Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite 2025 Review

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid doesn’t quite have the spread of models available in non-hybrid versions of the i30.

Instead, it’s limited to the base model – known simply as i30 – and a better equipped Elite. Whereas non-hybrid i30 sedans are currently sourced from the Czech Republic, hybrid models come from Hyundai’s home base in South Korea.

The i30 Hybrid is $33,000 plus on-road costs (ORCs) and the i30 Elite Hybrid tested here is $37,500 plus ORCs. That makes them $4000 more than their equivalent non-hybrid variants and pops them in the mix with their key competitor, the Toyota Corolla sedan, which is priced from $32,340 to $40,260 plus ORCs.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid is available in two trim levels, each towards the more basic end of the i30 scale. That means buyers looking for a little more luxury miss out on some of the trimmings.

Both feature alloy wheels (16-inch on the regular i30 and 17s on the Elite), a wireless charging pad, heated exterior mirrors, front and rear parking sensors and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as standard.

Because the hybrid and non-hybrid models are sourced from different factories there are some curious specification differences.

The hybrid picks up some features the regular i30 misses out on, such as dual-zone ventilation and rain-sensing wipers.

However, it misses out on the one-touch window up/down function of non-hybrid i30s.

The regular i30 gets cloth seat trim.

The Elite trim builds on that with partial leather seats (it’s a mix of real and faux), smart key entry, satnav, ambient lighting and a ‘sounds of nature’ function for some calming background audio.

Whereas petrol-only i30s get a full-size spare, the packaging of the battery in the hybrid means there’s only room for a space saver.

The i30 Sedan Hybrid is covered by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with the hybrid battery separately covered for eight years. Service intervals are every 12 months or 15,000km, with capped-price servicing available through Hyundai dealers. Servicing for the first five years or 75,000km costs $2170.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid matches non-hybrid models for occupant protection.

There are six airbags (dual front, front side and side curtain) and a strong and effective crash structure.

Active safety features vary between the two hybrid model variants.

Both get autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bike protection as well as junction and turning functionality. There’s also lane-keep assist, auto high beam and driver attention monitoring.

But only the Elite gets blind-spot warning, which adds sensors that also provide rear cross-traffic alert and safe exit warning. The Elite also gets an emergency call function as part of the Bluelink remote connectivity.

The i30 sedan only gets a three-star ANCAP safety rating, largely because of the timing of the test.

The current-shape i30 sedan arrived in 2020 and was never tested. Then the ANCAP protocols got a whole lot tougher, and the safety organisation decided to test the car to those later protocols. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t get a great score.

Delve into the results and as ANCAP points out, “the performance of Safety Assist limited the i30 Sedan to three stars”. That Safety Assist rating is focused on crash avoidance tech, not how the car performs in a barrier crash test.

It’s also worth pointing out that there would almost certainly be some cars still on sale tested to older ANCAP protocols rated as five-star cars that would likely lose that rating if they were tested to the later protocols.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Elite Sedan Hybrid embraces the digital age with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and matching 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That’s a step up from the less impressive 8.0-inch centre screen and analogue gauges of the base i30.

That instrument cluster changes colour depending on the drive mode and you can tailor the information displays to your preferences, from the energy flow of the hybrid system to the tyre pressure display.

The central infotainment screen is occasionally delayed in its responses, something that seemed to occur more soon after start-up.

There’s a USB-A and USB-C port in the centre console and another two USB-C ports for those in the rear.

The Elite also picks up an auto-dimming electrochromatic interior rear vision mirror and side mirrors that fold when the car is locked.

Hyundai’s Bluelink connected car services is also part of the Elite package. It allows remote monitoring of the car via a smartphone app as well as the ability to send a destination to the car via your phone. It can also integrate your digital calendar and remotely activate the doors as well as windscreen and mirror defogging.

Under the bonnet of the 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor and a 1.32-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.

The petrol engine produces a modest 77kW and 147Nm (it’s been tuned for efficiency), while the electric motor adds another 32kW and 170Nm. Combined system output is 104kW and 265Nm.

Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, balancing smooth power delivery with solid efficiency.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid is impressively efficient. Hyundai claims a combined cycle fuel use of just 3.9L/100km, matching that of its closest rival, the Toyota Corolla. CO2 emissions are rated at 92g/km.

Around town, that claimed consumption drops to an even more impressive 2.8L/100km, making it one of the most economical small cars on sale.

We weren’t able to replicate those figures (most cars don’t), instead returning a still-great 4.9L/100km in mostly suburban driving with plenty of higher speed freeway running.

Still, with its 42-litre fuel tank that means you should get close to 1000km between top-ups. The hybrid also runs on regular unleaded petrol.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite may not have much power but performance is thoroughly respectable thanks to the torque of the electric motor.

The full 170Nm of electric propulsion kicks in almost instantly for a lusty take off. Keep your right foot planted and the petrol engine quickly fires to life, promptly breaking the near-silence and adding some aural drama, but it keeps the enthusiasm going. Sure, there’s only 104kW of combined power, but the 265Nm of torque has a bigger impact.

There’s the occasional stutter at low speeds as the twin-clutch auto shifts from first to second, but for the most part it’s well sorted.

There are three drive modes: Eco, Sport and Smart, all useful depending on what you’re trying to achieve.

Sport sharpens the throttle response nicely while Smart finds a decent middle ground that monitors how you’re driving.

Riding on 17-inch wheels helps with soaking up smaller imperfections while well-sorted suspension maintains good body control and comfort levels, albeit with some mild tyre noise at speed. You sit quite low in the cabin, which makes for something of a sporty flavour.

Steering is well weighted, cementing what is a composed and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite’s fastback-style silhouette still makes for decent space inside.

Up front you sit quite low but have decent vision and good adjustability of the driver’s seat.

The seats are supportive and the grab handle on the passenger side of the centre console can be useful for both the driver and front seat passenger.

Physical buttons for the ventilation and audio system make it easy to adjust commonly used features. In an era of pixel overload and tech for tech’s sake, it’s all refreshingly normal!

The slew of grey plastics presents well but doesn’t feel as enticing, being fairly hard to the touch.

But some silver highlights add to the basic but honest aesthetic.

Those in the rear are also well catered for with space, although the raised centre seat isn’t overly welcoming.

The hybrid’s boot gets the same 474-litre capacity of the petrol model.

And the back seats also split fold 60/40, which works well for long items, but bulky items will struggle to get past the small fixed opening between the boot and seats.

The 2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite mounts a strong case for those looking for a competent small car that doesn’t slurp fuel.

The hybrid system may not be very powerful but makes up for it with solid pulling power where it’s needed and excellent fuel efficiency.

It lays the foundation for a car that’s competent and comfortable.

It’s not perfect, though, with some occasional lagginess to the touchscreen and a transmission that can stumble when accelerating hard at low speeds.

And the lack of luxury model variants may leave some looking elsewhere.

But as a well-priced all-rounder there’s lots to like with the i30 hybrid.

2025 Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid Elite at a glance:
Price: $37,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 77kW/147Nm (electric motor: 32kW/170Nm)
Combined output: 104kW/265Nm
Transmission: Six-speed twin-clutch automatic
Fuel: 3.9L/100m (ADR Combined)
CO2: 92g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Three stars (ANCAP 2024)

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