Test drive Hyundai i30 1.4 MPI 100 CV Tecno; an honest compact

These days at Highmotor we’ve had one of the most popular compacts on the Spanish market among mainstream brands in our garage.

We’re talking about the Hyundai i30, paired with its entry-level engine, a 1.4 MPI petrol with 100 CV, which has left us with mixed impressions.

The i30 is one of the cornerstones of the Hyundai range. For a few years now the Korean brand has been undergoing a transformation process aimed at improving the quality and brand image; a process that is still not finished today, but whose first fruits are already starting to show.

Exterior design

The current generation of the i30 debuted in 2012, although it received a slight -very slight- update in mid-2015. The i30 is a model with a pleasant design, without any excesses, aiming to appeal to most of its potential audience. It is a compact of medium dimensions, measuring 4.3 metres long, 1.78 metres wide and 1.47 metres high.

The front end has a typically Hyundai look, with large headlights that extend along the edges of the bonnet and the wing. The grille, which is generously sized, is positioned relatively low, keeping the typical Hyundai shapes that make the i30 a clearly recognisable model.

The side view features rising lines, making this compact one of the most “family-like” in its class. This strategy results in a robust design and interior space. The red colour of this unit accentuates the tension lines running along the side, generated at the front wing and wheel arch, and ending at the rear light.

It is a compact of medium dimensions, measuring 4.3 metres long, 1.78 metres wide and 1.47 metres high

The alloy wheels, in this case 16″, enhance the modern look of the overall design with a very attractive two-tone finish. Other details that add to the appeal of the design include, for example, neatly designed compact mirrors with built-in indicators, the chrome line running along the windows, or the placement of the door handles, right on the body’s crease line.

At the rear the design is not especially eye-catching, but it is well resolved. The horizontally arranged light clusters fulfil their lighting functions with bulbs located at the lower part of the bumper. A small spoiler above the rear window, very discreet, completes the whole in a well-balanced way.

Interior design

The interior atmosphere is also very familiar if you have previously sat in any other Hyundai of the current crop. It is a relatively simple cabin, without many complications and with a pleasant design. It shares some similarities with the now-discontinued ix35 or the current i40, as the basic lines are laid out “in a cascade” from the centre of the dashboard.

The materials are up to the standard of the segment. This is one of the areas where Hyundai has improved the most over time, as soft plastics and visually appealing materials are now the norm. The fit between parts is well done, and no creaks or rattles can be heard, although it is true that some materials remain somewhat cheap, such as certain hard plastics or some edges of trim and buttons on the centre console and steering wheel.

Positively, the seats stand out, which I personally found very comfortable and of good quality both visually and to the touch in their upholstery. Both the steering wheel and the gear lever knob are trimmed in very soft leather, and on the door panels the fabric adds a pleasant touch of warmth.

The leap in interior quality is undeniable; the i30 is closer than ever to its rivals

The instrumentation is simple, with two large analogue dials showing rpm and speed, while a small display provides the fuel level and coolant temperature. The on-board computer is basic, but practical.

In terms of space, the i30 more than holds its own. It is one of the compacts with the most interior room, both in the front seats and in the second row. Overall, the i30 offers more than enough space for four people to travel in complete comfort, while a fifth will have slightly less room, but still sufficient thanks, among other things, to an almost flat floor.

The boot offers a capacity of 378 litres, which places it around the segment average. It is possible to fold down the second-row backrests to reach a maximum volume of 1,316 litres, although it should be noted that when doing so, the backrests do not lie completely flat, but are left slightly inclined.

Driving dynamics

Time to start the Hyundai. On this occasion, the i30 featured in this test has the entry-level engine in the range, a 1.4 four-cylinder in-line petrol unit with multipoint indirect injection and naturally aspirated, producing 100 CV and 134 Nm. Although, judging by its specifications, it may seem like a “learner” engine, it is a newly developed powerplant, designed within the “Kappa” engine family.

It is a genuinely quiet and smooth engine, barely noticeable inside when idling. Only when pushed hard does it produce a somewhat coarse sound that is not very pleasant. Performance is not brilliant: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.7 seconds, with a top speed of 182 km/h, figures that today would make the i30 with this engine qualify as “slow”.

Despite its calm engine, the i30’s chassis reveals excellent tuning

Homologated consumption figures are 7.5 litres/100 km in the urban cycle, 4.9 litres in the extra-urban cycle and 5.8 litres/100 km combined. After a week of testing covering more than 1,000 km, the average consumption shown by the on-board computer was 7.1 litres/100 km, a deviation of 1.3 litres from the homologated figure.

This engine can only be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, with a correct feel that, nevertheless, shows somewhat long ratios for the engine’s characteristics. The 6th gear is welcome for maintaining cruising speeds over long distances, but the other ratios should be somewhat closer so that the car feels more lively; still, we are talking about a compact that weighs close to 1,300 kg kerb.

As for driving dynamics, the i30 surprises with its good behaviour. The Korean compact enjoys very good handling, with a very well-tuned chassis. The suspension layout is common in this segment, with MacPherson struts at the front axle and a multi-link rear axle. The damping strikes the right balance of stiffness without feeling harsh, maintaining good ride comfort at all times.

The electric power steering offers three modes, Comfort, Normal and Sport, with the first being the most suitable for low-speed manoeuvres. The braking system consists of floating calipers and discs on all four wheels, ventilated at the front axle. It responds immediately and the pedal feel is well calibrated. The ESP, with two deactivation stages, works correctly.

Range and versions

The second-generation Hyundai i30 -the one discussed in these lines- underwent a range restructuring in 2015, resulting in a more complete offer of trim levels and engines. The i30 range is built around five trim levels: Essence, Klass, Tecno, Black Line and Style, from least to most equipped.

Additionally, the Korean brand offers numerous variants of both petrol and diesel engines: a 1.6 GDi with 136 CV and direct injection and a 1.6 Turbo with 182 CV in the petrol offering, while the three diesel options revolve around a 1.4 CRDi with 90 CV and a 1.6 CRDi with 110 and 136 CV, the latter two also available with a 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. The range starts at €14,433 before discounts:

• i30 5p 1.4 MPi 100 CV BlueDrive Essence €14,433
• i30 5p 1.4 MPi 100 CV BlueDrive Klass €14,943
• i30 5p 1.4 CRDi 90 CV Klass €15,307
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV BlueDrive Klass €15,907
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV BlueDrive Cruise €16,107
• i30 5p 1.4 MPi 100 CV BlueDrive Tecno €16,668
• i30 5p 1.4 CRDi 90 CV Tecno €17,032
• i30 5p 1.6 GDi 135 CV BlueDrive Tecno €17,632
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV BlueDrive Tecno €17,632
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV BlueDrive Black Line €18,782
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV 7DCT BlueDrive Tecno €19,482
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 110 CV 7DCT BlueDrive Black Line €20,632
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 136 CV BlueDrive Style €20,936
• i30 5p 1.6 TGDi 186 CV Turbo €21,480
• i30 5p 1.6 CRDi 136 CV 7DCT BlueDrive Style €22,732

Photography | Daniel Valdivielso

Technical specifications of this car

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