Introduction

This is the Hyundai i30, the firm’s latest assault on the hotly-contested and crucial family hatchback market – a class inhabited by perpetual heavyweights like the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, and Volkswagen Golf. The Korean company aims to muscle in among the leaders of this field, with its third-generation i30 featuring many improvements over its predecessor, such as a much classier interior, more urbane exterior looks, loads of safety equipment, and a chassis honed for European tastes. Hyundai offers the i30 in five-door and estate formats, with a choice of three engines – two petrol and one diesel, all turbocharged – driving the front wheels through either a manual or dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There are five trim grades and, on top of all of this, the i30 comes with Hyundai’s excellent five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Did you know? While Hyundai is a Korean marque, the i30 was designed in Germany and all models for Europe are built in the Czech Republic.

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

Verdict: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)

A thoroughly polished and competent all-rounder, the Hyundai i30 is a strong contender in the C-segment. Its main strengths are its excellent refinement, a wide range of comfort and safety equipment across the board, competitive purchase prices, and of course the manufacturer’s s...