25 August 2017 · Vehicle Reviews
2017 Hyundai i30 Review | Phil Gilbert Hyundai
Hyundai is a vehicle manufacturer that probably has every right to rest on its laurels for at least a little while, and that's because it's a brand that has almost completely reinvented itself in recent times. It's a very dynamic and positive company with no fear whatsoever about entering new segments of the market, but it also keeps a keen eye on the ball in areas where it's already having considerable success.
More than a facelift
The 2017 Hyundai i30 is a compact car or city small car that shows just how much effort the company invests into maintaining and building upon its existing market share. The new Hyundai i30 isn’t just a facelift by any means, this is a complete redesign for the third-generation and if you’re in the market for this type of car, it's time to sit up and take notice.
Those of us with a few years under our belts will remember when Hyundai was a brand synonymous with delivering cheap and cheerful vehicles offering lots of value for money, but they were models that lacked a little when it came to quality and style. That's no longer the case anymore though, and the new i30 is a superb illustration of just where the company and brand sits in the market today. Today's i30 doesn’t just a look to compete on a level with Japanese mass-market competitors; the 2017 model is a model that even has those well-known German rivals in its sights too.
More car for less money
The way Hyundai's cars have grown in quality and style in the last decade is staggering, but the manufacturer certainly has no intention of abandoning its value for money roots completely as the new i30 actually costs $500 less than the previous version. That's not all though, as the new version also comes with more by way of standard features and equipment than the old second-generation did. This is no smoke and mirrors ruse either as Hyundai says the value of the improved specification is in the region of $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the model grade.
There's an undeniably European feel to this latest i30, which is currently available in three model grades and with three different engines. There really is no hint whatsoever to suggest this is a car built to anything resembling a restrictive budget.
Under the bonnet
The Active is the entry model in the latest i30 range, which benefits from a new more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine in place of the old 1.8 in last year's model. The new powerplant produces 120kW and 203Nm, which is 13kW and 28Nm more than previously, while the combined fuel economy ratings also impress at 7.4 L/100km for the automatic and 7.3 L/100km for the manual gearbox. The SR is the mid-range i30 model with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine rated at 150kW and 265Nm and with fuel economy of 7.5 L/100km for both gear boxes for the combined cycle. A 1.6-litre turbo-diesel is the third available engine with 100kW and 280Nm at its disposal with the manual gearbox, and with the unsurprisingly impressive combined fuel economy figure of 4.5 L/100km. The automatic box increases the diesel's torque up to 300Nm, but obviously the fuel economy does suffer somewhat as a result with the combined rating dropping marginally to 4.7 L/100km.
The completely new 2017 Hyundai i30 is available now from Phil Gilbert Hyundai, so get in touch today for more details and to arrange a test drive.
