i30 desirable but scarce

Essentially a five-door version of the Elantra, the stylish i30 hatch is the key to Hyundai Australia; realising a 2007 sales target of 50,000 new cars.

It is priced from a particularly sharp $18,990. However, almost before it is in showrooms the company is conceding that supply is an issue.

“We have worked very hard to get this car and have succeeded to the extent that we are the only market in the world outside Western Europe and Korea to have it available,” Hyundai Australia's chief executive Steve Yeo says. “However, we are only going to be able to get about 2500 cars before the end of the year.”

Yeo says the supply constraints will not be solved in the short term as production capacity at the Korean plant is already at the limit.

“There is a new plant being built in the Czech Republic that will increase production but it will not be operating until about 2009,” Yeo says.

The i30 was styled in Germany and benchmarked against the best Euro small hatches, including Ford Focus, Opel Astra and VW Golf. In Australia it is expected to attract buyers shopping the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.

The car has been localised for Australia with bespoke damper settings, spring rates and steering tune after severe criticism of the original Elantra.

The i30 will be available in three trim levels, with a 2.0-litre petrol (105kW and 186Nm) and a 1.6-litre commonrail diesel (85kW and 255Nm) available from launch.

A five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic are offered on the petrol engine. The diesel comes with a five-speed manual and will add the automatic option around December.

Pricing starts with the SX petrol manual starting at $18,990 with a $2000 premium for the automatic.

The base diesel model is $21,490. The mid-range SLX manual is $23,490 in petrol and $25,990 for the diesel, while the range-topping SR comes in petrol only at $26,490 for the manual.

Equipment levels in the cars are generally high with standard fare in the SX including ABS, dual front airbags, anti-whiplash front headrests, power windows and heated exterior mirrors, remote central locking and reach and rake-adjustable steering wheel.

There is also a height-adjustable driver's seat, air conditioning with pollen filter, integrated iPod and USB connections, four-speaker stereo and 15-inch steel wheels.

Neither the base nor the mid-range models offer standard stability control but it is available as part of a Protectz pack at $1790 for the SX (ESP, side and curtain airbags) or $990 for the SLX which already has the extra airbags.

The SLX also has standard 16-inch alloys with wider 205/55 rubber, foglamps, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls (on petrol models only), automatic climate control, trip computer, two additional speakers and leather-trimmed wheel and gear lever.

The top of the range petrol-only SR offers ESP and traction control as standard, 17-inch bright-finished alloys with 225/45 rubber, body kit of side skirts and rear spoiler, premium radio with in-dash six-stacker CD and leather-trimmed seat bolsters.

Cabin materials are of a good standard with soft-touch dash and door trims lifting the feel of the interior. Styling is excellent with a rich feel from the curved surfaces.

Well-thought-out controls placement offers both comfort and functionality.

And the i30 utilises the proven Euro-hatch formula of long wheelbase, wide wheel stance and short, high rear overhang, maximising interior depth. That keeps the overall car short for easy city use while maximising interior and boot depth.

At 4245mm the i30 is 260mm shorter and 10mm narrower and lower than the Elantra sedan but retains the same 2650mm wheelbase.

The long wheelbase and internal width, combined with clever interior packaging; there are no fewer than 20 storage compartments around the car; the cabin's  front and rear legroom and headroom is well above the class average.