Hyundai i30 is likely on the UK streets on or before 2017.
Design
You won't find many bravely styled cars in such a competitive and conservative class and the new Hyundai i30 is no different. This latest effort is very much a case of evolution over revolution. Up front, the slinky LED headlights are wrapped around the front bumper and wing. Meanwhile, the daytime running lights are located in the front air-intakes and arranged as a vertical strip of LEDs.
First seen in the recently revised Hyundai i10, the new i30 will be the second recipient of the brand's 'cascading grille'. This feature is set to appear on all future new Hyundais and is trimmed in chrome on the i30. A further addition is the strong character line that runs from the front headlight cluster all the way around to the back of the car.
At the back, the rear lights are all-LED, too, while both the front and rear overhangs (the distance between the wheels and the front or back of the car) have been shortened compared to the previous model. This, according to Hyundai, helps give the new i30 a sportier, more 'dynamic' stance, as does the longer, heavily creased, bonnet and swept-back first roof-support pillar.
When it goes on sale, the new Hyundai i30 will be available in a choice of 12 paint colours, including three pearlescent finishes, seven metallic choices and two standard solid colours. Customers will also have the choice of 15-inch steel and alloy wheels, or 16 and 17-inch alloys.
Interior
Inside, there are some big changes from the previous iteration of the i30. The whole dashboard is brand-new, with an optional 'floating' five-inch touchscreen sitting on top of it. There's a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, which will be available with a heater function, as well as an all-new instrument binnacle. The controls for the air-conditioning and climate control are situated below the touchscreen in the centre console, while there are four trapezoidal air vents arranged across the dashboard.
You'll be able to specify the new i30 with either cloth (black or grey) or leather seats. Go for the leather option and you have either a diamond pattern or a two-tone blue and black option. The driver's seat is power-adjustable and can memorise two pre-set positions. You can also specify a panoramic sunroof and there's also a sliding front armrest with a storage space within it.
Engines & gearboxes
When it goes on sale, the new i30 will be available with three petrol engines and just one diesel. Two of the petrols are turbocharged – a 1.0-litre and an all-new 1.4-litre, producing 118 and 138bhp respectively. There's also a 99bhp non-turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol.
The 1.0-litre turbo is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.4-litre turbo can be had with either this gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The quickest model is the 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo with the six-speed manual, which will do the 0-62mph sprint in just 8.9 seconds, while the slowest model in the range – the non-turbo 1.4-litre – takes 12.7 seconds to do the same. Road tax for the petrols ranges from £20 to £110 a year, thanks to CO2 emissions ranging from 103 to 130g/km.
Although there's technically only one 1.6-litre diesel engine to choose from, it's available in three different power outputs – 94, 109 or 131bhp. Depending on your power output and gearbox choice, the diesel i30 will take anywhere between 10.2 and 12.2 seconds to get from 0-62mph.
Meanwhile, CO2 emissions range from 89g/km (for the 109bhp manual 'Eco' version with 15-inch wheels) to 109g/km for the most powerful diesel with the seven-speed automatic gearbox and 17-inch wheels. This means your road tax bill will be anywhere from nothing to £30 a year, while company-car drivers' Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax contributions will range from 18 to 21%.
Suspension, brakes & steering
Apparently, Hyundai has put a lot of effort into improving the new i30's ride and handling characteristics, too. The steering on the new i30 is 10% more direct and responds 15 milliseconds faster than the outgoing model's. Furthermore, all models get sophisticated rear suspension and the front brake discs have increased in size to 288mm. Meanwhile, the car is also 28kg lighter than the outgoing model, as well as being 22% stiffer. This will help both the driving experience and reduce running costs.
Practicality
Hyundai is also promising that the new i30 will be one of the most spacious and practical cars in its class. There are a number of interior storage spaces, while the boot can hold up to 395 litres, which is more than many of its competitors. Fold the rear seats down and this increases to 1,301 litres.
Technology & equipment
As standard, there's a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which comes with Bluetooth connectivity, a rear parking camera and My Music – a system that allows you to load your own music into the system.
Alternatively, you can opt for a new eight-inch screen that features an up-to-date satellite-navigation system, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. These allow you to control various aspects of your Android or Apple smartphone from the car's touchscreen.
Also available will be a wireless inductive phone-charging pad that'll keep your mobile topped up with juice without messy wires all over the place.
Along with the new sat-nav system, you also get a seven-year subscription to TomTom LIVE services. This gives real-time updates on things like weather, traffic, speed-camera locations and local points of interest.
Safety
Complementing the new infotainment systems in the new i30 is a significant increase in the number of active safety systems. These include autonomous emergency braking (which can stop the car automatically if it detects an imminent collision), driver attention alert (which monitors if you're getting tired at the wheel and will remind you to take a break if necessary).
Also available is radar-controlled active cruise control, which can keep a set distance to the car in front at speeds above 6mph, while blind-spot detection can also be added.
Other active safety features include lane-keeping assistance, a speed-limit notification system and rear cross-traffic alert. This last system will let you know if there's any traffic approaching from either side while you're reversing out of a parking space or driveway.
The new Hyundai i30 is also available with high-beam assistance, which automatically switches the LED headlights from full to dipped beam when it detects another car coming towards you. The i30 will come with seven airbags as standard, too, as well as a high proportion of extra-strength steel.
Price & on-sale date
Although there's no official word on prices just now, these will be announced closer to the new Hyundai i30's on-sale date early next year. Expect to pay a little more than the current model's £12,995 starti
*** Based on CarBuyer UK
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