2017 Hyundai i30

By Alex Forrest

This new, third-generation i30 was launched in May 2016, and is the most important new model Hyundai has launched in recent years.

Hyundai had to get it right, and right for Australia. That meant getting the pricing correct, making the safety package among the best in the segment and bringing the interior up to premium small car standards.

So, after sorting out these basics, Hyundai’s Australia-based suspension tuning mob spent five months driving it to-and-fro across the outback in the middle of summer to ensure the steering, ride and handling would suit Australian tastes and conditions.

The i30 variants are arranged in two model streams – comfort and sports.

The comfort models comprise the Active, Elite and Premium grades, all of which can be had with either a 2.0-litre, naturally aspirated petrol engine, or 1.6-litre turbo diesel.

The sports models are designated SR and get the same gutsy 150kW, 265Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that’s in the Elantra SR. The i30 SR models comprise the entry level SR and the SR Premium, which brings with it a sunroof and front parking sensors among other features. For that, you’ll need $37,630.

With their multi-link rear suspension, the SR models are an enticing, well sorted warm hatch offering at a bargain price. Indeed, it’s much closer to a Volkswagen Golf GTI than the $15,000 price difference would suggest.

The entry level variant is the i30 Active manual, at $22,990 drive away. For a base model, the value proposition here is astounding. The Active gets an eight-inch touchscreen, a rear camera, sat nav, Bluetooth, digital radio, alloy wheels and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

What’s not standard across the range is autonomous braking, which you only get on the Elite and Premium models.

Another area for improvement is the warranty, which at five years is better than most, but we don’t see why that can’t be extended to seven years, given that’s what Hyundai’s subsidiary Kia offers.

The new i30’s interior is classy and restrained with mostly high quality surfaces and good sound deadening – it even passes the door closing “thunk” test.