Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai i30 Turbo review

Don't expect too much performance and the Hyundai i30 Turbo warm hatch will impress

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Hyundai i30
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

As a warm hatch, the Hyundai i30 Turbo works well. It drives nicely and doesn’t sacrifice comfort for performance. It’s got a kit list longer than your arm, and thanks to the fact it’s available with five doors, should be easy to live with day-to-day. It’s no Golf GTI, but compared with similarly-priced rivals, the Turbo is an attractive proposition.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The charge of the lukewarm hatch is in full swing. The Peugeot 308 GT, SEAT Leon FR and Kia Cee’d GT all offer practicality, performance and reasonable running costs, as well as sporty looks and slightly sharper dynamics. But now Hyundai wants a slice of the half-fat pie – with this new Hyundai i30 Turbo.

Based on the new facelifted i30, the Turbo is available with three or five doors. Styling upgrades include 18-inch alloy wheels, a sports bodykit, twin exhausts and LED rear lights. Hyundai expects to shift around 600 units each year over here, accounting for around four per cent of UK i30 sales.

With a relatively modest 184bhp, it’s not designed to challenge the VW Golf GTI or Ford Focus ST, but as a toned-down hot hatch the Turbo works well. It carries over the 1.6-litre petrol engine from the now defunct Veloster Turbo.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

I30

2015 Hyundai

I30

89,229 milesManualDiesel1.6L

Cash £4,995
View I30
I30

2020 Hyundai

I30

22,333 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £13,800
View I30
I30

2023 Hyundai

I30

24,220 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £15,399
View I30
I30

2023 Hyundai

I30

8,047 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £18,499
View I30

Body control is good and it’s got loads of grip. It never feels enormously fast, but keep the revs high and the turbo spooled and the i30 can be hustled along at a decent clip. The gear change is positive and it’s nicely damped too, with the standard-fit half-leather sports seats offering decent support on all road surfaces.

But while grip is impressive, the adjustable-weight steering does nothing to enhance the car’s sporting feel. Flick through the different setups – Comfort, Normal and Sport – and you’ll struggle to decipher which is which. The brakes don’t offer as much bite as rivals and the sound from the twin exhausts is a bit tame – but given the modest power output, these aren’t exactly deal breakers.

Like the i20 and i40, everything you could realistically want comes as standard. There’s only one trim, one engine and one gearbox to choose from, with all cars getting touchscreen nav, dual zone climate control and even a reversing camera as standard. Half leather heated sports seats, Bluetooth and cruise control are also included.

Running costs aren’t that competitive, though. Considering its 18bhp power deficit over the Peugeot 308 GT, you’d expect superior fuel economy and lower emissions – but the i30 Turbo only manages 38.7mpg and emissions of 169g/km of CO2. The Peugeot will return 50.4mpg and emit 130g/km, however, at £1,000 less like-for-like, the Hyundai is cheaper to buy.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Deputy editor

Richard has been part of the team for over a decade. During this time he has covered a huge amount of news and reviews for Auto Express, as well as being the face of Carbuyer and DrivingElectric on Youtube. In his current role as deputy editor, he is now responsible for keeping our content flowing and managing our team of talented writers.

New & used car deals

Hyundai I30

Hyundai I30

RRP £17,995Used from £10,750
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025