If you require a practical and well-built car that’s manageably sized and won’t break the bank, Hyundai have something that is well worth a look.
Like most compact estates, this one isn’t the most spacious load carrier in the world, but it offers enough for most families.
And, as ever, this i30 remains a great choice if you want to impress somebody with quite how far Korean cars have come. Do so with this Tourer body style and you certainly won’t need to pack light.
The Koreans have pared back the engine choice when compared to the i30 hatch.
Whereas customers of that body style get no fewer than five engines to select from, i30 Tourer buyers are left with a stark choice: 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel.
Perhaps that’s simplifying things a little because the diesel engine is available in 110PS or a higher-powered 136PS variant.
All engines come with an auto gearbox option, but the diesels get the more sophisticated 7DCT self-shifting transmission.
Otherwise, it’s a six-speed manual shift.
The 136PS diesel develops its peak power at 4,000 rpm and this upgraded engine will accelerate the i30 from rest to 60mph in around 10 seconds, with a top speed of well over 120mph.
The petrol powerplant offers a balance between performance and economy and represents a cost-effective choice for the motorist who covers lower mileages.
The 1.6-litre unit is a lightweight affair that helps the i30’s handling. The suspension of the i30 is a strut front and multi-link rear design, the same kind of thing that’s been adopted by the best-handling cars in the class, such as the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. One interesting option is Flex Steer.
With three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – the system can be used to vary the level of steering assistance and feedback in order to suit driving conditions.
There’s a £1,100 model-for-model premium to pay if you want this Tourer estate version of the i30, rather than the standard five-door hatch.
Pricing starts from around £17,000 – that’s a slightly higher level than the hatch because with the Tourer, you don’t get the option of the entry-level 1.4-litre petrol engine.
Hyundai’s ambition with the i30 Tourer is such that it requires a change in mindset to assess the vehicle.
In years gone by, we would have been dumbstruck by this car’s styling, its engineering and its finish, largely because it was a cheapie and wasn’t expected to be particularly special.
In pitching the i30 against talented mainstream contenders like the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, however, the marking scheme just got a whole lot tougher. By and large the i30 Tourer succeeds, particularly in this improved form.
It’s big enough and capable enough at the right price to win enough orders.
Where the car still falls a little flat is in terms of personality, interior design and the sophistication and cleanliness of its powerplants.
Remember that these judgements are against the very best in the class and when price and equipment levels are taken into account, the i30 Tourer states its case quite eloquently.
Hyundai remains a work in progress, but at this rate, the sky’s the limit for the Korean giant.
THE FACTS
Model: Hyundai i30 Tourer
Price: Starts at £17,000
Engine: 1.6 litre
Transmission: Auto
Performance: 0-60mph in 10 seconds, top speed well over 120mph
Economy: From 52.3mpg
Emissions: 102g/km CO2
