Hyundai i30: 1,167 miles

Like many people, I try to do my bit to be environmentally friendly. I reuse my supermarket shopping bags and recycle as much as I can. So I was pleased to get my hands on the keys to our new Hyundai i30, with its eco-friendly diesel engine, for my daily commute.

The Korean firm has tweaked the powerplant, which now emits only 119g/km of CO2. That’s better for the environment and the purse! Road tax costs £35 a year and company car drivers can also make great savings.

And the early signs are that performance hasn’t suffered. My new i30 is excellent cruising on the motorway, even when fully laden. And it copes really well with the grind of city traffic.

Having previously run the Estate version of the i30, I already know what a great package it is, and so far I can’t fault the hatchback. While I prefer the look of the load-lugger, the five-door is still an attractive design.

There is ample space inside, with the same impressive rear legroom, and the boot swallows the weekly supermarket shop with ease. My only gripe with the Estate concerned its rather notchy gearbox – so I’m happy to report that there’s nothing wrong with the shift of my latest car, which is both light and smooth.

Our i30 hatch is the mid-range Style spec, so it misses out on a few of the luxuries the flagship Premium trim Estate came fitted with. Standard equipment is still generous, however, so the transition has been easy – although I now have cloth upholstery rather than the leather I had become quite attached to.

Air-conditioning is fitted, and while the buttons which operate it don’t look as stylish as the full climate control system I’m used to, it’s very effective. The glovebox still doubles up as a chiller, keeping drinks cold and chocolate solid, too. Ironically, given this car’s more compact dimensions, what I’m missing most are the parking sensors on my previous model.

I’m still adjusting to the reduced length of my new hatch, and often find myself leaving plenty of space behind when reversing into spaces.

By way of compensation, I’m getting better fuel economy out of the 1.6-litre engine – 45.2mpg is a great return for a car that spends so much time in traffic.

Let’s hope I can keep this wallet-friendly figure as high as possible in the months ahead!

Extra Info

Hyundai has come a long way in a short time. I was reminded of just how far  after a few days behind the wheel of the i30 when I stopped to collect a few friends. Initially, I was given a lukewarm reception when I told them what car I was in. Then they saw it. By the time we hit our destination, they were all converts. That probably explains why its dealers are rushed off their feet meeting demand from Scrappage Scheme buyers.

Conor Mills
Motoring writer