Hyundai i30 Sedan

Hyundai’s world works in strange ways, the i30, once just a hach, is now a sedan too.

That is, if you forget the fact that it is an Elantra in the USA and other markets. There’s more too. I30 Sedan comes in an N model, more or less. The fastback model, is a variant of the hatch, whereas the sedan is a new model. Confused? Us too.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR SPECIFICATIONS SHEET:.Hyundai_i30_Sedan_Specifications

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We set out to answer the real question, why is the Elantra nameplate gone?

The i30 range is cash-cow for Hyundai. It is popular, and well-priced, Elantra was an odd bod that didn’t seem to fit in, at least in the minds of buyers. Now, i30 can be said to have a hatch, a fastback, and a sedan. That is an easier prospect for those who like a G and T at 10 am. While i30 hatch got a couple of updates, it is still the car that was released several years ago.

I30 sedan however, bristles with the newness of delicious tech goodies, and an exterior that reeks of a design competition winner back at HQ. But for me, it is the delicious cabin of i30 sedan that is the culmination of elegance and propriety.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Car Review -2021 hyundai i30 Sedan – Elite

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ABOVE: 2021 Hyundai i30 Seden – Elite

Let’s start with the body.

Until now, KIA, Hyundai’s sister company, has had a bit of an edge looks wise.

Now, things have changed somewhat. i30 is a sleek, cohesive, look where the concept has really done the end product justice.

It hasn’t been got at by men with pocket-protectors and personality by-passes.

The front end is a clever melange that somehow works. There is no obvious bumper. That has been concealed deep within the bowels of the grille. The grille stretches its graceful arms to embrace an upward sweep of lighting, that continues along the mudguards. We were slightly disappointed that the headlights, although dusk sensing, were not LED.

The angular face looks like a Transformer smiling, just before it crushes you like a wasp.

The silhouette is made sleeker by yet more angles that slash upwards from the grille. It gives an otherwise unremarkable profile, a touch of the cutting edge. Facets give the doors the character of the Cullinan no. 1.

The aggressive rump has an overhang that has swept down from the roof in one graceful arc. The fastback look continues a long line of hatchbacks started off by the Rover SD1 of the 70’s. Sadly, this car is suited and booted rather than conveniently hatched. Why? I’d rather a hatch thanks.

Although the bootlid is manual, it has the Hyundai auto-unlock function. Amaze your friends by having the key secreted about your person to unlock the boot handsfree. The i30 senses your magnetic personality as you stand nearby, and unlocks, popping the boot up ready to be grasped.

If you want big junk in your trunk, you can flop the seats down, 60/40. The 474L boot feels big, with oodles of usable space, and has a full-size alloy under the floor. N-Lines get a space saver, but that’s OK by me. I loathe puncture repair kits.

Wheels are 17 inchers, with n-line going up an inch. Extra inches are never bad, right?

The Cabin

The interior design is a triumph.

There is a complex mix of sweeping lines and primary colours. The cockpit is clearly defined. The driver is cosseted in an Airbus-like arrangement of switches, defined by the door card on one side, and the built-in hand grip on the passenger’s side of the console. What is a Jesus-Grip doing in a city car, you may well ask? Without it, the cabin would simply look, ordinary.

The centre console has 2XUSBs and a power outlet cradled within. A Qi charger rests just below them, but is partially concealed by the gear selector.

A couple of buttons for parking sensors and drive modes, sit alongside the Brake Hold and Parking Brake buttons.

Above, on the centre stack, sit the twin zone climate controls. Facing upwards, just above the AC buttons, are the audio / infotainment controls. This is one of the nicest arrangements we’ve seen.

The stack’s crowning glory is a 10.25” touch screen. Pov models have a less successful 8 incher. There is another 10.25” screen in front of the driver, and together, makes the cockpit look and feel like a private jet.

It would be churlish of me not to mention the BOSE speakers with their drilled aluminium covers, and the tasteful suit-like fabric on the doors.

Front seats are heated, with all seating covered in perforated leather. The blurb says leather “appointed”, which means some comes from a cow, and some from a factory near a small town in rural China.

Rear legroom is excellent, even with 4 beefy lads on board. Rear headroom is more than adequate too.

The Drive:

Driving an i30 sedan is simply joyous.

Steering is uber light. Drive modes help give the 117kw 4 cylinder a bit of a boost. It is a shame the N-Line’s 150kw is not the standard unit, but hey ho.

There are many transmissions to select. There is a 6-speed manual, and for those who hate shifting gears themselves, a 6-speed auto or 7-speed DSG can be had. It all depends on how many shekels the buyer wants to part with.

Ride is good most of the time. Bumps in corners can be a little unsettling.

MacPherson struts keep the front-end tidy, with Active/Elite models having a torsion beam rear. N-Lines not only have that 7-Speed DSG, and a 150kw motor, but a multi-link rear suspension setup. N-Line is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We headed out through one of Sydney’s hideously expensive, privately run, tunnels. All the while, i30 kept itself centred in the lane. Active blind spot monitors the surroundings and won’t let you change lanes if there is an obstacle. That can be annoying at times. The lane centering has been known to switch on and off unexlectedly.

i30 has a fancy AEB setup. It works both forward and in reverse, at intersections, and at all speeds. it senses cars, people, and bikes, and tosses out the anchors to minimise the unintended loosening of body parts.

There are way too many features to mention so CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR SPECIFICATIONS SHEET:.Hyundai_i30_Sedan_Specifications

Acceleration is brisk, yet modest. Steering has a well-calibrated feel, and brakes feel sharpish. The cabin in fairly quiet most of the time. Our country jaunt was thoroughly enjoyable, and for the money, a better package cannot be had.

Conclusion:

Life is full of disappointments. Many a punter has been overcome with regret, but not after buying an i30 sedan.

It is chockers full of fancy gadgets, is a pleasure to drive, and absolutely looks the business.  Elite is good, but N-Line, if you can stretch to it, is a better prospect. More power is always better.

I can easily imagine doing a cross-country trip in an i30 sedan.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR SPECIFICATIONS SHEET:.Hyundai_i30_Sedan_Specifications

Price and drivelines:

Engine Transmission Active Elite N Line N Line Premium
2.0 GDi 6 speed manual $24,790 – – –
2.0 GDi 6 speed automatic $26,790 $30,790 – –
1.6 T-GDi 6 speed manual – – $30,290 –
1.6 T-GDi 7-speed DCT – – $32,290 $37,290

Engines: 2.0L or 1.6L turbo

Power: 117kw/191Nm, or 159kw/256Nm

Econ: 7.0 or 6.8L/100k (for auto models)

Trans: 6sp Manual, 6 Sp Auto, 7sp DSG

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