Hyundai’s i30s were on Australian roads well before that other piece of pop culture from South Korea that saw us all dancing like lunatics (Gangnam Style, for those who were living under a rock during that craze a few years back).  What’s more, the i30 is likely to be around for longer, especially now that Hyundai has taken it up another notch with the i30 SE, where the SE stands for Special Edition.

The Hyundai i30 SE is the sort of car that is likely to appeal to the younger driver – or the older driver with an empty nest and a sense of fun.  It’s one of the smaller offerings in the Hyundai range, being a sizzling little five-door hatchback that’s practical and easy to drive, with more than just a hint of sporty styling in the exterior (love those angular front fog lamps, one of the special features of the Hyundai i30 SE).

So what puts the Hyundai i30 SE into the special category and separates it from the regular i30?  The answer here is in all the little details – and we all know that it’s the little things that count.  All these little things (to reference another pop song from a few years back) make more than just a little list.

The little list starts with the wheels: 16-alloys and a full-sized spare wheel instead of one of those slightly dodgy space-savers.  Above those delicious angled fog lights, you’ll find foldable mirrors with LED repeaters (repeaters are extra indicators, in case you haven’t encountered this term before).  At the other end of the car, you’ll find a rear spoiler, again with integrated LED lighting.  On the inside, the list continues with leather appointed seats, and a premium multifunction steering wheel and gear knob.  Other things on the list of things that put the special into the Hyundai i30 SE are things that you experience rather than see – things like the electronic stability control with traction control, the stability management package and the keyless entry (when you get down to it, you’d have to add the reverse park assist sensors and the five-inch colour display screen as features that you can see).  Bluetooth integration with audio streaming and iPod compatibility round out the entertainment package.

However, it doesn’t matter what special features a car has when the rubber hits the road (quite literally in this case).  A car has to actually be a vehicle, something that goes from A to B. So what has the Hyundai i30 SE got in this department?  There are two basic engine choices: the 1.8-litre petrol and the 1.6 CRDi.  Let’s start with the 1.6 CRDi, to take them in alphabetical order.  This is a common-rail turbo diesel that can be harnessed to the front wheels either via automatic or 6-speed manual transmission.  The power output of this thrifty little diesel is 94 kW at 4000 rpm and it also delivers a respectable 260 Nm of torque at 1900, all for a combined fuel economy figure of 4.5 L/100 km with the manual transmission.  On the other hand, the 1.8 is an in-line four cylinder DOHC petrol engine, and it comes with either type of transmission.  The power in the 1.8-litre petrol version is higher than its diesel sibling at 107 kW at 6500 rpm, but lags behind the diesel in the torque department (don’t let’s start a petrol versus diesel debate now) with 175 Nm at 4700 rpm.  Fuel economy in the petrol version is 6.8 litres combined in the manual.

In short, if you’re a driver who wants a sound car that doesn’t cost the earth to run or to purchase, but you want plenty of bells and whistles, then the Hyundai i30 SE is well worth consideration.  This writer, for one, would be more than happy to own one.

Current model series include:

• Hyundai i30 SE 1.6 CRDi
• Hyundai i30 SE 1.8

For any more information on the Hyundai i30 SE, 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 quotes requests out to our national network of Hyundai dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!