The Hyundai i30 is a small family car by Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company and it design in Hyundai European Team in Germany. It shares mechanical components with the Kia cee’d although there are enough bodywork modifications to make both cars appear individual. It is available as a five-door hatchback or estate, with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, either with manual or automatic transmissions.

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The i30 is sold in the United Kingdom as a replacement for the budget Hyundai Accent and the Hyundai Elantra and sits below Hyundai Sonata in the firm’s range. The Hyundai i30 is a product born of focus, delivered through careful design with just a dash of inspiration. Dynamically stylish, invitingly spacious and totally practical. A car with all the intelligent features, inbuilt quality, and integrity that you expect from Hyundai. The i30 features dual front, side, and curtain airbags, active headrests, seatbelt pretensioning and seatbelt reminders.

The hatchback measures 4,245 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,480 mm high. A wheelbase of 2,650 mm offers significant interior space for a vehicle of this size. Total luggage space is 340 liters with the rear seats upright. Hyundai will offer a variety of diesel and gasoline engines with the i30, ranging from 90 to 140 horsepower. A choice of either an automatic transmission to a five-speed all-synchro gearbox will be offered.

Hyundai Motor Company’s i30 was chosen as Spain’s Car of the Year 2008, the first time for an Asian carmaker, proving once again that the Korean marque, the world’s sixth-largest automobile company, has made great advances in technology, design and safety.

The award follows the i30′s outstanding recognition in Australia, where it was voted as both 2007 Car of the Year and 2007 Green Car of the Year. The i30 was judged by a jury composing of 52 journalists from a wide variety of Spanish media, including newspaper, specialized magazines, television, radio and news agencies. The jury based their points on exterior and interior design, reliability, performance, safety and market segment volume.

Specifications

 Engines

2.0 Petrol, 1.6 CRDi (90PS) engines are available in Germany.

 Transmissions

Choices include 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual (on 2.0 CRDi), or 4-speed automatic. Automatic transmissions are available with 1.6 Petrol, 2.0 Petrol, 1.6 CRDi (116PS) models.

Safety

Hyundai i30 earns Euro NCAP 5 star safety rating.

i30 Estate

Hyundai i30 Estate

The i30 5-door was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 2007, and released in late 2007 in Europe and Australia. The estate version was released in Korea at the Seoul Motor Show in 2007, and is scheduled to be released worldwide in 2008, including in North America for the 2009 model year, where it will be badged as the Elantra Touring.

i30 blue

It is a model with Start&Stop  technology (called Idle Stop and Go). British versions came with 1.4L or 1.6L petrol engine, in both five-door hatchback or estate body styles. CO2 emission rating for the 1.6L models were reduced to 142g/km (from 152g/km).

The car was unveiled in 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

The car was produced in Nosovice, Czech Republic.

The car would be on sale in the UK on autumn 2009.

 Reception

In Australia, the Hyundai i30 won the The 1.6L CRDi i30 is also the cheapest diesel car in Australia, coming in at just $21,490AUD for the basic(SX) model, the basic model has most of the features that the next model up has. Australian i30 model feature a unique suspension tune for Australian road conditions. According to some reviewers , the rear design is not too dissimilar to the BMW 1 Series

 Awards and recognition

2007

Car of the Year for 2007 by CARSGuide^  with the 1.6L CRDi model winning the Green Car of the Year award.

2008

‘Best Mid-size Car Under $28,000′ by Australia’s Best Cars to the Hyundai i30 SX petrol and i30 CRDi Turbo Diesel