Hyundai i30 hatch v Kia Cerato hatch 2024 Comparison

The Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato hatchbacks are both hugely popular, well-equipped and great-value small cars that represent smart buying.

With a broad model line-up, both are a similar size, share many components and are somewhat cousins, as Hyundai and Kia brands are both part of the larger parent company Hyundai Motor Group.

So, which one should you buy?

Our experts have driven the entry-level Hyundai i30 hatchback automatic and Kia Cerato S hatchback automatic – to help you choose between the two.

Based on pricing and equipment levels, yes. The entry-level 2024 Hyundai i30 hatchback with automatic transmission has a list price of $26,000 plus on-road costs, against the Kia Cerato S hatchback auto at $27,060 plus ORCs.

For the price difference, the Kia has front parking sensors, high-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as well as lane keep assist with passive steering that the Hyundai doesn’t have as standard.

The i30 has lane departure warning – not with steering like the Kia has – but adaptive cruise control and a speed limiter as standard that the Cerato S lacks.

Inside, the Kia also offers wireless smartphone connectivity, whereas the Hyundai features wired connectivity and a Qi wireless smartphone charger.

The Hyundai has alloy wheels with a full-size alloy spare where the Kia has steel wheels.

The 2024 Hyundai i30 hatch has better aftersales, but the Kia Cerato S is covered by a longer warranty.

The Kia Cerato has seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty compared to the i30’s five-year/unlimited coverage.

Both cars have 15,000km servicing intervals, but the Hyundai is cheaper for each service.

Kia also limits its service plan for up to seven years or 105,000km (whichever comes first) – Hyundai’s service plan has no mileage limit or time limit and is transferrable to the next owner.

It can be handed on to subsequent buyers for the life of the vehicle for decades, a good selling point for the i30 in the used car market.

Crash performance is always subjective, but benchmark safety assessments and model-specific standard features put the 2024 Hyundai i30 at an advantage over the Kia Cerato S.

The Hyundai i30 has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2017, while the Kia Cerato S has an inferior four-star rating, albeit based on a more recent 2019 assessment.

High-grade variants of the Cerato qualified for five stars at that time, helped by the inclusion of a more advanced autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system, and while the Cerato S picked up an improved system from April 2021, ANCAP hasn’t yet tested it.

Based on the original testing, Cerato S scored lower in vulnerable road user and ‘safety assist’ ANCAP test categories and has six airbags to the Hyundai i30’s seven.

The Cerato S can also be purchased with an optional Safety Pack – adding to the cost – which if standard would have seen it achieve a five-star rating.

For this reason, when looking at a used Cerato S it’s worth checking if it has the Safety Pack fitted.

As standard cars, the i30 wins the safety battle.

No. The 2024 Kia Cerato has a slightly longer wheelbase that enables marginally more cabin space than the Hyundai i30 hatch, but where the Cerato steps further ahead is via its larger, more flexible boot area that also has greater flexibility.

The Cerato hatchback has a larger 428-litre boot compared to the i30’s 395L, and it also has an adjustable floor and parcel shelf.

The second-row seating in both vehicles features a 60/40 split-fold and centre arm rest.

They also both have rear air vents, two ISOFIX child seat mounting points and three top tether strap anchorage points.

Both the Hyundai and Kia also have an adjustable steering column to set a comfortable driving position, supportive seats and good visibility from the driver’s seat including a reversing camera.

The entry-level 2024 Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato S hatchbacks each have a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, six-speed automatic transmission and are front-wheel drive.

The i30 is also available with a manual gearbox. it’s worth noting that Hyundai Australia plans to upgrade the i30 hatch later this year, with the 2.0-litre engine likely to be replaced by a better-performing and more fuel-efficient 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. A new-generation Cerato is also in development, though not due to launch until 2025.

For now, the Hyundai i30 has a minor power advantage over the Kia Cerato S – 120kW to 112kW – and more torque – 203Nm against 192Nm.

Both have the same 7.4L/100km official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure, but the i30 has slightly better highway economy (10.2 against the Cerato ’s 10.1L/100km) but worse urban consumption (5.9L plays the Cerato’s 5.7L/100km).

With a 50-litre fuel tank in both cars, distance between fuel stops is very similar.

Yes. As per the comfort section, both cars are similar in terms of achieving a good driving position.

In terms of dynamics, the 2024 Hyundai i30’s marginally smaller footprint, lighter weight and additional power make it a more athletic drive.

The Kia Cerato S weighs 1345kg for a power-to-weight ratio of 83kW per tonne. The i30 moves 1276kg, giving it a superior 94kW/tonne.

Both cars have the same front and rear suspension configurations, and 16-inch wheels – the alloys on the i30 a minor weight saving over the Kia’s steel wheels.

Expert Verdict: Hyundai i30 hatch v Kia Cerato hatch

There’s not much in it, but our experts favour the 2024 Hyundai i30 hatch over the Kia Cerato hatch – at the entry level of each respective range.

Add the optional safety pack on the Kia Cerato S and it becomes an even tighter contest for these two popular models.

How much does the Hyundai i30 hatch cost?
i30 2.0-litre petrol automatic – $26,000
*Price excludes on-road costs

How much does the Kia Cerato S hatch cost?
Cerato S petrol automatic – $27,060
*Price excludes on-road costs