The i30 was originally only awarded a four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating which was disappointing considering its sister car – the Kia Ceed – gained five. The safety organisation highlighted that there could be injuries from the dashboard and to the knees. However the car was retested in August 2008 following improvements made by Hyundai (to improve the protection of the driver’s knees and femurs) and was awarded a five-star rating.

The boot is a decent size and with 340 litres of space it can easily deal with a couple of small suitcases. The downside is that there is quite a high lip and the opening isn’t especially wide, which makes loading heavier and bulkier items trickier. That said, the seats fold totally flat quickly and simply, which turns the i30 into a practical family car – bikes and large boxes should fit in the back.

In the cabin there are kangaroo pockets in the backs of the seats for storing maps, a box underneath the driver’s armrest plus a small pop-down box in the dash. The glovebox is air conditioned – ideal for keeping snacks and drinks chilled in the summer.