Hyundai i30 1.4 T-GDi 2017 Review - International

Hyundai i30 1.4 T-GDi
International launch
Malaga, Spain

Small hatches remain big business in Australia. In recent years the battle for the best-selling car has been between the Mazda3 and Toyota's Corolla but for the first half of last year Hyundai's i30 crashed the party. A remarkable achievement, I'm sure you'll agree, but one we're willing to wager had more to do with healthy incentives, cut-throat pricing, a five-year warranty and generous maintenance package. There's nothing wrong with that but for sustainable sales Hyundai knows it needs more. It needs the i30 to be a car you buy with your heart, as well as your head, when it goes on sale here in May.

It's no surprise Australian's had a hand in creating the new i30. After all, we're the biggest market for the Hyundai hatch, selling more than 37,000 annually.

For the latest PD-series i30, the Korean car-maker decamped here in the hottest summer months to a pop-up R&D base in the Outback.

Racking up tens of thousands of kilometres in a fleet of i30 mules, engineers used our climate to guarantee engine durability. The team of engineers also used our roads to develop its suspension, ABS and stability control.

If that's not enough proof of how seriously Hyundai takes our market, all the cars we'll get have also undergone a further local market tune to ensure the Hyundai's handling is tailored to our exacting tastes.

But before all that, the Korean car-maker says the number one reason you'll buy the new i30 hatch over its competitors is because of its new looks.

Adopting the 'cascading' grille from the Tucson SUV and a pair of sleeker headlights, it is fair to say the new hatch is a leap forward over the last model but, in the metal, the new i30 looks neat and more upmarket but nothing more.

Things will get more interesting visually next year, Hyundai tell us, when it launches a Fastback version of the i30 that, from a teased sketch, suggests a far more rakish design.

Inside, the interior — like the exterior — takes another large leap forward over the old car.

The design is both attractive and intuitive, while the large 8.0-inch infotainment screen available on high-grade models is quick and easy to use.

What isn't impressive is that a fingertip search uncovers too much cheap-feeling plastic. Worst offender is the plastic around the door pulls and the huge swathe of textured material that begins at the steering column and stretches across the front fascia. The i30 is no Golf beater for perceived quality.

Fractionally longer and wider than the current model, the new i30 measures in at 4340mm long, 1795mm wide and 1455mm high, with a wheelbase of 2650mm.

Despite some early confusion the i30 is, in fact, based on the old car's global small car platform.

To bring it up to date there's twice as much high-strength steel used in its construction, helping boost body rigidity by around 20 per cent and cut body-in-white (without engine and ancillaries) by 28kg.

Unfortunately, all that weight returned once Hyundai added new safety equipment the old car lacked, but more on that later.

Space, meanwhile, remains decent. There's a large boot (395 litres) and enough leg and knee room but, despite its boxy rear body, there's no boasts of best-in-class headroom.

Originally, with the updated platform, it was hoped Australia would finally benefit from the European-spec i30's more sophisticated independent multi-link rear suspension and we're happy to report we will.

Unfortunately, the independent rear suspension, which should offer a better ride and handling compromise, will only be offered on the sporty SR trim and the forthcoming VW Golf GTI-rivalling N model.

The rest of the i30 range makes do with torsion bar rear suspension.

There's good news though when it comes to the engines we'll be offered. Out goes the old 1.8-litre petrol mill at base level, which will instead get a more powerful 124kW/201Nm direct-injection 2.0-litre GDI engine that's currently offered in the SR.

If that's not enough there will also be a powerful 150kW 1.6-litre turbo flagship and, of course, the 220kW-plus i30N to rival the Golf GTI.

Another engine that is expected to join the local engine line-up (but hasn't been confirmed) is a turbocharged 1.4-litre. Despite producing less power (103kW), the all-new turbo-petrol will sit above the base 2.0-litre as it has more torque (242Nm).

Top of the tree is the single diesel offering, a 1.6-litre diesel that will come with around 100kW/300Nm and be combined with the firm's seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

In other markets a tiny, entry-level 88kW/171Nm 1.0-litre turbo will be offered but that engine has been ruled out for Down Under.

Since our first drive took place in Europe, our drive was limited to both the flagship diesel and the 1.4-litre turbo.

The i30 diesel is a likeable companion on a long-distance cruise. Road, wind and engine noise is well suppressed at highway speeds, and the ride is comfortable.

But it's a shame that, despite all that torque, the diesel doesn't feel quick. Off the mark, its dual-clutch 'box hampers strong acceleration with a soft launch.

It doesn't even feel as quick as its 10.6-second 0-100km/h sprint suggests. Mid-range delivery is better but if you want more performance you're better off with the punchier petrol 1.4 turbo.

Engineers are particularly proud of the new little turbo that not only gains direct injection but also comes with a trick electronically-controlled wastegate.

Combined with a redesigned exhaust manifold, Hyundai claims the little turbo has better throttle response, more low-end shove and less lag compared to similar engines offered by its rivals.

In reality the 1.4 turbo isn't quite as smooth as the Volkswagen Group's equivalent. Our car suffered from some resonance and didn't seem quite as eager to rev but there's little to complain about the performance it offers.

Against the clock the small turbo hauls the i30 to 100km/h from standstill in a claimed 8.9 seconds with the six-speed manual.

As far as handling goes, the cars we drove came with the multi-link rear suspension we mentioned earlier -- something our cars won't have as they're sourced from Korea, not Europe's Czech plant.

Hopefully, the locally-tuned cars will come close to matching the Euro set-up's composure, lack of roll, fine ride and decent balance. That said, rivals like the Golf, Ford Focus and strong-selling Mazda3 offer more driver engagement.

We also hope our cars will also come with a more natural feeling steering calibration with less self-centring effect.

When it's launched here in May, Hyundai Australia has signalled its intention that it will attempt to position the new i30 more upmarket than before. This has led to wild speculation of huge price rises but, according to an insider, we're assured the i30 will retain its aggressive price strategy.

It's also likely the i30's Active, SR, SR Premium and Premium trim levels will come with more generous levels of standard kit.

In the UK, the i30 will be marketed as the safest hatch money can buy -- a tactic that might be employed Down Under.

If that's the case even base models will come with lane departure warning, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking that can detect pedestrians up to 60km/h.

So in the end Hyundai hasn't quite transformed its i30 into a car you'll want to buy for its looks or abilities alone but, from our early impression the Korean car-maker might have done just enough to broaden its appeal.

Better in every way possible than the car it replaces, the i30 isn't quite the world-beater Hyundai hoped for, but factor in the old car's pricing, long warranty and maintenance package and you'd be foolish to bet against the i30 from once again outperforming its rivals, in the sales race, at least.

2017 Hyundai i30 pricing and specifications:
Price: TBC
On sale: May
Engine: 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 103kW/242Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.5L/100km
CO2: 125g/km
Safety rating: Not tested

Also consider:
>> Ford Focus (from $23,390)
>> Mazda3 (from $20,490)
>> Volkswagen Golf (from $22,840)