Hyundai i30 review

New for 2020 is a refreshed and lightly revised Hyundai i30, complete with some mild-hybrid gubbins and a slightly edgier new face.

This update hasn't changed the basic DNA of the car. It's still a reliable and solid family hatchback with an impressive five-year warranty.

It's a Volkswagen Golf rival through and through, and a worthy one too. Other cars it goes up against include the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf.

Hyundai i30 2020 refresh

Let's talk about the new face. Manufacturers update cars midway through a life cycle in order to keep things looking fresh - and it's certainly worked with the i30. If you compare new with old you'll notice a new nose, LED lights, and a reshaped rear bumper.

Inside it's much the same as before too, except that the infotainment is dealt with by a new 10.25-inch touchscreen on top of the dashboard. It's slick and easy to use and really brings the i30 up to date.

Underneath the bonnet, there is a revised engine lineup. Now there's just one diesel and two petrol engines on offer. All three are mild-hybrids, and feature Hyundai's clever iMT transmission. Read more about this in the engine section.

While Hyundai has also been busy with the acronyms, adding a suite of safety kit like LFA (Lane Following Assist) and LVDA (Leading Vehicle Departure Alert). Read more about these in the safety section.

Simple interior is packed with kit

While the i30 isn't an upmarket proposition in the same way as the Audi A3 Sportback, we’re nevertheless impressed by the quality of the latest i30, particularly the robust nature of its construction. 

Its interior is nicely finished in the areas your hands come into contact with the most, with a large central touchscreen perched on top of the dash. Overall it's a simple design that makes it very easy to get used to and operate on the move thanks to large, clear buttons and a solid feel to everything. It could do with a bit more colour and flair though, it's all very grey and ordinary to look at.

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It’s also incredibly quiet on the move whichever engine you choose. There are three available in the regular line-up - a 1.0-litre T-GDi three-cylinder petrol, a 1.5-litre T-GDi four-cylinder petrol and a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel, all of which are turbocharged and mild hybrid. Automatic and manual gearboxes are on offer, and while it's not quite as entertaining to drive as a Focus or Mazda 3, it’s not far behind and feels safe and confidence-inspiring on the road, much like the Golf.

Lots of safety gear and space

That assuredness is accentuated by the introduction of a raft of driver assistance and safety systems, with lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition and autonomous emergency braking available. These combine to bring the i30 into line with the top players in the field, while in typical Hyundai fashion the trim levels feature lots of kit as standard, which means there aren’t many optional extras to choose from.

The lineup has been redressed, and now there are merely three regular trim levels to choose from - SE Connect, Premium, and N Line. It’s a practical car, too, with enough space for four adults and a generous and flexible boot - one of the biggest in hatchbacks of this type.

Hyundai five-year warranty

The i30 also comes with Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and the firm’s reputation for building incredibly reliable cars. So what’s not to like? For the majority of car buyers, not a huge amount. It isn’t the last word in exciting driving and the rear seats don’t fold flat, but in the main we can see great appeal here.

Hot Hyundai i30 N

While the regular i30 can be criticised for being a bit vanilla, the same definitely can’t be said for the i30 N – the brand’s first proper hot hatch, producing 275hp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the spiciest N Performance form. There was also a 250hp standard model, but that was discontinued to focus attention on the quicker of the pair. It takes the fight to a raft of incredibly capable, engaging and exciting hot hatchbacks, with the help of the man who used to be Vice President of Engineering at BMW’s M division. Hyundai’s not messing around here.

Despite Hyundai's slightly applicance-like reputation, the i30 N offers an involving driving experience that feels more than a match for some of the best in class - alongside the more traditional Hyundai pillars including value, generous equipment levels and of course a five-year warranty. It is genuinely exciting on the move, with pin-sharp responses and a ferocious sound to the exhaust.

Click through the next few pages to read everything you need to know about the Hyundai i20 including its practicality, how much it costs to run, what it's like to drive – and whether we recommend buying one.