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Sydney, Australia: Styled in Germany, manufactured in Korea and optimised around Australia’s unique driving conditions, the new Hyundai i30 is designed to excite the senses.

Designed to spearhead Hyundai’s growth in the European market, the i30 represents a new face for Hyundai in Australia. With several class-leading innovations and Hyundai’s traditional outstanding value, the i30 is destined to give all its competitors – including hybrids – a run for their money.
Hyundai i30 stand-out features include:

• Savvy European design – sleek and clean exterior, distinctive new front ‘face’, curvaceous side line, rising beltline and integrated rear styling.
• A choice of latest generation petrol and turbo-Diesel engines, the latter making hybrid levels of fuel economy affordable to all Australians.
• Suspension and steering dynamics specifically calibrated to appeal to the sportier mindset of today’s Australian hatchback drivers.
• Advanced safety equipment made affordable, including side and curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Program, ‘anti-whiplash’ headrests and seat belt reminders.
• Clean, functional and well-organised interior – built with the driver’s comfort and convenience in mind. Design highlights include flexible, space-efficient seating, blue instrument illumination, high quality finishes and a cool air-conditioned glovebox.
• Full iPod®/USB-compatible audio as standard, which allows the driver to operate an iPod® through the i30’s dash and steering wheel audio controls.

“The new i30 is a reflection of Hyundai’s world-class design capabilities with its inspired European styling, innovative iPod®/USB-compatible audio and outstandingly frugal turbo-Diesel engine. The i30 offers a suite of intelligent safety features and Australian-optimised suspension and steering, together with the class-leading quality and reliability for which Hyundai is increasingly recognised,” said Hyundai’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Kevin McCann.

Model range

Three variants of i30 are offered: SX, SLX and SR, each with 2.0 litre petrol power with either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The new turbo-Diesel with five-speed manual gearshift is available in SX and SLX models, and will be available with an automatic transmission in early 2008.

Hyundai benchmark value is clearly evidenced in i30 pricing* which spans $18,990 to $28,490, with the SX CRDi turbo-Diesel starting at a class-leading $21,490 - an astonishing $6,500 less than its closest rival, making it by far the best value diesel car in Australia.

The i30 takes Hyundai to the forefront of compact hatch design in styling, performance, economy and safety features, yet also achieves exceptional affordability through Hyundai’s leadership in efficient, high quality manufacturing.

European styling & design

Created in Hyundai Motor Europe’s design studio in Russelsheim in Germany, i30’s exterior styling uses strong character lines and a flowing profile to create an image of dynamism and agility, highlighted in the car’s broad stance, long wheelbase and short rear overhang.

The i30’s styling introduces a new ‘face’ for Hyundai with a slim, chrome-topped upper grille and a deeper main air intake below. Sleek new compound teardrop shape headlights extend back along the front guards while below them, body-colour rubbing strips eyebrow the front fog lights where fitted.

A sharp upper crease line runs straight back from the headlights and around the tail, neatly bisecting the dramatically styled tail lights, which sweep up the C-pillar to provide optimum visibility. A lower side line sweeps up towards the rear, mirroring the upswept window sill aft of the back doors.

Wheel arches are slightly flared and well filled out, especially with the SR’s 17-inch chrome alloy wheels.

Luxurious interior ambience

Inside, i30’s long wheelbase, generous cabin width and intelligent use of space result in an interior among the best in its class for space, comfort, practicality and quality ambience. European influences are evident in the interior design, with new shapes, details and finishes.

The dashboard is fully padded and finished with a fine grain, hi-tech texture, while new soft-touch switchgear ensures a high quality feel. The dash centre stack design features a satin finish, alloy-look surround which continues together with chrome and alloy-effect finishes throughout the cabin on SLX and SR models.
High quality materials, excellent fit and finish, the ergonomic placement of controls and the soft blue hue of its instrument illumination are all hallmarks of i30’s upmarket cabin ambience.

Power trains

The highlight of i30’s power train line-up is Hyundai’s first local offering of a turbo-Diesel engine in a traditional passenger car. Badged CRDi for Common Rail Direct injection, it is an outstandingly frugal yet torquey 1.6 litre, twin-cam, 16-valve four-cylinder engine with Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) to optimise both performance and economy, with low friction balancer shaft technology for smooth and quiet operation.

The i30 CRDi is ADR81/01-rated at a miserly 4.7 litres/100km, just 0.1 litre/100km more than the hybrid-electric Honda Civic.

Maximum torque is a hefty 255Nm between 1900 and 2750 rpm, while power peaks at 85kW at 4000rpm. The CRDi is paired with a compact, tri-axis five-speed manual transmission with sporty, short gear lever throws and evenly spread gear ratios for satisfyingly progressive acceleration. An automatic transmission will be available for the CRDi from early 2008.

i30’s petrol powerplant is a further upgrade of Hyundai’s Beta 2.0 litre, twin cam, 16-valve CVVT four cylinder, one of the most powerful engines in the class with maximum power and torque figures of 105kW at 6000rpm and 186Nm at 4600rpm respectively. This engine too delivers excellent efficiency with fuel economy of just 7.2 l/100km for the 5-speed manual and 7.6 l/100km for the 4-speed automatic.

The automatic transmission is driver-adaptive and features a step gate shift lever which simplifies shifting in manual gear selection, while revised programming and a torque converter with optimised lock-up system help cut fuel consumption and smoothen changes.

Advanced suspension - further refined for Australia

i30 suspension and steering have been specially calibrated for Australian driving conditions. This involved refining i30’s European settings to accommodate our multi-patched, lumpier, bumpier local roads.  

Testing was undertaken, both in Korea and in Australia, to specify the optimum combination of front and rear springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars, together with revised mapping of the control unit on the electric power steering system.  The components chosen for Australian i30s debut a combination that is unique in the world (although NZ cars will also share them).

The result is a considerably sportier driving experience but with enough built-in compliance to smooth out our rougher roads.  i30 has more neutral handling characteristics with no unexpected vices, with steering that benefits from increased weight and more feel.  It is a dynamic package fully in tune with i30's youthful target market in Australia.

i30’s suspension uses coil springs and gas shock absorbers in MacPherson struts at the front and a newly developed Independent ‘Torsion Blade’ multi-link rear suspension, configured to fit under i30’s short rear end.

i30’s independent Torsion Blade rear suspension incorporates upper arms and a fourth link each side and blade-type longitudinal links whose twist actions supplement the springs. The springs are separated from the shock absorbers, increasing boot room by allowing smaller wheelhouses. Optimised geometry incorporates an element of passive rear steer to balance the car’s natural understeer handling characteristics.

i30’s MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering) saves fuel by minimising energy loss compared to conventional hydraulic power steering. It is engine and road speed-sensitive and reads the driver’s steering wheel inputs and turning angle to optimise the level of assistance needed.

Front and rear disc brakes are large at 280mm and 262mm respectively. The long wheelbase reduces pitch while the wide wheel tracks translate into overall ride stability and enhanced balance.

NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) analysis has been a crucial aspect of i30’s development to ensure the ideal choice of absorption materials for each body part and to strengthen and reinforce the sub-frame and body panels. Then strategic padding was used to seal and isolate wind and vibration hotspots. Combined with the body’s extra strength and rigidity, the interior air management system adds to the distinctly quieter interior.

Equipment and features

Standard conveniences abound in i30 and include air conditioning with pollen filter, power windows on all doors, remote keyless entry with alarm and separate rear hatch opener, key-out headlights-off, roof console with map lights and sunglasses bin, slide-cover vanity mirrors in both sunvisors with illumination on SLX and SR, and a 12 volt power outlet.

i30 comes with an auxiliary jack for an iPod® plus a USB port and Auxiliary jack for other portable audio devices to play through the car’s MP3/WMA-compatible CD/FM/AM sound system. Radio reception is via a short ‘bee-sting’ aerial centrally mounted in the rear roof. A folding ignition key with integrated control pad, door deadlocks, an air-conditioned glovebox with penholder and heated door mirrors are other European-inspired touches.

The steering wheel integrates tabs for the audio and cruise control on SLX* and SR. The wheel adjusts for reach as well as tilt angle on all model variants.
The centre console features a two-level storage bin topped with a padded armrest. There are extra storage places in the dash centre stack and console – all lined with rubber mats or flocking to prevent rattles. There are magazine pockets behind the front seat backrests, map pockets on all doors and bottle holders integrated into the front doors.

Detail design touches add user-friendliness: Cup holders - two in the front centre console and, in SLX and SR, another two in their rear seat’s central pull-down armrest - all have rubber grip flaps to steady their drink containers.

i30 offers supportive seating, which includes height adjustment and lumbar adjustment (on SLX and SR) for the driver, horizontally as well as vertically adjustable ‘anti-whiplash’ front head restraints, and three height-adjustable wrapover rear head restraints which can retract down to enhance rear vision when not in use. Rear seat backrests are split 60/40 and fold forward to provide a large and versatile storage space.

Boot space of 340 litres with the rear seat backrests erected is large for the class, helped by unusually small rear wheel houses – a result of i30’s advanced rear suspension which avoids the strut tower intrusions of cheaper MacPherson strut set-ups on some other competitors.

* SLX 2.0 petrol only

Safe and secure

i30 builds on Hyundai’s growing safety credentials with body structure improvements to enhance front occupant lower leg protection and pedestrian impact safety. A special ‘C-pillar’ ring structure adds strength to the tailgate area. Rigid, reinforced bulkheads and ‘A’ and ‘B’ pillars and side impact structures all optimise crumple zones and impact load diffusion paths.

New, bolt-on ‘crash box’ extensions to the chassis rails behind the front bumper enhance i30’s frontal impact absorption ‘signature’ and reduce the repair cost of a low speed collision.

Helping i30 drivers to avoid a crash is the availability of key active safety features including ESP (Electronic Stability Program) with TCS (Traction Control System), Anti-skid Brake System (ABS) and agile handling.

ESP is a cutting-edge driving stability system which, along with ABS and TCS, improves handling by controlling brake pressure and engine output during dangerous manoeuvres such as abrupt avoidance turns at speed or too-severe acceleration and braking, particularly on slippery roads. Increasingly, ESP is being credited as a major factor in reducing single car crashes.

ESP and TCS are standard on i30 SR and optional as part of i30’s ‘Protectz’ packs on SX and SLX.

Passive safety is afforded by i30’s airbags with the two front airbags on SX augmented by two front seat-mounted side-impact thorax airbags and two cabin side curtain airbags on SLX and SR.

Hyundai’s ‘Protectz’ pack for i30 SX adds ESP, TCS and the curtain and front-side airbags for $1790*. When optioned with ‘Protectz’ pack, i30 SX 2.0 manual offers the most affordable access to ESP in the class at $20,780*.

For i30 SLX, with standard curtain and front-side airbags, the ‘Protectz’ option adds ESP and TCS for an extra $990*.

Active ‘anti-whiplash’ front-seat head restraints — which also adjust fore-aft as well as vertically — are a rare standard inclusion in the class and help prevent whiplash injury during a rear collision. They are highly recommended by safety and insurance organisations.

Models and pricing

i30 SX leads off at $18,990* for the 2.0 petrol manual and $20,780* with Protectz Pack. i30 SX 2.0 automatic is $20,990* and $22,780* with Protectz. SX CRDi (manual only from launch) is $21,490* and $23,280* with Protectz. All SX models come complete with ABS; dual front airbags; active four-way adjustable active ‘anti-whiplash’ front head restraints; three rear seat head restraints; pollen-filtering air-conditioning; power windows and heated door mirrors; remote entry with alarm; variable driver’s seat height; tilt-and reach adjustable steering wheel; deluxe centre console with armrest and bi-level concealed compartments; iPod® and other media player connectivity, USB compatible CD/MP3/WMA audio system with four speakers; ambient temperature and clock display; 15” wheels with 55 series tyres and luggage hooks in the boot.

i30 SLX adds front side and cabin side curtain airbags; 16” alloy wheels shod with wider 205 tyres; front fog lights, cruise control (2.0 petrol only); auto climate control; body-colour door handles; a steering wheel with leather rim, audio and cruise controls (2.0 petrol only) in the steering wheel; a leather and alloy-look gearshift knob; alloy-look inserts in centre console and steering wheel; trip computer; rear seat fold-down centre armrest with twin cup holders and additional twin tweeter speakers. i30 SLX 2.0 petrol manual is $23,490* and with Protectz $24,480*, while the automatic i30 SLX 2.0 petrol is $25,490* and $26,480* with Protectz. i30 CRDi SLX (manual only from launch) is $25,990* and with Protectz is $26,980*.

The range-topping i30 SR adds a distinctly sporting flavour, with standard ESP and TCS; 17” chrome finished alloys fitted with 225/45 performance tyres; a body kit comprising side skirts and rear roof spoiler; a boot luggage net and leather trimmed seat bolsters, door trim inserts and alloy sports pedals with rubber inserts. The audio unit is an in-dash 6 CD stacker with digital external amplifier for premium sound quality. i30 SR 2.0 petrol manual is $26,490* and the automatic is $28,490*.

As with all Hyundai models, a class-leading warranty is testament to the outstanding build quality and reliability of i30. New i30 owners will enjoy the peace of mind of Australia’s first five-year new car warranty with unlimited kilometres, a sure sign of Hyundai’s confidence in the excellence of its products.

SLX 2.0 petrol only *denotes recommended retail price excluding on-road costs

Diesel Compact Hatch Comparison (ADR 81/01)

Source: JATO / manufacturers’ web sites