Introduction
What Car? says...
What do vanilla ice cream, chicken nuggets and the Hyundai i30 have in common? The answer is that all three are known for being safe and inoffensive choices. At least, that’s what we’ve come to expect since the first-generation i30 went on sale, but times are-a-changing.
The third-generation version of this family hatchback has been updated to meet the ever-tougher challenges being set by rivals such as the Ford Focus, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf. Changes include mild hybrid tech for its engines, to improve the economy and emissions, and an improved infotainment suite.
FAQs
Yes. The Hyundai i30 came second in the family car category of our 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey. Hyundai itself did very well too, finishing joint third (with Suzuki) out of 30 manufacturers rated in the brands section of the survey. Only premium car maker Lexus and Dacia did better. Read more here
The Hyundai i30’s engines all have mild-hybrid technology to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, but you can’t get a fully electric car version or a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). There are two petrol engines available (1.0-litre and 1.5-litre) plus a 1.6-litre diesel. We favour the 1.0T GDi to keep costs down. Read more here
Our favourite version of the Hyundai i30 is the 1.0T GDi SE Connect because it gives the best value for money. SE Connect trim has a reasonable amount of equipment for the price, with 16in alloy wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearlever, air-con, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and power-folding door mirrors. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance. Read more here
The Hyundai i30 N Line has sportier styling than the Premium, with a similar aggressive look to the Hyundai i30 N hot hatch. Premium and N Line both have more luxuries than SE Connect, including keyless entry, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10.3in infotainment system, sat-nav, privacy glass and climate control. Read more here
The Hyundai i30 in entry-level SE Connect trim comes with an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Premium and N Line cars have an upgraded infotainment system that has a larger (10.3in) touchscreen and built-in sat-nav. The screen is sharp and the graphics look smart, plus you get a row of touch-sensitive shortcut buttons to make it easier to switch between menus. Read more here
All versions of the Hyundai i30 have 395 litres of boot space. That gives you plenty of space for a family shopping trip or to fit in a child buggy. The boot is deep and square and easy enough to load, with a fairly low lip at the entrance. You can fold the back seats down to create a larger loading bay, but this leaves a step up in the floor (there’s no head-adjustable boot floor to level it out). Read more here
| RRP price range | £21,950 - £37,135 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 4 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 3 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | petrol |
| MPG range across all versions | 33.6 - 53.3 |
| Available doors options | 5 |
| Warranty | 5 years / No mileage cap |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £1,172 / £2,628 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £2,343 / £5,256 |
| Available colours |
