Hyundai i30 SR 2016 Review

Hyundai i30 SR
Local Launch Review
Hunter Valley, NSW

Hyundai's i30 SR small hatch has been given a revamp that is mostly cosmetic. Yet it serves as an opportunity to re-visit and potentially create a stepping-stone model ahead of the Korean company's Focus RS-challenging hot-hatch, the i30 N, due next year. Priced from $26,550, is the 124kW Korean up to the task?

There are cars that fall through the cracks for one reason or another, and as far as a road test goes, the i30 SR Series II is one of them. None were available to drive at the i30 Series II launch last year so we headed to the Hunter Valley in NSW to finally slot in between the wheels of the sporty model in the i30 range.

The i30 SR now gains leather seats and new paintwork but otherwise it's mechanically identical to the first series SR we tested here.

So what we have here is an i30 hatch that, since the first series model was introduced in 2013, has been given local suspension tuning, a 2.0-litre GDI engine that has not been used elsewhere in the i30 (until recently, when Korea liked the idea and introduced it to the domestic market) and a bit of extra bling.

Improved front seats with more bolstering to stop you sliding around while enjoying the dynamics of Hyundai's hatch are a nice touch. And during the launch drive we had a diversion to a private road where we could punt the i30 around without fear of being another speeding-ticket statistic.

Here the local suspension tuning became obvious – the hot-ish i30 Turbo we drove last year in Germany had plenty of grip but the chassis was set to understeer, and not much else. The 225/45 R17 Nexen Rodian 581 tyres on the SR may not have the grip of the Michelin Pilot Sports on the Turbo, but the chassis is more pliable. And this makes it more rewarding to drive enthusiastically.

If you approach a corner with too much pepper, you can lift off and the i30 comes back towards the apex. There's no playing with the throttle to adjust cornering angle as you go (there's just not enough punch) but at least the SR doesn't feel as though it leads with its nose all the time.

Another element of a rewarding driver's car is precise steering with good turn in and feel. Unfortunately the i30 SR's steering doesn't tick the boxes in any of those requirements. The steering does have three models to choose from, 'normal', 'comfort' and 'sport'. They all feel quite similar and none provide satisfying precision or feel.

Out on the public road loop, the i30 SR rides well. It's not a victim of low-profile tyres as some sporty cars can be, so you're not jarred into submission over each bump. It's a firm ride, but well controlled and supple.

The 2.0-litre GDI four-cylinder petrol engine likes to rev and acceleration is linear. Peak torque lobs in at 4700rpm, and it feels like it when you're in the mid-range and wanting to pile on some speed. Simply put, it needs more punch.

When cruising, the 2.0 GDI made for a pleasant, if not exciting core element of the powertrain. There's enough response and no nasty traits to make you wary of it but this is not really a sports car engine – perhaps not even a sporty engine.

As you upshift after giving it a bootful, the revs hang for a second, making you wonder if the accelerator got stuck. It's no big deal but again it doesn't help make this a rewarding engine for pressing on.

Fuel consumption indicated on the trip computer hit a high of 9.3L/100km with plenty of fast lapping of the private road, but settled to a very respectable 5.9L/100km on an easy highway cruise.

The six-speed manual had a good spread of ratios, and offered a precise, direct shift. It swapped cogs smoothly but while playing with the new paddle shifters in manual mode the automatic version changed up automatically when nearing redline. At times it seemed reluctant to downshift even when well within the rev band of the lower gear. In other words, avoid the auto if you relish involvement.

The interior changes are a pleasant addition to the SR models, and the fact you now get leather seats in the entry-level SR is a bonus – not bad for a sub-$27K apex attacker. The new, more heavily bolstered front seats don't envelop you with the firm hug of good sports car seats but certainly keep you from slithering all over the leather when cornering quickly.

The instruments and controls are all familiar i30 fare – very simple and logical to use. They don't have the large print for the visually impaired and big buttons of some Toyotas, but are just as easy to use.

The changes to the i30 SR are a fine if unexciting way to see the model out before the new i30 arrives next year.

Hyundai's hatch looks the part, the new interior is attractive and upgraded front seats do a pretty good job at making you feel like you're climbing into something athletic.

What is not so sporty is the powertrain and chassis, which relegate the i30 SR to luke-warm hatch at best. For a true Hyundai hot hatch, you'll have to wait for next year's 200kW i30 N.

2016 Hyundai i30 SR pricing and specifications:
Price: $26,550 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Output: 124kW/210Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 170g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
>> Ford Focus Sport (from $26,490 plus ORCs)
>> Holden Cruize SRi Z-Series (from $27,140 plus ORCs)
>> Mazda3 SP25 (from $25,190 plus ORCs)