Item: Hyundai i30 Fastback
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

Audi A3

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DS 4

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Honda Civic

Hyundai i30

Hyundai i30 Fastback

Kia Ceed

Kia XCeed

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Seat Leon

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Like the rest of the Hyundai i30 range, the Fastback benefits from a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty that few rivals can match. The ownership package includes five years of free annual ‘check-ups’ and five years of breakdown cover.

Unfortunately, despite the i30 Fastback’s engines being comparatively small, they’re not as fuel-efficient as the class best. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">Fuel economy and CO2 emissions</a> for both the 1.0 turbo petrol and 1.4 turbo petrol units fall short of the figures from rivals’ equivalent units.

Safety-wise, every i30 Fastback comes with hill-start assistance, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a> and lane-departure assistance. Step up to Premium trim and technology such as blindsport monitoring and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-new-car-technology-that-could-save-your-life/n17548">cross-traffic alert</a> systems are included, too.

The i30 Fastback has yet to be tested for safety by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>, but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n36">i30 hatch</a> achieved a five star rating, which puts it on a par with the class-leading Golf. The i30 Fastback comes with a standard alarm and immobiliser, although Thatcham Research has yet to publish its test results.

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With just 118bhp, the entry-level turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine needs to be worked surprisingly hard before you start to make meaningful progress. Far better is the 138hp 1.4-litre petrol – it’s our pick of the range, thanks to decent shove from low revs that means you rarely need to shift down a gear to overtake or to climb a hill. However, all of the above applies to the regular i30, too, &nbsp;so you’re not getting anything different with the Fastback engine wise.

So, does the Fastback show an advantage on a twisty road? Well, if we’re honest, the i30 Fastback’s handling balance is very similar to the standard i30’s. The chassis may sit 5mm lower than the hatchback version and the suspension may have been stiffened to tighten up what was previously a soft package, but there’s still a fair amount of body lean in corners. For more excitement, you’ll have to go for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30n/hatchback/review/n183">i30 Fastback N</a> model, but if that’s too much of a leap, there’s an i30 Fastback N-Line trim level. This is slightly stiffer than the standard car and a tiny bit more agile around corners but retains the smaller engines.

The i30 Fastback really is a car that feels at its best while cruising. Its ride is perfectly agreeable, if a little firmer than in the hatch, and all its control weights –steering, brakes and accelerator – are well matched and deliver a predictable and natural rate of response, although there is little in the way of feel from any of them.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

It has 118bhp, which is enough performance for day-to-day driving but it's not going to set your world on fire. 0-62mph takes 11.2sec, which is slower than the equivalent Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost Hybrid 125, and the Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI engines. Mild hybrid tech helps efficiency but it's not class leading.


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1.0T GDi

10t-gdi

This is a special-order only, and we haven't tried the latest mild hybrid version with 134bhp but it will hit 0-62mph in 10.2sec. 

1.6 CRDi

16-crdi

1.5T GDi

15t-gdi

OUR PICK

The Hyundai i30N is a well-equipped, great-value hot hatch that will really put a smile on your face. There are quicker alternatives, the best being the Toyota GR Yaris, but the i30N still makes loads of sense, particularly if you need five-door practicality. The Fastback version, meanwhile, offers a bit of extra load space and sleeker looks for a little extra cash.

2.0T GDi

20t-gdi

It may be hard to imagine, but the Hyundai i30 Fastback owes its very existence to cars with far higher price tags.

Cars like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cls/coupe/review/n146">Mercedes CLS</a>, which took the novel approach of blending coupé styling with saloon levels of practicality, arguably kick-starting one of the most influential automotive design movements of the 21st century. From the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/arteon/hatchback/review/n176">Volkswagen Arteon</a> to <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stinger/saloon/review/n177">Kia Stinger</a>, seemingly every manufacturer now has a model that caters to this niche yet widely popular class, and the i30 Fastback aims to give you the same sleek looks at an affordable price.

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When you think about rivals, there’s nothing that’s quite at this price – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class</a> saloon is similar in idea, but more expensive. Compared with the five-door <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n36">i30 hatch</a>, the Fastback has received cosmetic surgery that extends from a redesigned nose to a roofline that has been lowered by roughly an inch – tapering gently into a small ducktail at the rear. It has its own wheel designs, too.

But have these changes been enough to give the i30 Fastback real premium appeal? Read on to find out. And if you decide to buy an i30 Fastback – or any other car for that matter – head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> pages to see how much you could save without haggling.

It’s safe to say Hyundai isn’t known for its visually exciting interiors, and the i30 Fastback does little to change this reputation. Most of the areas you’ll touch regularly feel pleasant enough to your fingertips, and all the buttons are big and easy to press. The pedals are well places, and the driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive, with electric lumbar adjustment standard on all models.

In terms of fit and finish, the i30 Fastback is more than a match for most cars in this class, we just wish there was a touch more flair and drama to its design of the interior. At least N Line trim adds a bit of visual interest, with contrasting seat stitching, metal pedals and a sportier steering wheel.

In terms of infotainment, all models get an 8.0in colour touchscreen with sat-nav, and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring. Although it's not the most graphically sharp system out there, it is easy to navigate and quick to respond. It has handy shortcut buttons below the screen, too, that make it easy to switch between sat-nav and radio, for example, while on the move.

What is disappointing, however, is the lack of rearward visibility. Thanks to the tapering roofline, all you can see in the rear view mirror is the dark headliner. This is the inevitable consequence of that sleek roofline, but is partially negated by a reversing camera and parking sensors being standard on all i30 Fastback models.

Hatchback

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Despite average dynamics and sedate performance, the i30 Fastback impresses with its range of standard equipment and top build quality

Passenger space is usually an area in which five-door 'coupé hatchbacks' traditionally suffer. And yet, the Hyundai i30 Fastback is actually quite acceptable. Rear head room is less generous than in the regular i30 hatch, but there is still enough space for an average-sized adult; while the boot, at 450 litres, is actually 55 litres larger than that in the i30 hatch.

Like the hatch, the i30 Fastback has 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks as standard, but that’s the extent of its repertoire; the rear seats don’t slide or, as with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>, fold upwards to provide more space. However, you do get a through-loading hatch on all models, allowing you to carry long, slender items such as skis.

We'd stick with SE Connect trim and try to maximise your value for money. It has most of what you might reasonably need or desire, including 16in alloy wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearlever, air-con, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and power-folding door mirrors. You also get an 8.0in infotainment system, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors. 

SE Connect

se-connect

Premium trim adds extra luxuries such as keyless entry, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.3in infotainment system, sat-nav, privacy glass and climate control. 

Premium

premium

N Line is the sporty option, mirroring the more aggressive looks of the full-fat i30N hot hatchback, plus it has a few more features like a 10.3in infotainment system, sat-nav, privacy glass and climate control. 

N Line

n-line

Every i30N comes very well equipped with 19in alloy wheels, LED headlights, automatic lights and wipers, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, electric front seats with driver’s seat height adjustment and memory recall. You also get plenty of standard driver aids. These include automatic emergency braking, a driver fatigue monitor, automatic speed limit recognition and lane departure warning.


N Performance

n-performance

Compared to the regular i30, the Fastback is fractionally sharper to drive, but a tad less practical. Perhaps its sharp looks will be enough to attract buyers, but we’d rather have a conventional hatchback such as a Volkswagen Golf or Skoda Octavia.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

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