Designing a brand new car must be like reinventing the chocolate cake. It already tastes good, is gooey in the middle and offers the right ingredients to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Hyundai’s new i30 had to come up with a new design brief that was going to taste even better, still boast an interior with all the right items to keep up with modern trends and still appeal to a diverse set of new car buyers. Answering these sorts of questions, Hyundai set out to reinvent the i30.

Going great guns, the new Hyundai i30 fizzes along nicely. A blend of new bubbly engines make the driving experience fun and the aftertaste a lingering pleasure. Noticeable power gains for the new Hyundai 1.6-litre CRD diesel engine is proven by plenty of zip in the mid-range. Torque now peaks at 255 Nm, while power takes a hike up to 94 kW. Other models feature a 1.8-litre, NU-series, petrol engine that has fuel injection and 110 kW.

Flex Steer is a new feature that really enhances the drive. The Hyundai i30’s chunky steering wheel has a button that allows the driver to choose the way the i30 will feel in the road. Three modes control the car’s electronic power steering. Poking the button is fun, and it’s excellent to experience the steering become lighter and easier to flick in and out of parks in town (Comfort mode), while another poke will set the steering up for being wonderfully weighty for the sporty drive on the open road (Sport mode). Normal mode is for the mundane drives where nothing much happens and you are listening to the radio shows on the way to the supermarket.

Inside, the new Hyundai i30 is fresh and modern. An inviting, sophisticated look might be a good way of describing the i30’s cabin. Alloy detailing adds plenty of class to the well organised dash that features a centre console rimmed in glossy silver. Easy to use switchgear and buttons, a multi-function display screen and a good deep storage space for small items straight away make the Hyundai i30 practical and easy to live with. Striking dash lines and sculptured air vents all add up to what is a clear winner for interior design.

With the introduction of the new Hyundai i30 there comes more space. The slick, balanced exterior looks bigger than it actually is, however Hyundai have snuck a few extra mm to the overall i30 length. This new Hyundai i30 is marginally larger than the model it is replacing. A gain of 24 mm in the i30’s length has helped the cabin space become larger, while the room in the boot has jumped from 340 to 378 litres. Folding the seats down can create a volume of 1316 litres for swallowing a lot of luggage. Height has been dropped by 28 mm – perhaps this adds to the cars longer, swooped looks.

The Hyundai i30 begins with an entry model that boasts the 1.8-litre engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. Other models use the same crisp six-speed manual or a fine six-speed automatic alternative. Top of the range is a Hyundai i30 CRDi Premium. Every Hyundai i30 comes with air-conditioning, iPod/USB and Bluetooth, a push button brake, cruise control and stacks of five-star safety features. Elite means the best in luxury, so with these models you will enjoy leather upholstery, heated front seats, auto folding exterior mirrors, “welcome home” lights and a reversing camera that automatically comes on once reverse has been selected. Premium i30 models add to the Elite’s list with things like HID Xenon headlights and a panoramic glass roof.

Like many new Hyundai designs, they look so good. This new i30 hatch has pronounced wheel arches, a long sweeping roofline and modern styling that looks dynamic and sporty. It’s going to appeal to many new car buyers who are looking for a very affordable hatch with eye-catching design and top features.

The current Hyundai i30 models include the:

• i30 Active
• i30 Elite
• i30 Premium

For any more information on the new Hyundai i30 or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Hyundai dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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