Hyundai i30 1.4 Hatchback Turbo Review
Europe is its Playground

clifford chow
19 Apr 2018

the i30 loses some weight with the new platform but gains a whopping 22 percent in structural rigidity

Europe is really a place where the humble hatchback gained popularity. While the golden era of the 80s, where these cars were nimble simply because they were light, and power robbing safety features were not-as-high on the list as it is today, hatches quickly became the ideal must-have for just about any working or middle class person, since they were economical to run, and were genuinely chic.

By the mid-90s, even the Japanese brands and soon, the Koreans tried to jostle in on some of this lucrative pie.

The new i30 is European-built, and to our pleasant surprise, Hyundai engineers have kept handling as one of the top priorities when developing the car. And boldly, there is even a hot i30 N, powered by a direct injection turbocharged 2.0 and aimed squarely at the best in the hot hatch segment.

Our test car was the milder and family-friendly version with a frugal 1.4 litre turbocharged engine. Also featuring direct injection and variable valve timing, the 1.4’s low emissions places this compact hatch within the VES A2 banding, meaning that it qualifies for a $10,000 rebate.

Just like the Kona Crossover, the i30 is equipped with an in-house developed 7-speed dual clutch transmission, delivering quick gearshifts, while the turbocharged 1.4, tuned for fuel efficiency returns an easy on the pocket 18.2 km/l in combined cycle.

The hatch also features Automated Cruise Control, Speed Limiter, Rain Sensing Wipers and Hill Start Assist, for some added peace of mind when taking off a slope.

Though the i30 might be slightly larger than other hatches in the same segment, it is easy to manage, and handling as earlier mentioned is one of the best things to come out form this little car, and we dare say, is actually better than some of the competition. That rear multi-link suspension certainly plays a large role in keeping the Korean hatch composed as you take it around the bends. Additionally, the i30 loses some weight with the new platform but gains a whopping 22 percent in structural rigidity. We would have however wished for more brake boosting, as they did come across a tad too weak.

Drop the car into “Sports” mode, and you will be able to fully capitalise on this well-developed platform. While perhaps, not as quick as the Kona with its reactive 1.6 turbocharged unit, the i30 is still impressive. With 138bhp on tap, and maximum torque of 242Nm from an easy 1,500rpm, the i30 does the century sprint in a respectable 9.2 seconds.

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