The Hyundai i30 is a small family hatchback available in a few different variants. You can go for the entry-level 2-door hatchback, a 5-door estate, a 5-door hatchback, or a 5-door liftback. The i30 is one of the most popular Hyundai hatchbacks of all time which means that it stayed in production for a better part of 15 years. So, is Hyundai i30 a good car?
The Hyundai i30 is definitely a good car as it combines quite a few benefits and very few drawbacks. First of all, it gets relatively sophisticated, efficient, and powerful engines. It also looks relatively sedated which means that it isn’t going to wow or offend anyone. The interior is very much the same story because the i30 plays it safe throughout.
Reliability is what separates the i30 from many other cars in this segment as the i30 is a really reliable car. We are going to mention the most common i30 issues in this article, so stick around to find out. Value-wise, you truly are getting a lot with the i30 as a well-equipped model isn’t going to cost you much more than the entry-level i30, especially on the 2nd hand market.
Practicality is on par with other cars from this segment, but if you want maximum practicality, you ought to go for the estate version. Visibility is also okay, and so is getting in and out of the car. It is incredibly easy to mount a child seat into the back of the i30, and the car also gets a decent number of family-friendly features.
Hyundai i30 – The powertrain
When it comes to engines, you truly are spoiled with choice as you can get efficient and affordable entry-level 1.0L 3-cylinder engines with 120hp and 126lb-ft of torque or the 1.4L inline 4-cylinder with 140hp and 178lb-ft of torque. However, if you want the most powerful gas engine, you ought to go for the i30 N with its 2.0L 4-cylinder with 250hp and 260lb-ft or the i30 N Performance with 275hp/260lb-ft of torque.
The i30 is also available with diesel engines starting with the 1.6L 4-cylinder 110hp 1.6 CRDi or the more powerful 1.6L 4-cylinder 136hp engine. The very latest facelifted i30 only offers gas engines which means that the latest diesel i30 is the pre-facelift generation. Efficiency-wise, you can expect to get up to 45MPG with gasoline engines or 63MPG with diesel variants.
All i30 models come with FWD exclusively. You can choose between an automatic gearbox or a 6-speed manual.
Hyundai i30 – Design and chassis
Hyundai is one of those brands that tend to play it safe when it comes to design which means that the i30 isn’t the most beautiful car on the market. The interior is more or less the same, but it can look really nice if you go for a well-equipped model. The latest facelifted i30 does look considerably better than its predecessor though.
The chassis and suspension tuning is tailored towards comfort and ease of use which means that the standard i30 does not try to be overly sporty. However, if you like dynamic cars with stiff suspension setups, you ought to go for the i30 N model.
Hyundai i30 – Reliability and common issues
One of the strong suits of the i30 is its reliability as there truly aren’t too many reports on this car. Sure, the i30 isn’t perfect, but it does manage to stay relatively trouble-free when compared to many other cars in this segment. Moreover, the i30 isn’t an overly expensive car to fix either which further makes it a really good car to live with.
The most common Hyundai i30 problems are associated with the car’s electrical systems, trim and equipment, the handbrake, certain active safety systems, and the automatic transmission.
Hyundai i30 – Value and practicality
The cheapest i30 sold in the US for marked for under $15,000 which is an extremely good number while top-spec i30 N performance models cost around $45,000 at the very least. Used i30 models can be had for under $5,000 in certain instances which is an extremely low price for a car that truly isn’t bad by any means.
Practicality is fairly standard for this segment, except for the estate version which offers a lot more space throughout. For family use, the i30 can do just fine, except if your family is fully grown or it is too large. All in all, the i30 is what you’d expect from a car in this segment.
FAQ Section
Is the Hyundai i30 discontinued?
Since 2020, Hyundai is no longer offering the i30 in the USA except for the top-spec i30 N performance variant. This is because Hyundai decided to focus its effort on the crossover and SUV segments as these are the most sought-after in today’s car market. Furthermore, Hyundai offers quite a few similarly priced passenger cars with more space and overall appeal.
That being said, the i30 is still available in most markets around the world, especially in Europe where hatchbacks are still incredibly popular.
Is the Hyundai i30 N a hot hatchback?
The Hyundai i30 N and the i30 N Performance are both true hot hatchbacks because they offer lots of power and are incredibly quick. You can expect the i30 N to reach 60mph from a standstill in around 5.5 seconds which is a really quick time for a car of this size.
Other cars from this segment include the Ford Focus ST, the Renault Megane RS, the VW GTI, and the Honda Civic Type R. However, many automotive journalists state that the i30 N is the most exciting car of the lot.
Is the Hyundai i30 worth it?
The Hyundai i30 is a really good car for its price because it costs a lot less than some premium hatchbacks from this segment yet manages to be a lot more reliable and cheaper to run. This means that the i30 offers a relatively trouble-free ownership experience which is not all that common these days.
I’d say that the i30 is definitely worth it if you like the segment and especially if you like Hyundai as a brand.
