Hyundai i30 Go 2018 review

Pretty well actually. I’m used to larger SUVs, but there’s something refreshing about jumping into a small car and being able to nip in and out of traffic. According to my CarsGuide colleagues, that’s down to the i30 having a lower centre of gravity than an SUV, therefore it’s much more nimble and adheres to the road better than a higher car would. It's a real difference after driving in cars that sit high off the road.

It’s got a 2.0-litre petrol engine which has enough power to get me up hills quickly and I would feel confident taking this car on longer road trips, too. 

And while the handling is good, the steering wheel is slightly stiff, but because it’s a small car this is something I quickly got used to - the turning circle of 10.6m means you’re doing fewer three point turns than you would in a larger car, so you notice the steering less. 

The 2.0-litre petrol engine has enough power to get me up hills quickly.

It’s also a fun drive. I was fitting into car spots I haven’t fit into in years, it almost felt like I'd dropped a dress size! And it really did impact on the ease of driving a car every day - especially if you live in an area where squeezing into tight parks is the norm, like I do. 

It’s easy to get in and out of parks thanks to the size and reverse parking camera, and also to do u-turns and three point turns. Because it’s small my children could climb in and out quite easily. 

It was easy for the kids to climb in and out of.

However, it is lower, so you will be bending down more to lift groceries in and out of the boot, and you’ll also be bending down more to do the kids’ safety seats up, which can get annoying. 

There are two cupholders in the front but none in the back in this entry-level model, but there are bottle holders in each door and pockets on the back of the front seats, plus a decent sized centre storage bin.

There are no rear air vents, but because it’s a small car there was plenty of air flow from the front to the back and I had no complaints from my children. And I was surprised by the full size spare tyre, because some cars twice this size don’t come with a full size spare. 

The full-size spare was a nice surprise.

Because of the easy way I was able to drive around in this car, I found it practical, despite its lack of boot space compared to an SUV and the bending down to load things in. Again, it’s weighing up how you use the car and what family stage you’re at as to whether you really do need a bigger car or not. 

Fairly snazzy. It’s got a cute, sporty exterior and is definitely the cool kid on the block. The i30 is basically like the car version of Isla Fischer - everyone’s best friend. 

Even though it’s the entry level model, the interiors don’t feel cheap, like some other entry-level cars around this price can. The fabric seats actually feel fine to touch and are comfortable to sit on.

All in all, it’s a lesson in 'how to do lower priced cars well'.

The bubble finish which I’m normally not a fan of, doesn’t look budget. The dash is good, the centre console is clearly set out and there’s no confusing overload of buttons. All in all, it’s a lesson in 'how to do lower priced cars well'. It can be done. Just look at the i30. 

The i30 Go comes equipped with an 8.0-inch multimedia screen, which is pleasantly large for a car this size. Plug in your phone and you’ll be instantly connected through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and you will be able to use the apps on your phone like maps or Spotify. 

This model doesn’t have an in-built sat nav, but with CarPlay and Android Auto technology, you don’t really need one. It does have Bluetooth compatibility.

The Hyundai i30 Go comes in at $22,290, I drove one with metallic paint that costs an extra $495 and literally had rainbow glitter sparkles in it, which made my girls very happy. There’s a five year, unlimited km warranty which transfers to the next owner if you sell before five years.

Fuel consumption is at 7.4 litres per hundred kilometres on the combined cycle which is not bad, but not spectacular for a car this size, and may just be a more realistic reported figure from Hyundai. It’s better than most SUVs.