Auto-biographies Hyundai i30
by Tim Barnes-Clay Motoring Writer at
www.carwriteups.co.uk
If looks could kill then you’ve got no worries if you drive the Hyundai i30 Tourer. Put it this way; the car’s practical, but it’s no oil painting. Harsh of me? Probably. And let’s face it, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn’t look like a bulldog chewing a wasp, but it has a bland, characterless presence – especially from behind. The ‘face’ of the South Korean produced model is only saved by the smart LED daytime driving lamps. Enough of my shallow thoughts about the i30’s appearance, let’s take a deeper journey into what the motor is all about.
Like its slightly older hatchback sibling, the latest generation Hyundai i30 Tourer, launched two years, off ers excellent levels of comfort, refi nement and effi ciency.
What’s more, the car adds a greater load- carrying capability to the i30’s overall package. Space is amongst the best in the class, with the Tourer boasting a larger luggage capacity than the majority of its key rivals.
But who’s it aimed at? Well, the i30 Tourer is able to meet the demands of both retail and fl eet customers as it off ers versatility along with a range of clean and fuel effi cient engines. Running costs are also low, not only compared with the older pre-2012 i30 Estate, but with major competitors too.
There is a choice of two engines in the range, with motorists able to choose either the 120PS petrol unit, or alternatively the 1.6 CRDi diesel in the form of a 110PS or a higher-powered 128PS variant. Both engines are coupled to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The car on test here is the fl agship ‘Style Nav’ 1.6 CRDi 128PS version, with a manual gearbox.
24
Like the hatchback, the i30 Tourer comes specifi ed with a generous list of standard features.
Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition, multi-function
wheel and air
conditioning, body coloured door handles and mirrors, along with those aforementioned LED daytime running lights.
The range-topping Style Nav model adds touch screen navigation plus a rear view parking camera. It also has alloy wheels - and luxury touches such as cruise control with speed limiter, parking sensors, electric rear windows, climate control and a leather steering wheel and gear knob.
Slip behind the wheel, and there are no major complaints apart from the lack of a lumbar support adjustment. That said, the seats are moulded nicely and it’s easy to achieve a good driving position. The binnacle houses clear and simple dials and the car’s fuel gauge takes forever to shift from full. It’s just a shame some cheap looking cabin plastics are in keeping with the car’s unexceptional exterior. The touch screen navigation system isn’t that intuitive and therefore frustrates, but, like all things, once you get the hang of how the gadgetry works, it’s fi ne.
There’s more technology to spice things up on the steering wheel too. Unlike the satnav, there’s a simple button you can push that changes the steering feel from normal to sporty. I kept it in ‘sport’ mode because in an otherwise bland, albeit practical and effi cient vehicle, it off ers a welcome spark of dynamism to the drive.
The catalogue of kit includes: steering
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100