2013 Hyundai I30 Reviews

VALUEThe i30 Premium has a two-piece panoramic sun roof, the light from which adds a feeling of space inside the cabin. A spoiler is positioned where the roof meets the rear window. The Hyundai emblem houses a reversing camera which improves the limited rear view through a small back window.The usual connectivity is on hand with AUX, USB and iPod/iPhone input and Bluetooth with hands-free phone and audio streaming.TECHNOLOGYThe latest Hyundai i30 Elite and Premium models now has the SUNA Traffic Channel, a digital information service that broadcasts detailed information about traffic congestion and other road conditions.The handy traffic avoiding service is now available in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and on the Gold Coast and will later expand to other areas.At motorway speeds our road test i30 CRDi had fuel consumption in the five to six litres per hundred kilometres range. This increased to eight to nine litres per hundred in hard stop-start traffic motoring.DESIGNWith room for five people, if they are not overly wide, the Premium i30’s cabin has a modern mix of quality hard and soft surfaces. The driver enjoys a 10-way power seat, plus heating.Instruments are made easy to read with sports-style layout and blue back lighting. The Hyundai engine fires up via a start/stop button, while an electronic park brake makes life simpler.Hyundai is running hot in the styling stakes at the moment and everyone who commented on the shape of the i30 turbo-diesel we have just tested loved its shape.SAFETYIt’s not just about looks, the Hyundai i30 has been recognised as ‘one of the safest in the small-car category’ by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program), being awarded the maximum five-star safety rating.Seven airbags and rear parking sensors standard across the range, plus a full suite of standard active safety technology including ESC, TCS, ABS, EBD and BAS ensure the Hyundai i30 is on a par with many much more expensive passenger vehicles.DRIVINGThe suspension and steering have been especially tuned for Australian conditions, which only adds to the Hyundai i30’s appeal.The driver can dial up one of three steering modes with Flex Steer. In this interesting system ‘Normal’ provides a balance between steering input and feedback, making it ideal for the majority of roads; ‘Comfort’ reduces the weight of steering, allowing for effortless manoeuvring and more relaxed driving; ‘Sport’ increases steering weight and feedback for maximum driver involvement.Given the nature of a car like this we have decided to run one of the all-new Hyundai i30 CRDi models for an extended test, probably for about three months, and will report back on what it’s like to live with on an ongoing basis. Stay tuned.Hyundai i30 CRDi PremiumPrice: from $32,590Warranty: 5 yearsEngine: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder diesel, 94kW/260NmTransmission: 6-speed sports automatic, FWD Thirst: 5.6L/100Km, 147g/km CO2

Toyota Corolla and Hyundai i30 go head-to-head in this comparative review.