Hyundai i30 upgrade officially on sale

Hyundai Australia has revealed full details of its Series II i30 hatchback range for 2015.

The facelifted small car has undergone a subtle facelift to introduce Euro 5-compliant engines, a revised model hierarchy, improved equipment and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission – optional for the i30 Active diesel and standard for the flagship i30 Premium diesel.

A revised grille is the major point of difference for the update, with the entry-level i30 Active distinguished from other grades by black and satin-chrome highlights. Wheel covers for the base-grade i30's 16-inch steel wheels have been restyled, further distinguishing the Active level of trim in the upgraded i30 from other grades.

Replacing the previous i30 Elite mid-range grade is the new SR level of trim, which has also spawned an SR Premium variant roughly comparable to the Premium grade flagship that is now available in diesel only. The mid-range and flagship variants can be identified by new daytime running lights, a grille finished in gunmetal grey/satin-chrome combination and LED tail light clusters. In addition, SR and SR Premium feature chrome window moulding along the waist, a lower diffuser in the rear bumper and a panoramic sunroof. The SR/SR Premium and Premium variants come with 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, in a new design.

Equipment has been added across the range, with the i30 Active gaining a reversing camera as standard and an upgraded infotainment system. The infotainment system now comprises a five-inch touch screen, MP3-compatible six-speaker audio, media ripping/storage and Pandora Internet Radio from a smartphone.

Largely specified as per the superseded i30 Elite, the new i30 SR grade gains LED daytime running lights. The i30 SR Premium (petrol only) and i30 Premium (diesel only) offer the same features as the previous model's Premium grade, but also with air-ventilated front seats.

Engines have been tweaked for the update i30. The port-injected 1.8-litre petrol engine in the i30 Active continues to produce 107kW and 175Nm, but fuel consumption is now 0.2 litres more than before, at 7.0L/100km (manual) and 7.3L/100km (auto).

Available in the i30 SR and Premium grades, the direct-injected 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder has dropped power and torque (down 3kW to 124kW, and down 8Nm to 201Nm). But as with the smaller petrol engine, the 2.0-litre uses slightly more fuel – 0.1 litre more for the manual, at 7.3L/100km and a 0.2-litre increase for the auto at 7.7L/100km.

The 1.6-litre diesel gets a power boost of 6kW to 100kW. Torque for the manual variant remains at 260Nm, but the introduction of the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has allowed Hyundai to hike torque 40Nm to 300Nm for the self-shifting model. The dual-clutch transmission actually brings fuel consumption down 0.7 litres – now at 4.9L/100km for the diesel with DCT. In contrast, the diesel manual variant (available in i30 Active trim only) is 0.1 litres less frugal, for a combined-cycle figure of 4.6L/100km.

Exterior colours are: Creamy White, Sleek Silver (metallic), Hyper Silver (metallic), Phantom Black (pearl), Stone Blue (pearl), Dazzling Blue (pearl) and Brilliant Red (pearl). The i30 Active is upholstered in black fabric, as is the i30 SR. SR Premium and Premium models are trimmed in black leather.

Prices for the updated i30 range:
Active 1.8 manual – $20,990
Active 1.8 auto – $23,290
Active 1.6 (diesel) manual – $23,590
Active 1.6 (diesel) DCT – $25,890
SR 2.0 manual – $25,590
SR 2.0 auto – $27,890
SR Premium 2.0 manual – $30,590
SR Premium 2.0 auto – $32,890
Premium 1.6 (diesel) DCT – $34,490