Used test: Honda Civic Type R vs Hyundai i30N interiors

Interiors

Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality

We’ve raved about the driving position in the Honda Civic Type R before, and the low-slung, figure-hugging bucket seats, well-positioned pedals and expansive range of steering wheel adjustment remain top-notch. The Hyundai i30N is good in this regard too, but you can’t get the seats low enough for our liking. That’s a shame, but at least they’re electrically operated, with memory recall and four-way lumbar adjustment. The Civic’s are manual and don’t let you adjust their lumbar support.

The i30N’s analogue instrument dials are easy to read, but so are the digital speedometer and rev counter in the Type R. The i30N has wheel-mounted switches to change driving modes; these work better than Civic’s main driving mode button by the gearlever.

In terms of infotainment, we're afraid the Type R's doesn't quite cut the mustard. It's slow, awkward to use and dated to look at. The i30N is the better car in this department. Its infotainment system is responsive and easy to navigate. All the physical controls that complement it are logically laid out and feel well screwed together.

You can pick holes in the quality of some of the materials in both cars, but they appear well screwed together. Honda has made more of an effort to make the Civic Type R's interior feel exciting, with faux carbonfibre trim and red detailing. The i30N looks pretty conventional inside.

Both cars have enough room for six-footers in the front and a decent amount of storage dotted around. However, it’s a different story for those in the back. While the Civic has plenty of leg room for a couple of tall passengers, the rear of the i30N is tighter; getting in and out is trickier and knee room is less generous.

The Civic has a bigger boot, too. Whichever car you choose, you get 60/40-split folding rear seats that drop easily. To achieve a flat floor in the i30N, you first need to unscrew a metal brace fitted behind the rear seats.

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