Hyundai i30 - A Small Family Car

So, one year on, how did our family hatch stack up against its main rivals, the Ford Focus and VW Golf?

Why it was on test: To assess whether the i30 could balance quality with value for money

There was a time, not that long ago, when you made excuses for Hyundai’s. ‘Sure,’ you reasoned about each new model, ‘it’s not as stylish as its European rivals, the interior’s a little plasticky and its decidedly average to drive – but it’s cheap.’

Hyundai i30

Times change, though. You could argue that Hyundai is now more firmly established in the mainstream market than some of the older players, such as the French brands. There’s simply no stigma attached any more to buying a car from either Hyundai or its stable mate, Kia.

Clear controls: All buttons and knobs are well marked and easy to use

That’s a positive development, you’d like to think, but at the same time it piles pressure on a car such as the Hyundai i30. This is a direct rival to the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, and it has to deliver on all counts – space, style, comfort, quality and dynamics – because its perceived value has shifted a little further north. In other words, if it proves good enough, it could still be good value, but it’s no longer cheap.

That makes a new Hyundai family car an irresistible proposition for a longer test, so we wasted little time in getting the latest i30 on to our fleet.

Smooth ride: The i30 soaked up urban and B-road bumps without a blink

Our Hyundai came in striking Aqua Blue (a $676.5 option), Active trim (a mid-range spec that looks the pick of the line-up) and with a 1.6-litre 109bhp diesel engine.

The i30 found its way into the hands of Adele Donaghie, who soon started stretching its capacity to the maximum with all of the clutter that accompanies the arrival of a newborn baby.

Adele was an early skeptic, purely because the i30 didn’t have the handling verve of the Ford Focus that had been her previous long-termer. However, when she started to load it up with all those necessary items of everyday life, it quickly won her over. In the early weeks, the car was tasked with transporting everything from a pair of elderly grandparents to a double bed, and had little difficulty in coping with any of this.

Bigger than the rest: Boot capacity is greater than either the Focus’s or Golf’s

Adele was also impressed with the car’s fuel economy. Fully laden, the i30 managed around 55mpg. Now, admittedly, that’s still some way short of the Government figure of 76mpg, but it’s still more than respectable for a fully loaded family hatch. The 53-litre fuel tank allowed Adele to go around 500 miles between fill-ups, which meant that refueling stops were relatively infrequent.

‘As practical, comfortable family transport, the i30 is supremely well judged’

There’s decent room in the back

What’s more, as time progressed, Adele became more in tune with the i30’s chassis set-up. It never felt as agile as the Focus, but it didn’t take too many miles for her to realize that its ride was smoother on bumpy roads.

As the car was shared around more often, the rest of us soon began to come to the conclusion that Adele’s view was pretty much spot on. The i30 is not designed to entertain, it’s true, and its steering can feel frustratingly vague on occasion (we never really saw the point of having three steering settings, either – they all felt much the same). However, as practical, comfortable family transport, it is supremely well judged. Fold the rear seats, for example, and there are 200 more liters of boot capacity than you’ll find in a Focus. At this money, that’s a night-and-day difference.

Active trim came with rear parking sensors

The cabin had its fans, too. Colleague Barnaby Jones thought that its styling looked smart, and was impressed with its clearly marked, chunky buttons and logically laid out dashboard. Euan Doig was equally enthusiastic, raving about the amount of standard equipment (Bluetooth, air-conditioning and iPod connectivity) compared with his Volvo V40. He reckoned the Hyundai rode better, too.

Ultimately, Hyundai knows a low price is no longer good enough, which is why it’s invested heavily in dealer training (sadly, we didn’t do enough miles to put its improved customer service to the test).

Well laid out dash was a plus

Even so, during its time with us the i30 has shown how even the tiniest foible in dynamics or quality can no longer be forgiven, but it also proved it doesn’t have many vices anyway. You can expect more than mere respectability here – and you’ll get it.

Technical specs