed and it feels quite happy to be there. The i30 seemed almost hesitant as it gained speed and sometimes felt like a supermini as it accelerated rather than a fully blown hatchback.

How does it look?

The looks have definitely improved compared to the older car, and the i30 has matured into a curvy, rather good-looking hatchback that will sit well in the executive car park. It doesn’t wow you, however, and although it‘s of a high spec it tends to just blend into the background. If you don’t have the LED headlights this makes it stand out even less.

That’s not to say this isn’t a good-looking car – far from it, in fact. It doesn’t have the badge appeal of other brands and if badge is your most important buying point, then a Hyundai i30 won’t be your first choice. Look past this however and you will find a very impressive car that, despite not quite hitting the mark of German car brands quite yet, certainly is a pleasurable hatch to drive.

What’s it like inside?

Inside, the quality is vastly improved over the old generation of i30. Our top-spec example had leather, lots of tech and was very comfortable. These are all the features you really need in a hatchback, and the i30 delivers these in spades. The fix and fitting isn’t up to VW or Audi standard, but then again this car does undercut them in price and is excellent value for what you get. From the electric driver’s seat to the brilliant DAB radio which never once lost signal – a common problem with low-spec systems.

There’s also lots of room. I’m not the tallest of chaps but I had ample space, while my six-foot-tall colleague also reported good legroom.

The boot is very spacious and can easily accommodate a few suitcases or the weekly shop. There is one slight drawback though, and that’s the load lip. It isn’t overly high but lifting heavier items into the boot could prove difficult for some.

What’s the spec like?

Our car came in Premium SE trim, costing £24,240, and was fully loaded as standard. One of the highlights was a heated steering wheel, something that might not be hugely exciting, but was a nice surprise seeing as this is normally something you would only find in luxury cars from the likes of Mercedes or Land Rover.

Verdict

The i30 hatch is a solidly built, practical family car that certainly gives rivals a run for their money in terms of value and comfort. However, elsewhere it fails to outdo them. This is a competitive marketplace and although many other hatchbacks cost more, they offer more too. The i30 is capable but falls down at inspiring any enthusiasm from the driver. It offers lots of space, however, and bundles of value when you consider that this car undercuts the Volkswagen Golf in like-for-like specification by more than £3,000. And that’s before we’ve mentioned the excellent reliability record and five-year unlimited mileage warranty Hyundai offers.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Hyundai i30
Price (as tested): ££24,240
Engine: 1.4 petrol
Power: 138bhp
Torque: 242Nm
Max speed: 130mph
0-60mph: 8.7 seconds
MPG: 52.3mpg
Emissions: 124g/km CO2