Hyundai to Unveil i30

By George Skentzos | July 16th, 2007

Hyundai announced today that its crucial new five-door hatchback will be known as the Hyundai i30 when it makes its Australian debut in October.

The i30, which shares its platform with the new Elantra sedan will spearhead Hyundai’s attack on the competitive small hatch market. It has been closely benchmarked against its competitors, and the i30 name has been chosen to reflect the car’s European styling and its all-round intelligent design.

“Shaped in our German styling studio, the new i30 will combine highly contemporary design with Hyundai’s outstanding quality and value. It’s going to surprise everyone – not least our competitors.”

Obviously high hopes from Kevin McCann, Hyundai’s Sales and Marketing Director.

Hyundai’s brand image has changed dramatically since the cheap and cheerful Excel days, with many thanks going to the surprise standout, the Hyundai Tiburon.

Demonstrating Hyundai’s engineering prowess and ability to compete in a global market, the i30 is most definitely a big deal for the budget manufacturer.

Myke

I don’t see how this car was designed in Europe, it is the ugliest Hyundai I have ever seen (obviously you cant tell from the pic above), fugly, fugly, fugly, but this is well-matched with the ugly Elantra sedan. It will ‘surprise everyone’ with it’s pure fuglyness.
Paul

Lol even if it was good looking at the end of the day its still a Hyundai, I know to many people who have had problems with them to risk it. Not to mention my own families problems in the past with vehicles such as Daewoos.

Pedro

My last two brand new vehicles, SS Commodore and XR6 Falcon were both back for repair more than once with less than 30K on the clock. The poor service and attitude from the service depts was enough to prevent me going down the falcodore path ever again.

Give me a Hyundai any day.

Jase

there are already pictures of the i30
go to http://www.netcarshow.com/hyundai/2008-i30/
the tailgate look as if it has been taken from the BMW 1-series.
Jase

there are already pictures of the official i30 at http://www.netcarshow.com/hyundai/2008-i30/
the rear looks very similar to the BMW 1-series
http://www.caradvice.com.au tony

Guys – Hyundai has ranked top 5 for the last few years with reliability in the toughest consumer reliability survey on the planet – jD Power which surveys actual owners of cars.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is class leading and the Accent is a very decent car.

The new i30 is actually a good looking car (can’t tell from the pic so google it)
Andrew. M

I agree tony, the hyundais have really picked up their game since their “break into the market excell days”
troy

everyone i know with a hyundai, WOULD own another.

just a shame they seem to have lost the plot in the design stakes in the last few years.

the new Elantra is as ugly as sin, and the accent is DULL.

But underneath they are well put together and relliable.
http://www.alborzfallah.com alborz

the new tiburon is a gem
expect that review up in a few minutes.
Matthew

It’s interesting how all the Asian car manufacturers brag how “European” their cars are. Even noticed that on an advert for the new Corolla on TV.

But do you ever see a European manufacturer brag how “Japanese” or “Korean” or “Asian” their cars are?

Euro envy
http://www.alborzfallah.com alborz

Aussie cars do it too!
have you seen the Falcon ads? *European looks…*
its a laugh

I think one day very soon, the Europeans will be bragging about how their luxury cars have all the features of a Lexus
Paul

I dont think they Asian manufacterers care and sometimes I even doubt whether they are Euro styled… its called marketing, consumers want to hear that kinda thing.

As for Hynundais, I dont share the confidence of you guys… I know friends who have had reoccuring problems with Accents and Getz’s. My only family had problems with a Daewoo Leganza (no idea what they were thinking buying that car!). I will pass on Hyundais.
Paul

^

Oh and forgot, also new a guy who had I think it was a late 90s Sonata, been through 2 engines…. 2 transmissions… and many other problems. Car was at 150,000kms owned since new. There are a few horror stories out their.
Matthew

alborz, can you name one feature a Lexus has which was not invented by the luxury Europeans? Including the styling?

Radar based cruise control, ESP, Brake Assist, ABS, airbags, safety cell with crumple zones, pre-tensioning seat belts, heads up displays, infra red night visibility. All invented by the Europeans.

European manufacturers are the innovators, the Asians are purely immitators.
Paul

Matthew I think you will find your wrong. Your basing your statements in relation to Europeans inventing features of perceptions, because for example the European luxury brands first had airbags in the mainstream. But you will find that airbags for example were originally invented by an American. So who the imitators now? Im sure I could dig up other examples from your list to.
Paul

Heres another one, cruise control, into by a yank:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Teetor

There are more, but I proved my point.
Paul

Although you did say radar based cruised control, so corrected there. Still an interesting fact.
Matthew

Hi Paul

I see where you are coming from, and concur that the concept of air bag may have been invented by an American, but 25 years ago the W126 S Class was the first series production passenger car to have the feature in a safe and realistic car.

Mercedes spend more on R&D, particularly on safety, in one month than most other manufacturers do in a whole year.

Fact is the majority of safety features now in most modern cars were in European (odds are, a Mercedes) first. I have been driving ESP equipped $35K Mercedes since 1999 which is only in the last year or two appearing on local cars and some imports.

Lexus are now marketing things like radar based cruise control on some of their models, but they are just trying to catch up to the innovators.

Bottom line is, it also comes down to the driving experience. If you are cruising at 110km/h and have to make an emergency evasive manouvre, would you rather be driving a European, Asian or Australian car? If you have driven all three then the answer is obvious.
http://www.caradvice.com.au tony

the choice between the current base model 3 series BMW and the equivalent priced Lexus IS250 is no choice. Lexus stomps the BM in every way!
Garry

I am over hearing stupid australians bagging the Hyundai brand Iam on my second one and I find them fautless I dont care what anybody says the only car make that comes close to build quality of a Hyundai is Subaru.ALL CAR MAKES have have breakdown issues(BMW and Mercedes BAD) not just Hyundai a recent motoring report I was reading from Germany placed Hyundai as the most realiable car maker in the world,a motoring report from the US said they are one of the best car makers in the world(in the top 3).As for the i30 I think it looks very good as does the new elantra.I am sticking with Hyundai I know when I am on a good thing.
http://. ROBERTO

GARRY…. Very well said as a lot of truth to what you state. Everyone goes on about it! I have had Japanese cars and the 2 I had were lemons in paint finish and other one trim and rattle issues! I also know people who have Hyundais and they say the same thing as you!!!
Steven

Well I am happy that they decided to bring a turbo diesel with them.

As long as they don’t go and spoil it with a stupid price tag it should fly off the shelves.

The Kia Ce’ed is a much better car despite being based on the same platform as it comes in sport wagon and coupe shapes as well as a 10 year(!) warranty.
Marion

We have the first I30 registered in Australia The top of the range sports SR model. It’s a beautiful car. Hyundai are one of THE top cars here in Australia. We have a Getz an Accent a Tucson and the latest i30.. All great cars!!
Toyota Paul

Im still not bought on Hyundais reliability, I hear all these surveys but when it comes to knowing people who have had troubles with their Hyundais… its overwhelming in favour of a lack of reliability. The i30 looks good though.
Jase

Matthew,
Lexus were pioneers of luxury vehicles. In the begining of the 90′s (1991) the lexus sc300/sc400 or soarer already had in dash, touch screen, GPS navigation with intergrated car system controls. And in the later models they could get a rear parking camera.
Toyota Lexus were so technologically advanced that in 1981 the first generation soarer had:-
ABS,
cruise control,
7 way adjustable leather seats,
Electronicly Modulated Suspension,
Digital Automatic climate control,
Electro multivision display (CRT type display)
(keeping in mind this is the early 80′s)

All the luxury cars that you see today would probably only have leather and wood trim and not all the technology they have today if it were not for lexus.
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