For The i30 Estate is comfortable, spacious and thoughtfully designed. It's also cheap to buy and crammed with kit.
Against Some rivals offer much more boot space, and the diesel engine is noisy when revved. The car's not that exciting to drive, either.
This isn't the biggest compact estate, but it's up with the best in terms of how it drives. And there's an impressive ownership package to back it all up. Going for a diesel engine makes the most sense.
The estate offers the same range of engines as the hatchback, but with the extra weight of the estate and the likelihood that it will be more regularly carrying heavy loads, we reckon the 1.6 diesel is the best choice.
In common with the hatchback, though, there's no need to go for anything beyond the basic – but still well equipped – Comfort trim. For all that, though, one of the biggest attractions must be that the i30, like all Hyundais, comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
If you want to make your car a little less uninspiring – and the plain looks are one of the i30's few failings – don't forget to check out the various styling accessories on the company's website. There are plenty of practical accessories, too, like bike carriers and roof boxes.