Hyundai i30 review

The latest i30 is priced roughly on a par with rivals such as the Skoda Octavia, but fairly decent discounts are available (check out our latest deals to see how much you should pay). However, resale values are nothing to write home about, and PCP finance deals aren't either, so expect higher monthly repayments than on a Skoda Octavia.

A large part of the i30’s appeal lies in its five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which few rivals can match. The ownership package also includes five years of breakdown cover and five years of free annual ‘check-ups’. Fixed-price servicing packages for either three or five years also represent good value.

The i30’s engines are all comparatively small, but the petrols aren't especially fuel-efficient. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions for the 1.4-litre turbo  fall a long way short of equivalent engines in rivals, for example. The 1.0-litre petrol is better, but the 1.6 diesel is likely to be your best bet for low running costs if you do more than 15,000 miles a year.

Standard equipment is impressive enough. Entry-level S models come with 15in alloys, LED daytime running lights, a multifunction steering wheel and electric windows all round.

Next-level SE trim adds 16in alloy wheels, front fog lights, rear parking sensors with a reversing camera and a leather steering wheel. However, our favourite trim is SE Nav, which brings the infotainment upgrades we mentioned earlier. We also understand the appeal of the i30 N Line, which combines the aggressive looks of the full-fat i30N hatchback with more economical engine choices.

Further up the range, Premium trim brings 17in alloy wheels, climate control, an electronic parking brake and artificial leather, heated front seats. Range-topping Premium SE trim rounds things off with a panoramic sunroof, genuine leather seats and a heated steering wheel, but is too pricey to recommend.

The five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty is one of the Hyundai i30’s main selling points, so if anything does go wrong during that time you're likely to be covered. Roadside assistance is also included, while the bodywork is covered by a 12-year anti-perforation warranty.

In the 2018 What Car? Reliability Survey, Hyundai as a brand finished an impressive 9th (out of 31 manufacturers), behind Toyota and Skoda but ahead of Vauxhall, Honda and Ford. However, the current i30 itself wasn't included in the survey – it was too new.

Every Hyundai i30 comes with six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance – that’s an impressive haul of safety equipment. Once you get to Premium trim, further technology includes blindspot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, the latter of which warns you about traffic crossing your path when you're reversing out onto a road.

This comprehensive list of standard kit helped the i30 achieve five stars (out of five) in Euro NCAP safety tests, putting it on a par with the Volkswagen Golf. However, most rivals, including the Golf and Skoda Octavia, were tested several years ago under an older and less stringent set of criteria.

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