This article is a review of the Hyundai i30 hatchback from the perspective of an owner of this vehicle. I have owned my i30 for almost two years and feel that I have experienced driving it enough to be able to write a detailed review of its good points and bad points.
Value For Money
In general, Hyundai's cars are excellent value for money and this is definitely true with regards to the i30. The base model comes equipped with a lot of equipment and capabilities. The base model has a radio which is iPod compatible, six airbags, air conditioning, central locking, alloy wheels and more.
Interior
I would say that the i30's have a good interior design. The cabin is well ergonomically designed, with cubbyholes, and beverage holders in the right places. The rear wheelbase is large for a medium sized hatchback, this means that the backseats are quite spacious. The base model also has high quality seats, which are both hard wearing whilst at the same time comfortable. The top specification model comes with luxury leather seats.
Exterior
The i30 along with the i10 and i20, are the first series of cars from the Hyundai brand, where a great emphasis has been placed on the exterior design. You have to admit that for the price the i30 has an excellent exterior design. It comes available in metallic paint, which looks quite impressive. I feel that the i30 is the first Hyundai to have a very stylish exterior design. In fact the exterior is more comparable to a German or Japanese car rather than a Korean car. The only drawback I can think of with regards to the exterior is that the i30 is only available in a limited range of colors. Also the colors that it is available in, have no option for ordering a car in a different shade. However I think that there is enough variety for most people.
Manoeuvrability
While I find that the suspension on the car is satisfactory, I found that the i30 lacks that smoothness in the steering when cornering, and it can be slightly stiff and jerky. By all means this is only a minor issue, and is one of the few minor drawbacks of the car.
Driving Performance
Depending on which engine you choose for your i30, I think that it performs reasonably in all categories. I have the 1.4 liter petrol version, and have found it both energetic around town and also economical. Around town, the car usually achieves around 30 miles per gallon, and this improves when you get on the motorway. The only drawback that I can think of, is that with the 1.4 liter petrol, there is a slight lack of power when you are on the motorway. This is noticeable especially when the motorway is on a slight upward incline, but it must be noted that this is usually the case with most 1.4 liter cars. If you want the extra power, you would be better off getting the 1.6 liter petrol, or one of the diesel varieties which surely has that extra power.
Reliability
I have driven this car a lot and made a lot of use of it and have not had a single problem yet. I would therefore give it a top rating with regards to reliability, especially as it comes with a five year warranty from Hyundai. This testifies to its reliability, as most car manufacturers don't offer such a long warranty.
Ease of Use
The designers of the i30 definitely made an effort to make the car as user friendly as possible. The controls such as the demisters, air conditioning, radio, fans, etc. are incredibly easy to use. You can work out how these controls work instantly and there is no need to read manuals to figure anything out.
Hyundai i30 or Kia Cee'd?
Overall, I would say that the i30 is an excellent car to own. It is cheap and for the price you get a lot for your money. In fact, with most comparable cars, to get the amount of extras that you get with the i30 you would have to pay significantly more. I truly believe that the i30 set a new yardstick for quality within its manufacturer Hyundai. However, a potential buyer should also note that the Kia Cee'd shares a similar design to the i30, whilst being slightly cheaper and having a seven year warranty. The i30 has slightly better looks, but if you are interested in the i30, you may want to take a look at the Kia Cee'd as well.
Elliot Abraham - Elliot Abraham lives in London and is a freelance writer. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from City University of London in Economics ...
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