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The i30 is powered a range of newly developed engines: 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol units and the 1.6-litre diesel that was fitted to our test car. The oilburning powerplant is definitely punchy enough for the car, generating 113bhp at 4,000rpm and 188lb-ft of torque at 1,900-2,750rpm. These aren’t huge figures, but they’re certainly plenty for a family hatch such as the i30. Performance, while not exactly as sporty as Hyundai suggests, is more than competent, with enough low-end torque and sufficient pull in the mid-range to make overtaking straightforward enough. The engine itself is also refined enough to make the i30 pleasant enough to drive, without too much of the intrusive, clattery noise in the cabin that owners of diesels have been used to over the years.

Kia and Hyundai have made huge strides in the last few years in making their cars ride and handle to match those engineered and built in Europe. The i30 is the latest – and best – example of this phenomenon. The steering has an unexpectedly high amount of feel, both for a Korean car and one fitted with electric power steering. It doesn’t quite match the Ford Focus – the class leader by some margin in this area – but the i30 is still gratifying to drive on the open road. An accomplished chassis also means that there’s no real body roll to speak of, which means that corners and tight bends can be tackled with impunity. The quality of the i30’s ride, if anything, is even more impressive than the handling. Softly sprung, and with a fully independent rear suspension, the i30 is supple but well controlled, even on the most undulating and broken surfaces. Very impressive.

Hyundai has put together a substantial car that matches the best that European carmakers – and Volkswagen springs to mind here – can produce. Build quality is certainly impressive, especially in the light of the cheap-feeling vehicles that the company has manufactured in the past. Everything seems well screwed together and the exterior has a comforting solidity to it: there’s that satisfying ‘thunk’ of heaviness when you slam the door, for example. The interior is also a break with the past for Hyundai: soft-touch materials are used on the surfaces of the dashboard and doors, easily matching those used by the leading cars in the class. A nice touch is Hyundai’s use of blue lighting in the instruments, which adds an air of modernity and sophistication previously unseen in the company’s products. Add in a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty, and it’s safe to say that i30 buyers will think that they’ve bagged themselves a solid, reliable machine.

Hyundai say that safety was a major consideration when it was developing the i30, as it’s serious about challenging the European carmakers on their terms. As a result, results of crash-testing by Euro NCAP have been excellent, with five stars for adult occupant protection, four for child occupants and two for pedestrian impact, easily placing the car among the best in its class. Part of the reason for this result is that the i30’s safety structure includes deformable zones and an occupant protection cell, with extra structural rigidity from reinforced A-pillars, a strengthened bulkhead and toughened B- and C-pillars. In addition, the amount of safety equipment in the i30 is equally impressive, with Electronic Stability Control as standard across the range particularly worthy of note. Passengers are also protected, in the event of a crash, by dual front, side, and curtain airbags in all models in the range. Other safety features include active front headrests and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

The i30 is certainly spacious, thanks in part to one of the biggest wheelbases in the class and some very clever packaging. There’s plenty of room in the front, but the height adjustment of the front seat is a little limited, so drivers over six feet might find headroom in short supply. The rear, however, makes up for this with very generous legroom, especially when compared to competitors in the family hatchback market. Hyundai has also added plenty of practical kit as standard, with electric windows throughout the car on all models, over 20 storage spaces around the car (including a cubby for sunglasses, a cooled glovebox and cupholders in the centre console) and full audio integration for iPods and MP3 players. Depending on the trim level, there are also tyre pressure monitors, electric folding door mirrors, an electro chromatic rear-view mirror, heated front seats and rain sensor wipers with a de-icing facility.

The diesel-powered i30’s combined fuel consumption figure of 62.8mpg should mean fill-ups aren’t too frequent if you drive relatively carefully and frugally. The economical character of the engine also means low CO2 emissions, with 119g/km bringing it into Band C for road tax (£35 a year). An insurance group of 5 (16 under the new 50-group system) also means that premiums should be pretty affordable. The five-year unlimited mileage warranty is also a real plus, the low-cost, trouble-free motoring making the i30 excellent value for money. The one downside, however, is residuals. If you come to sell your i30 after three years and with the average 36,000 miles on the clock, you’re only likely to get just over a third of its list price back. On the other hand, if you want to pick one up second-hand, the i30 will be real bargain – and you should still have some of that warranty covering you.

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