Open Road magazine have rated this wagon above the VW Golf diesel!

I hear what your saying about the car size brackets and I’m not trying to pick an argument, but Hyundai aren’t marketing this to compete with the above cars, so I don’t see the point in comparing them.

This is targeted at familes who would normally buy a thirsty compact SUV, but are now looking for better economy while retaining the flexibility of a wagon. The Hyundai press releases have been very clear about the target market.

I reckon Hyundai are onto a winner and other manufacturers would do well to bring over their equivalent models, but until they do this has the value compact wagon segment sewn up.

However, it’s not all good from Hyundai – it’s poor show that you can only get the manual on the lowest SX model, and a $2.5k premium on the diesel (forget the petrol) makes quite a dent in the value this car offers.

Of course the Camry has a wagon version, it’s called a Kluger, but my point was, even though wagons are generally larger than their sedan siblings, a MID size Camry SEDAN is much larger than a MID size i30 WAGON. Both are MID SIZE and will be compared. You can’t make claims of fuel efficiency and then whinge that you don’t want to be compared for space and comfort because others are bigger. You keep your cake and I’ll eat mine.

I also wasn’t aware that the Camry came in wagon format? Or is that just another meaningless comparison…

Lets compare like for like and stop wasting peoples time who are actually interested in this car

So perhaps the i30 really isn’t a MID size car afterall?

Fishman, you have to accept that there are grey areas within car classes, and any comparison between cars within the class (or ones outside but close) may or may not be valid for different individuals.

If I was shopping a 4cyl wagon, both of your examples might be valid, however, I would be confident of one still being a brilliant car in 5 yrs time (Subaru), and serious doubts about the other.

Hyundai i30 wagon –
length 4475mm, starting price from $20,890

Perhaps the meaningless comparisons can stop now….or maybe we should just believe everything advertisers tell us :)

I guess, where the ratings are concerned, this car is a 4.5 star car in comparison to other small to medium sized wagons with a diesel engine. To the tester anyway. Anybody with doubts on the tester’s report should take one for a test drive and post back here with their opinion.

Styling is a personal thing, I mean some people think VW golf’s look good.
If you want to get a idea of the styling, just look at the bloody photo.

Subaru may handle well and look ok (depending on you tastes) but the maintenance costs are so through the roof that i would never buy one.

Hyundai i30cw
CarAdvice Overall Rating: 4.5
How does it Drive: 4.5
How does it Look: 4.5
How does it Go: 4

VW Golf Gti Pirelli
CarAdvice Overall Rating: 3.5
How does it Drive: 3
How does it Look: 4
How does it Go: 4

Skoda Octavia 2009
CarAdvice Overall Rating: 4
How does it Drive: 4
How does it Look: 3
How does it Go: 4

I am confused. Is i30cw that good?

However, I chose it over a Subaru for reasons apart from how it drives absolutely. The handling, while much more suburban drives very nearly as well for any normal use and is respectably more than adequate.

There is more passenger room than you expect, sit in one, particularly in the back, you’ll be surprised. Oh, yes; panels fit well and no dashboard squeaks after 10,000Km. It’s a goody!

Fishman, Subaru Liberty is a MID size car in Australia.
Hyundai advertise i30 as MID size. It’s not my claims it’s theirs.

Bret, CA have told us in the past that they rate cars on how good they are for what they are. Think about it for a second; it’s diesel, it’s Korean, it has a four speed automatic, it’s a small station wagon, it doesn’t cost very much. Then factor in that until recently, Hyundai has never really given us much that was worth a second look. Now if you add all those things together and it comes out being a pretty good drive, for what it is, maybe it does deserve four and a half stars.
And I never wrote that you had written that you had driven it, but if you haven’t actually driven it then you are in absolutely no place to comment on what it’s like to drive and you certainly can’t compare it to other cars if, once again, you haven’t driven it.