2012 Hyundai i30 First Drive Review
2012 HYUNDAI I30 REVIEW
OVERVIEW
When it arrived in Australian showrooms in October 2007, the first-generation i30 was a landmark car for Hyundai.
It boasted high levels of refinement, quality and driveability, and, for many Aussie motorists, the i30 radically changed their perception of the brand.
Korean cars could suddenly compete on more than just cheap pricing.
Fast forward nearly five years and the i30 has lost its lustre. Its competitors in the small hatch segment have significantly raised the bar, and we didn’t rate the first-gen i30 highly in our recent small car comparo.
But that now doesn’t matter - a new Hyundai i30 has arrived. This new car comes with massively increased levels of quality, value for money and comfort.
Like its predecessor, it may be a portent of things to come from Korea’s largest carmaker.
Interior
Soft-touch surfaces abound inside the new i30, and the presentation is far more impressive than the old i30.
The design is more cohesive - long strips of silver-painted trim define the centre-stack’s boundaries, and the full-colour touchscreen display is seamlessly integrated into the dashboard.
Both touchscreen and the HVAC controls are mounted high, improving ease-of-use and also freeing up storage space at the base.
Basic ergonomics are also improved by the placement of the driver’s window and mirror-controls higher up on the door.
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