Hyundai has come a long way with its
cars in a short space of time, from being the car people buy because they
couldn’t afford a Golf or Focus, to a full-fledged rival. Now, the i30 looks to
convert even more Golf owners.
It was way back in August 2012 that the
“fluidic sculpture” styling of the i30 first caught our eye at its local
launch. We liked it right off the bat and so did a lot of pedestrians as they
kept on ogling the vehicle, even when we received our test model three months
after the South African launch. On the inside, the captivating exterior is
complemented by a classy cabin that is elegant, practical, spacious and well
laid out. All the controls are well within the driver’s (or front passenger’s_
reach, and even though the interior features plenty of plastic, it still comes
across as sturdily constructed and premium enough to go toe-to-toe with (but
not beat) the class leading Golf.
Hyundai
i30 - A Complete Driving Package
Easy rider
We drove the 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol
engine that delivers 110kW at 6500 RPM and 178 Nm of torque at 4700 RPM, enough
to bring up 100km/h on the speedometer in around ten seconds and go to reach
190km/h. In terms of fuel economy, we averaged just under nine liters per 100km
on a combined cycle (town and highway driving).
In
terms of fuel economy, we averaged just under nine liters per 100km on a
combined cycle
The i30’s steering and handling was very
competent, with the ride quality leaning towards comfort more than dynamically
sporty as with a Ford focus. Within the congested streets of Pretoria, this
power plant of the i30 felt punchy enough, but on the highway, we did wish for
a bit more overtaking oomph.
Alluring value prospect
The 1.8 GLS manual is priced at $27,045
(incl. VAT), making the i30 almost as pricey as the equivalent Golf or Focus.
But Hyundai’s biggest selling point is in the impressive list of standards. Our
test model came with a full accompaniment of six airbags, as well as all the
expected bells and whistles including an MP3-compatible audio system that
caters to both USB as well as Bluetooth connectivity, satellite controls on the
steering wheel, and parking sensor for the rear. Ticking off features such as
park distance control for the golf adds another $498 to its asking price,
highlighting the value offered by the i30.
A
full accompaniment of six airbags
To the point
Due to its sublime styling, comfortable
cabin and ride, and impressive list of standard features, Hyundai’s i30 manages
to impress in all aspects, culminating in a very worthy rival for the golf and
co. Is this enough to make people buy it instead of a Golf? We’re not too sure,
but we can say that opting for the i30 won’t result in you turning greener than
the Hulk every time a Golf drives by.
