MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  2008

HYUNDAI i30 SX HATCH

Hyundai definitely had one area of the world in mind when it designed the i30 - Europe. The styling, interior, performance and ride could well have come from any one of Europe's car makers - and the quality is right up there, too. The styling has more than a hint of BMW, the ride comes close to Peugeot and the performance and transmission are very VW.  The i30 is also economical.   We tested the entry-level SX model with the 2-litre, 105kW petrol engine and auto.  

OUTSIDE;

The styling is pure Euro  with discreet use of chrome highlights, nicely sculpted panels, body-coloured mirrors and door handles. It would easily blend into the French countryside, on a Parisian boulevarde or a German autobahn. The grille is dominated by a Hyundai logo in a chrome strip flanked by the quite large projector style headlamp nacelles that curve back into the front guards. Below is a large meshed air-intake in the front bumper.

Cleverly designed plastic wheel covers give the impression of 7-spoke alloy wheels At the rear the extra large taillight clusters curve up the sides and are readily visible from the sides. The panoramic rear window has a washer/wiper and a small dust deflector lip above it. Both bumpers offer very good panel protection and have raided  rubber-like inserts.

The petrol filler is on the left (correct) side for a right hand drive car. There is a small third window on each side  and it helps to improve rear visibility . The flared guards have a modern squared-off look.

The fully insulated bonnet reveals a slightly less than tidy engine bay layout with lots of pipes and hoses visible. It is held open by a rod rather than a gas strut. Access to all the maintenance points is good.

    INSIDE:

The i30 may look small on the outside but the four wide doors give access to a very roomy interior. Four adults can comfortable live in the interior for long trips. Head and leg room are extremely good even in the rear space. Woven cloth upholstery is complimented by the quality plastics used in the interior. Above the door line the trim changes to a soft grey that adds to the airiness in the cabin. 

The 3-spoke steering wheel has height and reach adjustment and the dash layout is both modern and simple. The front individual seats have good lateral support while the rear bench is flatter but still quite cosy. There are lots of storage areas - door bins, glove box, two-tier centre armrest bin and an overhead glasses container. There is also a lidded bin on top of the dashboard - a space normally forgotten by car makers. 

Both visors have a covered vanity mirror. The instrument dials are large, well covered to reduce glare and beautifully lit at night in a pretty blue light like VW uses. There is an LCD display for outside temperature and other information. The sound system has an in-dash CD unit.

LUGGAGE SPACE:

The i30 doesn't suffer from a small luggage area as some other small cars. Even without dropping one or both rear seats there is a large amount of room. Under the solid floor is a full size spare wheel and tyre. There are four tie-down lugs and the boot lid has two internal recesses.

ON THE ROAD:

The petrol engine in the i30 is a 2-litre, 4-cylinder unit that develops 105kW at a rather high 6000rpm and has 186Nm of torque at 4600rpm. This is enough to give a very brisk performance with relatively good economy. It is easy to keep up with( or ahead of!) the traffic as the smooth auto shift selects the right ratio at all times without any 'hunting' for gears.

 The ride is very European with very good road grip and handling combined with a smooth ride with no harshness.  This is a car that will appeal to daily commuters as it is very easy to drive, doesn't take up a lot of space and has plenty of punch to battle the traffic yet delivers very good economy of around 8.0 l/100km for the petrol motor and under 5.0 l/100km for the diesel.

PRICE:                $20,990 SX (4-speed auto) $18,990 (5-speed manual) plus on-road costs 

STANDARD:     Dual front airbags; ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution; air-conditioning; alarm system; central remote locking; engine immobiliser; power mirrors/steering & windows; 4-speaker radio/CD player; front seat belt pre-tensioners.

OPTIONS:            Protectz Safety Package $1790 - includes Electronic Stability Program, Traction Control System; side & curtain airbags.