Skip advert
Advertisement

Hyundai i30 review - Interior, design and technology

Despite a few quality issues inside, the i30 feels well built and nicely designed. The clear infotainment screen is a boon, too

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.5 out of 5

Interior, design and technology Rating

4.1 out of 5

Price
£22,680 to £27,830
Find your Hyundai i30
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

The Hyundai i30 has been designed, developed and tested in Europe, specifically for European buyers. While that clearly affects the way the car handles on broken and uneven UK roads, it also has a bearing on how owners interact with the simple and well laid-out interior. 

All models come with a touchscreen now that the base S spec is no longer available (it only had a dated-looking radio screen). The touchscreen measures eight inches on SE Connect, and 10.25 inches elsewhere. Both versions get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the top version also gets Hyundai’s inbuilt sat nav system. The car feels solidly put together, though some scratchy plastics do let down what is an otherwise considered interior design.

On the outside, this new i30 represents the brand’s new design language with a fresh cascading grille and bold LED headlights. It’s not as arresting as a Renault Megane, or even as striking as the SEAT Leon, but it’s easily a match for nondescript rivals like the Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus. Neat LED tail-lights give the car a distinctive signature at night. 

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

There are plenty of tech options available on Hyundai’s latest i30, including all the latest connectivity boons. Lots of safety kit is included as standard, while things like Rear Cross Traffic Alert is available on top-spec cars.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The touchscreen system is clear and quick to respond, despite dated-looking graphics, while the live services, such as traffic, weather and speed camera alerts, make life on the road easier. A seven-year free subscription to Hyundai’s Live Services comes as standard, while wireless phone charging is also included on SE Nav.

We found it easy to pair our phone and use the connectivity apps available, while the decent screen also means the reversing camera gives a nicely detailed image, which makes manoeuvring easier. Hot keys mounted at the bottom of the screen also make it relatively simple to jump to certain areas of the system. Moving the buttons from the sides of the screen has also modernised the interior a little.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0T GDi SE Connect 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £21,720

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.6 CRDi SE Connect 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £21,891

Fastest

  • Name
    2.0T GDi N Drive N 5dr DCT
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £36,631
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024