2009 Hyundai I30 Reviews

You can save a motza on a late-model used car, because the first owner has already taken the biggest hit... usually 30-50 percent, in depreciation. Ideally, you want to be the second owner, and hang on to the car for a few years, to maximise the value you get from your motoring dollar. We've picked our top five used

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Hyundai i30 as a used buy.

The introduction of the Hyundai i30 in October 2007 signalled Hyundai’s move into the big time.

The table has turned. Now it's not your masculinity under question for owning a large car, but your sanity. Simply, small cars work. They are quick, comfortable, well equipped, economical on fuel and ownership costs plus fit into small parking bays or tuck neatly into peak-hour traffic queues.They are also relatively inexpensive - the cheapest is a Chery J1 at $9990 drive away - and there's about 30 different car models and 280 distinct versions to choose from. More importantly, budget motoring means there are thousands of near-new used small cars on the market.Pick your next pre-owned car carefully and it's likely you'd find one that retains a portion of the new-car warranty. I realise that many small-car buyers may look at features and paint colour before safety ratings and reliability.But even if the buyer has few aspirations to venture outside the city perimeter, it's important to keep safety, reliability, comfort and durability as part of the purchase criteria. Consider also factory-fit Bluetooth and audio streaming.Hands-free telephone calls and portable and interactive music are pivotal to young car owners and increasingly to the people who end up buying your car.Final tips: Ensure the car has been serviced to the manufacturer's requirements (it's stamped in the service book that should be in the glovebox - if it's not there, neither should you. - Bent or buckled number plates indicate a prang. - Tyre tread worn on the edge or in the centre indicates the car needs a wheel alignment (or may have been in an accident). - Always get the car checked out.THE CARS: We've selected three small cars that come up trumps as used cars after starting life as sensible new car choices. Note that these are examples and variations will occur given the car's location, service and driving condition, distance travelled and general body and mechanical condition.1. 2010 Toyota Corolla AscentPrice: $16,990Odometer: 35,266Engine: 1.8L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.7L/100Carsguide says, “second series of the Z-code Corolla that started in 2000 just improves year after year. It's solid, dependable (no camshaft belt to break), inexpensive to own and fuel, roomy and holds its value. Capped service can save money but Corolla still has a twice-yearly maintenance schedule. In a five and six-speed auto world, the Corolla's four-speed auto is ordinary. But it's strong and reliable. This car is in line with average annual driving distances.” 2.  2010 Mazda3 MaxxPrice: $16,990Odometer: 107,445Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 5-speed automaticThirst: 8.2L/100Carsguide says, “well equipped version of Australia's most popular car appears to have covered a big distance given its age. That may be due to use as a country car and hence has resulted in a small price concession over a similar model with a lower mileage. Mazda's 3 is a very good all-round car with excellent safety standards and generally a nice ride, though cabin noise is more intrusive than most rival cars. Twice yearly servicing needed and no capped service program means it may be a bit more expensive to maintain that, say, a Corolla.” 3.  2010 Hyundai i30 SLXPrice: $14,990Odometer: 87,412|Engine: 2L 4-cylinder petrolTransmission: 4-speed automaticThirst: 7.6L/100Carsguide says, “the one that won Carsguide's Car of the Year for 2010 is a smart buy, even two years down the track. It retains about three years of its five-year warranty. As a driving machine, the i30 is simple, secure and fuss-free. It's relatively economical but not as sprightly as the Mazda3 that has a similar engine. Mileage is a bit high and car may be due for a new camshaft belt. But it looks good with 16-inch alloy wheels, has a high five-star safety rating and a comfortable cabin.” 

The i30 was Hyundai's breakthrough model, the one that stamped the brand as having arrived as a serious carmaker. So good was it that it won Carsguide's Car of the Year award -- no mean feat given the opposition it faced.The i30 was launched as a five-door hatch with a choice of three models, the SX, SLX and SR, and a choice of petrol and diesel engines. With smart, modern lines the i30 was immediately accepted by the  Australian car-buying public who most appreciated its looks, but also its roomy cabin and decent boot.Hyundai also won warm applause for offering a diesel engine option to the 2.0-litre petrol engine that was the main engine offered. The petrol engine provided decent performance that was on a par with  others in the class, while the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel provided a fuel-efficient alternative. Both engines were available with a slick five-speed manual, but it  was the petrol engine that could be had with a four-speed auto until 2008 when it also became available with the diesel.All models were quite well equipped. All had air-conditioning, the base SX also had four-speaker sound and iPod connectivity, the SLX got cruise, leather-trimmed steering wheel and a couple of extra speakers for the sound system. The SR was a sportier model with a body kit, and larger alloy wheels. On the road the i30 was just as impressive, with a quiet, comfortable ride and decent handling. The petrol engine was adequate without being outstanding, but it was the diesel that stood out for its overall ease of driveability and its fuel economy.IN THE SHOPHyundai was once unloved by all but cash-strapped buyers. They marketed themselves as producers of cheap and cheerful cars, and the level of complaints seemed to confirm that claim. But, how things have changed. The Korean carmaker is now on the money for build quality and design integrity, and that's reflected in  the standing it now holds in the market. It's now pretty much on a par with the Japanese carmakers, long held as the benchmark for our market, and can be bought with confidence.The i30 doesn't have any issues of concern, but prospective owners should do their due diligence on previous history of cars under consideration. Service is always important; oil changes the key to a long and  healthy life on the road.IN A CRASHThe i30 SX base model with dual front airbags got four stars from ANCAP, a good result at the time for a small car. The higher-spec models with  head and side airbags got five stars. In addition to the airbags the i30 also had anti-skid brakes across all models, while the SLX and SR also had electronic stability control. In October 2009, the entire range received ESC and six airbags, which made for a five-star rating across all models.UNDER THE PUMPWith the prospect according to Hyundai of 4.7 L/100 km the turbo- diesel is the runaway winner of the pump race. The petrol engine, claimed by Hyundai to average 7.2 L/100 km is  acceptable. Owners surveyed by Carsguide reported 8-8.5 L/100 km on average  around town from the petrol auto, and around 6.0 L/100 km for the  diesel auto.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $20,990 to $28,490Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, 105 kW/186 Nm; 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 85 kW/255 NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed autoEconomy: 7.2 L/100 km (2.0P); 4.7 L/100 km (1.6TD)Body: 5-door hatchbackVariants: SX, SLX, SRSafety: 4-star ANCAP.VERDICTLooks good, performs well, well built, good value for money.

The Hyundai i30 made quite a splash when it landed here in 2007. With appealing looks, impressive quality, good road manners and safety it swept the Cars Guide Car of the Year judges off their feet.The win in the prestigious annual award was historic in many ways. It was not only the first for Hyundai, but also the first for a Korean   carmaker and removed any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of the Korean brands as world-class carmakers.In winning the award the i30 beat a top-class field from established and respected carmakers like Mazda, Ford, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz.Having won over some of the country's most respected motoring scribes, the i30 has since gone on to win over the toughest judges of all, the Australian motoring public.MODEL WATCHWinning the Cars Guide Car of the Year gong was no mean feat; it was particularly meritorious because the i30 was in the most competitive market segment of them all.It was a breakthrough model for Hyundai, one that finally cemented its position as a carmaker of substance and not just a maker of cheap   and cheerful cars people buy purely on price without worrying about too much else.The compact i30 was launched as a five-door hatch with a choice of three models - SX, SLX and SR - and petrol and diesel engine options.The i30 slipped right into the Australian market with barely a ripple, possibly because it was designed in Europe and sat  comfortably alongside other cars designed in that part of the world.It looked smooth and modern with neat clean lines and balanced proportions, and boasted a roomy cabin for its size along with good   luggage space.A 2.0-litre double overhead camshaft engine that had variable cam timing and fuel injection provided the power across all models.  At its best it boasted 105 kW at 6000 revs and 186 Nm at 4600 revs, enough to keep it comfortably stirring along with the pack.  Hyundai also offered the economical option of a 1.6-litre four-  cylinder turbo diesel engine, which came with the peaks of 85 kW and 255 Nm.Both engines could be specified with a five-speed manual gearbox, but only the petrol engine was available with the four-speed auto until   2008 when it also became available with the diesel.  The entry level SX model came with air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, and four-speaker CD sound, along with iPod connectivity.Step up to the sporty SR and you also got alloy wheels and a body kit, plus cruise, auto air, trip computer, fog lamps and six-speaker   CD sound system.  Make it all the way to the SLX at the top of the range and you got even more.IN THE SHOPThe step up in quality of Hyundai cars is clear from the reduced number of complaints received at Cars Guide. It wasn't so long ago   that it was something of a laughing stock, but that has changed in recent years.Few complaints have been received about the i30 since its launch, which suggests owners are content with their purchase.Despite this potential buyers are well advised to check their possible purchases carefully and thoroughly, looking for evidence of abuse or lack of maintenance from uncaring owners.  Check also for crash damage and poor repairs.IN A CRASHDual front airbags were standard across the range, but the SR and SLX also had the added protection of head and side airbags.  Before 2008 the SX and SLX had ABS braking with electronic brakeforce distribution, while the SR also had stability control and traction control standard. After 2008 stability control and traction control became standard across all models.  ANCAP rated the i30 at four stars prior to 2008, but five stars after that.UNDER THE PUMPHyundai claimed the 2.0-litre engine would return an average of 7.2 L/100 km with a manual gearbox, and 7.6 L/100 km with an auto.Cars Guide reported an average of 8.2 L/100 km when it tested the 2.0-litre shortly after the launch, while reader Terry Cahill says his   2.0-litre SLX auto gets 8-8.5 L/100 km around town and 7-7.4 L/100 km on the highway. Reader Ray Beebe reports he gets 6.0 L/100 km on average from his SLX diesel auto, compared to 4.7 L/100 km claimed by Hyundai.OWNERS SAYRay Beebe went shopping for a car that would fit into his garage, take his golf clubs and buggy, and had five-star safety when he replaced his 2000 Ford Laser with an i30 SLX diesel auto wagon. After 3000 km he is impressed with its power and its economy.Terry Cahill has enjoyed 57,000 km of trouble free motoring in his 2.0-litre i30 SLX auto. He likes its positive road feel, cornering, comfort, braking and the smoothness of the auto transmission.  Wally Rockawin would happily recommend the i30 SX diesel auto to his friends. He says it's well built, is great to drive and economical to run.Dennis O'Brien also gives the i30 SLX diesel a big tick, saying it's got great power and torque. His only negative experience has been a   notchiness when selecting second gear from first or third, particularly when cold.  He suspects the problem is due to the gear   selector cables needing adjustment and not with the synchroes.LOOK FORAttractive looking hatchRoomy cabin for sizeEconomical diesel the best choice .Comfortable ride.Safe and sound handlingReliableTHE BOTTOM LINE Affordable, well built, well equipped, safe and economical compact hatch. 80/100

The Hyundai i30 has been a Carsguide favourite since the day it was born. The Korean baby was the first serious sign that Hyundai was looking outside Korea for its future, not just in the way it looked - does anyone else see a hint of BMW's 1 Series? — but in its quality and comfort.There are still Korean-centric cars in the Hyundai range, but the influence of the i30 is spreading fast and cars such as the Elantra now drive better than before and the upcoming Sonata replacement looks better than it has in the past. The Euro-focussed thinking, which has also taken root at Hyundai's partner Kia in cars like the Soul, is spreading fast and giving people reasons to buy the brand that go beyond the bottom line.The i30 was welcomed to Australia with a Carsguide Car of the Year trophy and we've been saying good things about the car, and particuarly the long-range diesel, ever since.Now we have tried the i30cw and have another Korean friend. The cw tag stands for 'crossover wagon' and the stretched hatch is one of the growing group of compact station wagons in local showrooms. This sort of car was in retreat for a long time as baby SUVs, particularly the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, gobbled up the sales and converted people to high-riding cabins.But there is a lot of good stuff in a well-designed small-car wagon, as Hyundai proves with the i30. The stretch for the wagon provides the expected tail-end space and flexibility, but there is also more leg and headroom in the back seat thanks to a slightly-stretched wheelbase and a higher roof.It's enough to make a significant impact against rivals from the outgoing Holden Astra to the odd-looking Skoda Roomster and even the Nissan Dualis, which has just been given a major tickle with a front- wheel drive model priced from $24,990.The i30cw comes with the familiar 2-litre petrol and 1.6-litre turbodiesel engines, front-wheel drive, a classy looking cabin and standard equipment including ESP stability control, front airbags, anti-skid brakes, CD sound sound and aircon. Even the glovebox has airconditioning.But Hyundai has skimped a bit on airbags and, as it does for most of its cheapie cars, upgrading to six airbags and five-star safety means spending on the Protectz package. The whole deal comes in the flagship Sportswagon, which also picks up everything from leather seat trim to alloy wheels.But it's the basics that do the job land Hyundai says it is getting a lot of interest in the cw. And it helps that the cw is priced from $20,890, a benchmark for small wagons, with the top-line diesel and petrol Sportswagon still coming in below $30,000 before on-road costs.The cw is small but ideally formed. It's more like a large hatch than a traditional station wagon, something it has in common with the Dualis. Nissan prefers to call it a hatch, but it also has a baby wagon in the family. The latest i30 arrived fully loaded with the Sportswagon package and that means good looking alloys and leather in the cabin, a wipe-down bonus for families with bubs.But it's the back end that does the deal, with a wagon tail that is easy to use, well shaped or loads, and reasonably roomy once you fold the back seats. It's best for family work if you need more than two seats, but becomes a very useful and usable weekend escape machine for two people with bikes or camping gear in the tail.The cw drives much as I remember from the i30 hatch, with a good ride, good cornering grip and reasonable performance. The four-speed auto knocks the edge off the two-litre petrol motor but the car is not disgraced.I still like the styling, which is very un-Korean, and the cabin quality also sets the standard for Hyundai. It's not up to the level of the very latest Korean cars, including the classy Holden Cruze, but it is excellent for a vehicle that is priced from $20,000.So, what's not to like? Well, the front seats are not very well shaped and the electric power steering can give a wonky feeling in corners. Why wonky? Because the electric assist sometimes struggles to hold pressure and I felt as if the car was moving around - but it wasn't.But that's about it. The cw also comes with nice stuff including side repeaters in the mirrors, aircon that really does the job and even a trip computer to keep track of you range and fuel economy. It all wraps up into a tidy, affordable, usable package which is one of my surprising favourites of 2009. A smart choice with good looks and plenty of practicality.

With the same smart Euro styling as the i30 hatch, the CW is just a little longer to allow for more room in back, but not too big that it becomes unwieldy and impractical on city streets.DrivetrainLike the standard i30 the CW Sportswagon enters the market with a choice of two engines – a 2.0litre petrol and a 1.6litre diesel. Our test car was the former and it puts out 105kW at 6000rpm and 186Nm at 4600rpm. The automatic CW has combined fuel figures of 7.7l/100km and emits 183g/km of CO2.A four speed automatic transmission with Hyundai intelligent vehicle electronic control (HiVec) with override lockout and lockup torque converter gets power to the wheels.ExteriorRetaining the same Euro styling as the i30 hatch, the CW looks almost identical but for the slightly larger rear side windows and longer rear overhangs – allowing for the wagon.As you’d expect the CW Sportswagon is a little longer and higher than the standard i30 at 4475mm and 1520mm respectively, but is no wider.A 50mm larger wheelbase also contributes to the roomier interior.InteriorHead, leg and shoulder room are marginally larger in the CW – and most of that can be seen in the back. But the difference really is negligible with a combined 52mm increase across all those areas.Hip room has decreased by 16mm. But the significant increase, of course, is the space in the back – this is the wagon version after all. With the back seats up, the cargo area has increased to 415 litres from 340, and with them down it has climbed to 1395 litres, from 1250.Again, the CW keeps the original i30 interior styling. A fresh, clean light and airy cabin, relatively clutter free, minus the Hyundai-of-old cheap and nasty plastics.SafetyOn top of the comprehensive airbag package, the i30 CW Sportswagon comes stacked with all the latest and greatest safety features including ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, traction control, and a reverse sensing warning system.PricingThe Hyundai i30 CW range starts at $20,890 for the manual SX and tops out at $28,990 for the automatic Sportswagon.DrivingWigley says Hyundai claims the new CW is a combination of style and ‘fun’ctionality. Clever. But really it’s just a little longer than the standard i30 and doesn’t look too much different at all. Which in a lot of respects – aside from originality — is a good thing.We all should know by now how much better Hyundai is travelling as far as brand reputation goes, and the i30 is responsible for a huge chunk of that positive feedback. So, the CW – crossover wagon – maintains the same standards and again is a good looking unit with that Euro flare.Arguably the best feature is its size. It’s not as big as a standard SUV, which makes it perfect for a small city dwelling family, but the extra length allows for a decent cargo area even with all the seats up.On the road the CW is a comfortable, firm drive. The quality of the interior now means that not only does it look well made and neatly designed, but nothing rattles.The seats are supportive but maybe a pinch on the flat side and there is more than enough head and leg room in the front and back.My wife likened me to the automatic transmission because it could never decide quite what to do in pressure situations – which, besides being a silly comparison — made merging and overtaking a little worrying at times, but never a panic. We felt a manual would have been a better choice.Everything about this car felt substantial and solid and its now really becoming quite obvious these days that Hyundai are standing proud in a trembling market.Verdict: 7.9/10Halligan says Hyundai is creeping into Honda territory. And it is not by stealth and it is not a slow offensive.The i30CW is a great family car, and it feels more like a car than a small to mid-size people mover. Hyundai are the aggressive movers in the market at the moment and have been able to keep well and truly out of the global recession limelight. I can’t help but think they may come through the other end of the economic downturn as one of the winners.I can’t help but compare the i30 to a Honda as to me it is the closest thing on the market, and I say that as a compliment to Hyundai. With the i30CW, Hyundai have been able to come up with a car that should appeal to hatch, sedan and small people-mover buyers. The overall packaging sits somewhere between all three.While the Hyundai is still just that little bit short in some of the final finishing touches that Honda excel at, (no pun intended), the Hyundai is now close enough that all traditional Honda buyers short be opening their eyes and considering this over say a Jazz. With the best ANCAP safety rating for any Korean built vehicle, achieved through quality design, Hyundai have announced that they will be a force to be reckoned in the mainstream market.My only criticism lies with the transmission, we drove an auto and it was lacking in finesse and had an annoying change pattern. But overall — a great step forward for an automaker on the move.Rating 8.2/10

Now Hyundai is following up the success of its best-selling Euro-styled i30 hatch with a family friendly wagon, called the i30cw, for “crossover wagon”.The newest Hyundai is $1500 more than the hatch, with prices starting at $20,890 and Hyundai is confident it will be a runaway success like the five-door hatch.Engines choices are a 1.6-litre petrol four cylinder and 1.6-litre four cylinder CRDi turbo-diesel.Launched this month, the i30cw is based on the hatch but is slightly longer, delivering wagon practicality and flexibility. Two models will be available, the SX, SLX and for a short time a launch-edition Sportswagon is also on sale.The auto-only $29,990 Sportswagon uses a 1.6-litre petrol engine and shares its name with the popular Hyundai Lantra Sportswagon models from the 1990s.Hyundai Australia expects to sell about 500 Sportswagon models and the company’s Australian chief executive, Steve Yeo, says it may become a permanent part of the lineup.“We’ll see how it goes,” he says.The i30 Sportswagon has 17-inch alloys with chrome inserts, side repeaters in the outside mirrors, iPod, USB and auxiliary connectivity, six-speakers, leather interior, steering wheel mounted audio controls, six airbags and electronic stability control.Yeo says space is the wagon’s big selling point.At 4475mm, the cw is 230mm longer than the hatch and sits on a 50mm longer wheelbase, which translates into more rear passenger and luggage room.The wagon is also 40mm taller than the hatch while the luggage area has 415 litres of space with the rear seats up and 1395 litres with the rear seats folded.Hyundai says the luggage area will accommodate a full-size stroller or bike.Like the hatch, the wagon gets electronic stability control, traction control, anti-skid brakes and active headrests and a five-star crash rating. The SLX and Sportswagon add driver and front passenger side (thorax) airbags and curtain airbags, which are a $700 option on SX models.All wagons get a full size spare with an alloy spare in the SLX and Sportswagon.The i30cw also gains Hyundai’s active locking system, called HALO, which automatically locks all doors when car reaches 40 km/h.The doors automatically unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. However, front seat occupants can override the system to easily exit the car.Hyundai’s director of sales and marketing, Kevin McCann, is confident the wagon will repeat the sales success of the hatch. “The hatch was the fourth best selling small hatch in February,” he says.The i30cw will muscle in on the Holden Viva estate and Peugeot's 207 and 308 wagons, but with the Holden Astra as its nearest price rival, the crossover wagon is tipped to be popular with both fleets and private buyers.The company expects to sell about 100 a month, many to “lifestyle” buyers who do not want, or need an off-roader, according to the company’s general manager marketing, Oliver Mann.“Less than 30,000 wagons were sold last year, about 3 per cent of the overall market,” he says.“By comparison SUVs make up 21 per cent of the market but there are signs this is plateauing.”Mann says the he believes the i30 wagon has the ability to lure disenchanted buyers from larger off-roaders because of its space, practicality and compact size.“But it’s still a roomy car,” he says.It is really no surprise the i30 station wagon behaves in a similar manner to the hatch.They share much underneath, including engines and suspensions.After a brief stint in the 1.6 CRDi SLX and 2.0 Sportswagon, there is no doubt Hyundai has another hit on its hands.The packaging is right, the size is right and the price is right.As with the hatch, the wagon gets well positioned, legible controls that could have come from a Volkswagen. All controls have a quality and durable feel.But the real news is out the back.The car’s extra length translates into space where it’s often neglected, in the back seat and luggage area.The rear seat has plenty of legroom for an adult even if there is a taller person in the driver’s seat.The 60/40 split fold rear seats are easy to lower for an almost flat luggage floor. However, unlike some prestige wagons, the seat cushion does not fold up and out of the way.There are some nice practical touches.Hyundai has picked up some sensible innovations from some of the prestige European wagons, like the luggage barrier net that can be used behind the rear seat or front seats to stop items from moving forward.The luggage net is a standard inclusion as well as the luggage cover. There’s even room around the full size spare to hide items.Behind the wheel the wagon mirrors the hatch. Hyundai has come very far with its design and soft-touch, high-class interiors but the i30’s suspension still needs some work.The wagon remains reasonably composed over smooth roads but when things deteriorate, so does some of the suspension’s overall poise.In the Sportswagon the car’s 17-inch tyre package gives the car a more surefooted stance and the steering feedback feels better but road noise does seem to be more instrusive.Road noise in both the petrol and diesel wagons is suitably muted on smooth roads but over rougher potholed back roads the suspension can crash over bumps and some noise is transmitted into the cabin. It’s not nasty but something to bear in mind.Both the Hancook tyres on the SLX and the Kumho Solux tyres on the Sportswagon provided plenty of grip and the brakes felt strong.Hyundai says the suspension in the wagon has been tuned with Australia in mind but a little more development may be needed.However, it must be said that in its price segment many buyers will be coming out of older wagons and hatches, so driving the i30, in either hatch or wagon variants, will still be something of a revelation.Perhaps where the i30cw is lagging some of its competitors is with transmissions. Hyundai is working on a new six-speed sequential shift auto but the i30 gets a fairly conventional four-speed automatic and five-speed manual when some of the Euros now have six-speed manuals and automatics available.Hyundai expects most buyers to opt for the four-speed auto, which performs adequately in both the CRDi and petrol models.The wagon tips the scales, marginally heavier than the hatch, about 40kg to 44kg depending on specifications.That means the 85kW/255Nm CRDi turbo diesel has no trouble doing its job. This engine is very smooth, quiet and according to Hyundai’s figures, delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 4.9 litres/100km for the manual and 6.0 litres/100km for the four-speed automatic.There’s a lot to commend the i30 wagon and it again proves that Hyundai is maturing quickly as a brand and it is continuing its pursuit of higher quality and design.