Another edition of the Essilor Car of the Year Volante de Cristal, and once again Razão Automóvel is part of the range of publications that are part of the permanent jury of the most prestigious award in the automotive sector in Portugal.
After the road tests are finished, here are our thoughts on each model in competition, in alphabetical order, in the Family of the Year category of the Essilor Car of the Year award in Crystal Steering Wheel. The results are known on March 1st.
Honda Civic 1.0 i-VTEC Turbo Executive Premium
Honda entered in the contest the most equipped version of the Civic range, available with the 1.0 i-VTEC engine: the Executive Premium. A choice that is reflected not only in the extensive standard equipment offered, but also in the price: €31,040.
A value that may seem high at the outset, but that is justified by everything the Civic offers: space, (huge) equipment, a competent engine and a chassis capable of handling all situations, where there is no lack of adaptive suspension.
It is a very well born model, equipped with one of the best 1.0 Turbo engines today, capable of developing 129 hp of power and 200 Nm of torque in this version equipped with a manual gearbox. It's a case of saying, small in size but not in momentum: 8.9 seconds from 0-100 km/h and 200 km/h top speed. Honda announces Honda a consumption of 6.1 l/100 km with CO2 emissions of 139 g/km, but we registered an average consumption above 7 liters.
Inside, the cabin is spacious and well built, as required by a family member. The heated seats are one of the «luxuries» that we highlight in an interior characterized by the immense equipment available (cruise control, automatic A/C, automatic headlights, electric handbrake, infotainment system with navigation, among many others). The only criticism is the complexity of the infotainment system, the ergonomics of some controls and the quality of some materials that doesn't follow the general rigor of construction. The trunk can accommodate 478 liters of cargo (1 267 with the seats folded down).
On the road, we highlight the good dynamic behavior and comfort offered by the Civic. The price of the Honda Civic range starts at 23,300 euros for the Confort version, which already offers a satisfactory level of equipment.
Hyundai i30 SW Style DCT 1.6 CRDi (110 hp) – 29,618 euros
The new Hyundai i30 range is a reflection of the investment that the Korean brand has made to please the European market. The Hyundai i30 SW Style DCT 1.6 CRDi (110 hp) version that the brand put up for competition in Portugal seems, in turn, tailored to the taste of the Portuguese: van bodywork in association with a Diesel engine, which does not even lack an automatic transmission. dual clutch and seven speeds.
In structural terms, the chassis stands out with excellent rigidity, served by suspensions that deal in an exemplary way with the bad floor, without sacrificing directional stability. Although it has no sporting ambitions, the i30 SW van offers a communicative direction q.b., where the watchword of the set is: smoothness and comfort.
This Style version, in terms of equipment, offers a safety package (emergency braking, blind spot warning, lane maintenance assistant) and comfort (automatic air conditioning, fabric/leather seats, parking camera, heated seats) very complete. The presentation of the interior is simple, but the assembly and the materials are in good plan, as is the space on board. The trunk holds an impressive 602 liters of capacity.
In terms of engine, the 1.6 CRDi engine with 110 hp and 280 Nm of maximum torque, gives a very good impression of itself, proving to be suitable for family use. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h is achieved in 11.5 seconds and the top speed is 188 km/h. But more important than that are the consumptions: the brand announces 4.3 l/100 km with emissions of 112 gr/km of CO2, but expect averages close to 6 l/100 km. A value that is not high, is higher than what some competitors achieve.
Hyundai's answer is through the 5-year scheduled maintenance and 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Pricing for the Hyundai i30 SW range starts at €22,609 for the i30 SW 1.0 T-GDI Comfort.
Final considerations
They are two very strong models, which bet their cards on different characteristics. One is a van, the other is a saloon. One is Gasoline, the other is Diesel. And these differences are noticeable on the road.
The performance of the 1.0 i-VTEC Turbo engine is superior to that of the 1.6 CRDi, but the latter consumes less. In terms of prices, a slight advantage for the Hyundai, which despite not having such a full list of equipment manages to offer an automatic dual-clutch gearbox.
See here all the models in competition, by category. The results are known on March 1st.