Hyundai I30 2013 News

Better than the Corolla in many ways and proof that the Koreans now do better Japanese cars than most Japanese makers. "It's a typical Hyundai. They get better every time a new one comes out of the box," Craig Duff said at the COTY judging If you like the current i30 you're going to love the new one. It does everything the old one does and more, with a quality, big car feel and more lavish interior. The new i30 is the first of Hyundai's new genre to move to a second generation and just like the first i30 the newcomer is a standout. It looks fresh and attractive, with the same flowing lines as the Elantra sedan, and a stylish new interior that is a huge step forward from its functional but rather plain predecessor. The i30 is Hyundai's biggest selling car and it competes in the mostly fiercely contested segment of the market. The restyled body brings it into line with the "fluidic'' design that characterises Hyundai's other offerings.  The front is sharper and more aggressive with a dominant hexagonal radiator grille, and those huge taillights have gone from the rear, replaced by a more contemporary horizontal design. Hyundai i30 Active petrol auto Price: from $20,990 Engine: 1.8-litre 16-valve variable-valve DOHC four-cylinder Transmission: six-speed automatic, front wheel drive Power: 110kW @ 6500rpm Torque: 178Nm @ 4700rpm Fuel use/emissions: 6.5 l/100km, tank 53 litres; 156g/km Brakes/safety systems: Driver and front passenger airbags, front seat side, driver’s knee, curtain airbags, stability control (Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control), rear parking sensors Dimensions: Length 4300mm, width 1780mm, height 1470mm, wheelbase 2650mm, cargo volume 378 litres, weight 1240kg Wheels/tyres: 16in steel wheels Win $5,000 in our People's Choice competition.  

Keen to give its vehicles a European image, Hyundai is calling the new body style a Tourer rather than a station wagon. The Tourer was designed in Germany and it comes as no surprise it uses what Hyundai calls its Fluidic Sculpture theme. This shape has been greeted with enthusiasm in many countries, with buyers saying it stands out from the crowd. Unlike the about to be superseded i30 wagon which had a longer wheelbase than the hatchback, the new Tourer will share the i30 hatch's 2650 mm wheelbase. That’s already a long wheelbase so there shouldn't be any compromise in interior and luggage space. The i30 Tourer is 185 mm longer overall than the hatch and has 528 litres of stowage capacity with rear seats up, an increase of 150 litres over the hatch. This increases to an impressive 1642 litres with the rear seats folded flat. Additional underfloor storage compartments add to the i30 Tourer’s versatility Again following the European way of doing things, the new Hyundai i30 Tourer wagon will be sold with both petrol and turbo-diesel powertrains. The 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine puts out 99 kW of power and 164 Nm of torque. The latter at a very high 4850 rpm – the sort of engine revs seldom, if ever, achieved by most drivers. Presumably the torque will be offered at much lower revs, we are yet to drive the new wagon and will comment on its performance as soon as we have done so. Sounding much more practical, the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine has peak power of 94 kW at 4000 rpm, with top torque of 260 Nm being produced between 1900 and 2750 rpm. Both engines will be offered with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, the latter having a sequential manual mode. The new Hyundai i30 Tourer has a sophisticated range of active and passive safety technologies. Standard across all models are Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), and ABS with EBD and Brake Assist.  Safety during a crash will be assisted by ultra-high-tensile steel within the body shell and seven airbags on all models. The local importer tells us the Hyundai i30 Tourer will be sold in Australia in two trim levels, Active and Elite, and that standard equipment will be similar, but not identical, to the i30 hatchback. Full specifications will be announced closer to the launch of the Tourer. We will attend the press launch of the new i30 wagon and report on it immediately afterwards. The complete Hyundai i30 Tourer range is: GDI Active 1.6-litre petrol five-door wagon: $22,990 (manual), $24,990 (automatic) CRDI Active 1.6-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $25,590 (manual), $27,590 (automatic) CRDI Elite 1.6-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $31,190 (automatic)  

New sales figures reveal that not only do buyers continue to prefer cars made in Japan by a ratio of almost two to one, they also prefer cars built in Korea to locally-made ones, which have been outsold by Seoul for the first time. In August we bought 26,456 cars from Japan and 11,704 from Korea — and only 11,540 big Australians. Cars made in Thailand, which include most Hondas, were the fourth most popular at 9711. The best-selling car for the second consecutive month was Toyota's imported Corolla, which outsold Holden's steadily declining Commodore by 3659 to 3329. The once Commodore-rivalling Ford Falcon sedan could muster only 2449 sales, behind the Mazda3 and barely ahead of the Mitsubishi Lancer and Hyundai i30 — all lean-running four-cylinder imports. Of the remaining Aussies, Ford's Falcon Ute and Territory, Holden's Statesman and Toyota's Aurion all lost ground compared to August 2008. Tellingly, the only locally-produced car to improve performance was Toyota's four-cylinder Camry. An increasing proportion of the cars made in Australia are Toyotas. While not the worst ever result for Commodore and Falcon, it was a dismal return for a month in which the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) said private buyers returned to the market. The difficulty is that Commodore and Falcon rely on fleet sales for more than 70 per cent of their volume. And while a respectable total of 73,287 vehicles were driven out of sales yards last month, the large car segment was down by a massive 21.3 per cent on the same period for 2008. The small car segment, dominated by Japan and Korea, was up 7 per cent. Holden markets several models made in Korea, the newest of which, the Cruze, was its second best seller on 1971. It will be made here from next year. FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar says the rise of Korean cars is ‘well deserved’, but Australian car makers have ‘plans to enhance their positions' including a range of economical new engines, not least of which is Ford’s much-discussed proposal to stick a 2.0-litre turbo diesel in the Falcon and to belatedly give the Territory the diesel it needs. McKellar says these are among the moves crucial in securing the Rudd Government's controversial $6.2 billion/four-year commitment to help Australian car makers. Toyota remained the top seller in August monthly market with 15,994 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden (9,505), Ford (7,623), Mazda (5,863) and Hyundai (5,980). But August was a month in which makers of cars from the land of kim chee were entitled to crow — not least Hyundai, which achieved market share of 8.2 per cent in a total market that has decreased 14.2 per cent year to date. It remains the only top 10 brand to post a sales increase — eight consecutive months of year-on-year growth and an overall increase of sales of 32.5%YTD. “Hyundai’s sales results are a global success story and reflect the company’s acceptance as one of the top five global manufacturers,” Hyundai director of sales and marketing Kevin McCann says. “In Australia, Hyundai has achieved remarkable growth this year based on our ability to deliver outstanding design, quality and value. Our growth here has enabled Hyundai and its dealers to invest in new facilities, people and training and in community sponsorships such as Hyundai A-League, Hopman Cup tennis, Carlton FC and numerous charitable involvements.” TOP 10 BRANDS AUGUST 09, YTD 2009 (+/- 2008) 1 Toyota 15,994 126,891 (-) 2 Holden 9505 75,923 (-) 3 Ford 7623 61,862 (-) 4 Mazda 5863 50,490 (-) 5 Hyundai 5980 42,141 (+) 6 Nissan 3657 34,367 (-) 7 Mitsubishi 4551 35,780 (-) 8 Honda 2841 27,848 (-) 9 Subaru 2602 24,418 (-) 10 Volkswagen 2115 20,410 (-) TOP 20 CARS AUGUST 09 1 Toyota Corolla 3659 2 Holden Commodore 3329 3 Mazda3 2898 4 Ford Falcon 2449 5 Toyota Hilux 2327 6 Toyota Camry 2192 7 Mitsubishi Lancer 2171 8 Hyundai i30 2105 9 Holden Cruze 1971 10 Hyundai Getz 1868 11 Toyota Yaris 1406 12 Mazda2 1134 13 Subaru Impreza 1120 14 Toyota Kluger 1108 15 Ford Focus 1097 16 Toyota Prado 1065 17 Toyota RAV4 1061 18 Nissan Navara 1043 19 Holden Captiva 1031 20 Mitsubishi Triton 1026

Hyundai is entering the booming light commercial vehicle market and will debut its new iLoad vans at the Brisbane International Motor Show.

It has taken the top honour in carsguide's Car of the Year awards, proved its claims as a frugal performer in the production-class category of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge and is putting smiles on the faces of Hyundai's Australian bosses. But could I live with an i30 in the garage? And, more to the point, which model would I choose; petrol or diesel? Over two weeks, the top-spec, petrol-fuelled i30 SR and the lowest specification diesel (SX) were in my drive. The petrol SR, with its 17in alloy wheels, rear spoiler and side skirts, really looks the goods and is worth the $28,490 (with auto option) asking price. The two-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol power plant produces 105kW of power and 186Nm of torque. Power is put to the road through the front wheels and the optional four-speed automatic transmission. While looking the goods; along with the at-hand steering-wheel-mounted controls for the stereo and easy iPod connectivity; the engine has just enough puff to leave you wanting more for an entertaining, zippy drive. Where that zip is lacking with the petrol version, the 1.6-litre CRDi (diesel), from $21,490, makes amends. While the diesel sports 15in steel wheels only and is missing the rear spoiler and side skirts - toning down its looks; the engine is punchy and pushes this model along well for a fun drive. An additional $1790 will buy the Protectz safety pack, which brings the two models into line with a full complement of ESP and additional side and curtain airbags, and extra security. The SX diesel - the SLX model variant of which won the carsguide Car of the Year Award for Hyundai; also drives through a five-speed manual transmission until next year. The luxury of steering-wheel-mounted controls is missing. But here's an engine; which is capable of producing 85kW of power and a very impressive 255Nm of torque. The Euro styling that is so evident in this design does get it noticed; not bad for a sub-$22,000 vehicle. But it is at the fuel pump that you will find the biggest benefits of this Hyundai. The petrol engine has a claimed combined fuel cycle figure of 7.6 litres/100km for the auto transmission (7.2 litres/100km for manual) and the diesel uses fuel at a frugal 4.7 litres/100km (claimed). However, during the run from Darwin to Adelaide as part of the Solar Challenge, the little diesel sipped fuel at a rate of just 3.3 litres/100km. So, after a week in both models, under the same driving conditions around Adelaide, the time had come to make a choice; the flashy petrol or the base-model diesel. Based on looks alone, the SR petrol version took line honours, but the performance and economy gong went to the diesel. For the major title - the car I would have in my driveway if I had to make that choice; the prize has to go to the diesel Hyundai i30 SX. I'd dig a little bit deeper in the pocket to get the Protectz pack fitted; and possibly go to the SLX version; which gets 16in alloys and some additional interior kit to align the safety standards and features with the outstanding fuel consumption. Either way, Hyundai has hit a winner in the small-car segment with the i30. And there are sure to be some more broadening smiles on the faces of those bosses when they get the auto-transmission diesel models next year, introducing a whole new generation to diesel passenger cars.  

Hyundai has cleaned up in the carsguide Car of the Year with not one but two major awards.

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.