“Affordable, appealing and intuitive to drive”. That's how the South Korean brand describes the new Hyundai i30.
Razão Automóvel is at Hyundai's European headquarters, in Frankfurt, Germany, to get to know firsthand the new Hyundai i30. A completely new model that intends to shake the waters in a very competitive C-segment, where the German and French proposals have dominated.
In fact, the new generation opens a new chapter in the history of Hyundai, a brand with its eyes set on the European market and a wider audience. As such, the focus was not only on design but also on comfort, quality of materials and engine efficiency.
SEE ALSO: This is the roar of the first Hyundai N Performance
On a mechanical level, the brand's engineers made minor upgrades to the brakes, suspension and steering (10% faster), while the chassis was completely redesigned to provide dynamic response and greater comfort levels – 53% of the chassis was made of steel high density. To test the durability of all components and fine-tune the suspensions, Hyundai made 480 laps of the Nürburgring.
As for the range of engines, on the Diesel offer side, there are three versions of the 1.6 liter engine, with 95, 110 and 136 hp of power, while for petrol we have two T-GDI engines: 1.0 with 120 hp and 1.4 of 140 hp.
On the outside, the Hyundai i30 presents itself as an evolution of the brand's design language, with more fluid lines and refined surfaces “to create a timeless look”. A well-defined front grille and new luminous signature with vertical LED daytime running lights complement the dynamic look. And if the exterior design seems to be more harmonious, the interior doesn't compromise either. In addition to 395 liters of luggage space and additional storage compartments, the Hyundai i30 offers space to comfortably seat all passengers.
For now, the Hyundai i30 will be on display at the Paris Motor Show, which runs from the 1st to the 16th of October. The South Korean model arrives in Portugal next February (hatchback variant), while the minivan version only arrives in July. In addition to these two versions, the Hyundai i30 will have for the first time a sport version (N Performance).