2008 Hyundai i30 Review
November 2, 2007 by Matt Brogan
2007 Hyundai i30 SLX Review
CarAdvice rating: 
Recommended Retail Price: $23,490 (as tested: $26,780)
- Matt Brogan
By now I guess you’ve seen the ad on TV, a cute Jack Russell terrier, pretentious valet, and a ‘stolen’ Hyundai. Its fun, draws a smile, and gets you thinking that perhaps the big H has come of age.
From the outset, the i30’s German design is clearly evident. The handsome, contoured nose leads effortlessly up to a flowing bonnet then down over discreetly pumped guards to a side profile not too dissimilar to BMW’s 1 series.
The shoulder line high over crisp wheel arches then moves subtly aft ward to a taut, upright rear-end with Mercedes A class fashioned tail lights and C pillar window.
Cupped in the tail is a smooth, sculpted tailgate complete with a VW-style hatch release and logo combination offset by a short ‘bee-sting’ aerial mounted on the roof.
Paint finish is first rate (Metallic Paint $300) and matched with superb panel fit and smart sixteen inch alloys, I would go so far as to say that with the badges covered, you would not pick this car as Korean.
Inside, you could almost be forgiven for thinking ‘Golf’. Funky blue backlighting, smooth one touch buttons and simple user-friendly operating controls are not at all typical of Hyundai’s bygone efforts.
Tags: Hyundai i30
Yep, a big step forward for Hyundai. Very Golfish in some ways.
I must disagree with this though…
“Visibility is excellent all round, with the possible exception of the small rear window in the C pillar, which did pose occasional hindrance when reversing from 45 degree angle parks”
The blind spot is much worse than that…
looks brilliant and a further competitor in the hatch market especially when the turbo version comes it.. should be hard to choose between a mazda 3 and this…
I’m yet to drive this but it looks like an excellent daily. I’m especially interested in the diesel.
But Iamthestig, the upkick in the waistline is a common design trait these days and you will get that blindspot in whatever car you drive.
What I find amusing is that the Prado has the same chunky C pillar design on a vehicle that shouldn’t have big blindspots purely for safety reasons.
I still find it hard to swollow that this would be a class above the mazda 3 for driving, that would suggest the focus, astra and corolla and quite possibly the new lancer wouldn’t be any better than the I30!? Mind you the entry price is very cheap.
i like the styling, the best styled Hyundai to date but you could hardly call it unique and expensive looking…it’s derivative of the 3 and corolla.
I’ll be waiting for more comprehensive back to back comparisons…
This package is great… but for mine I still cant get over their history in reliability. Still I wouldnt get a Corolla over this… no ESP!
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOH
These cars are crap
1. Giant Hyundai brand is awakening
2. All reviews I read are similar saying at top of class and above all other Jap cars
3. BLOODY NICE looking car -inside and outside
i dont know…the front end styling bothers me, they’ve tried to give it a low wide stance from the front but it doesnt gel with the rest of the car…it looks ok with the body kit though.
It gels with front FINE
Hyundai Hatter – like you’d know! LOL you idiot
i dunno, am i the only one who really thinks this cars design is wierd and ugly, the huge tailights, corrola humping a 5-series front end, bmw one series profile. i dunno, i just really dont like it, and the rear end in profile looks like some old daihatsu, the yrv i think. im not shitting on hyundai, kudos for their new sonata, i10 and move to rear wheel drive with the genesis and new tiburon (i spose their new SUV is ok if ur a moron and like that sorta thing), but this cars design just looks hideous to me. i say bring on the kia c’eed, same car underneath but good looking, now thats a european looking car, drove one in greece recently and was really impressed. seems the koreans are finally getting their engineering and quality right, just to work on the stying now…i get the feeling that clarkson will be regretting his statement that “koreans eat dogs, and thats why they make crap cars” eh?
I must admit, I am very impressed with the look of the interior. There is a reason why Toyota acknowledge Hyundai as their biggest potential threat, and from what I have read in quality surveys, Hyundai is now pretty much as good as you can get.
However, like the Kia C\’eed I recently saw at Vienna airport, the styling is just so derivative. Plus, there\’s that badge on the grill and the steering wheel so you can constantly remind yourself (and others) that you\’re a tight-ar$e for not buying the (not that much more expensive) Mazda 3 or Ford Focus.
If you think people will buy others when apparently this has had fairdinkum glowing reports that it is above any Japanese car on quality (except Porsche and Lexus) then your a DUMB ARSE. Sorry… pendulum shift bigtime and it is fact on this model!
That bloody excel has made some enemies (mind you, you still see them all over the place).
Those still doubting Hyundai have to get over it.
I spent 40 big ones 12 months ago and was bloody sure I wasn’t going to piss it against the wall buying a lemon. After purchasing as Santa Fe diesel I have to say it is the best family car I’ve ever owned and I’ve had Ford/Toyota/Nissan and Honda previously.
Refinement is second to none and previous posts suggest resale won’t be an issue.
Further, quality surveys from markets much larger than ours would suggest reliability and quality isn’t an issue and equal or exceeding anything from Japan or Europe.
Have you ever looked twice at a car and seen it was a Hyundai and thoutht, geez hope nobody saw me’. Me too. Then I bought one and no I don’t give a stuff what uneducated people think. CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE.
Clarkson never regrets anything he says.
SteveV, I agree with every word you said. I test drove a Sante Fe a few months back and even though the Tucson is more in my price range (I really wanted the Turbo Diesel Sante Fe), I liked the car very very much.
It was smooth, quiet and a pleasant cabin to sit in. The seats were comfy and (this is something I base on build quality) the switches on the dashboard are of a high quality.
Although I am not a Hyundai lover, I don’t hate them either. I would consider buying one, but the model I want in out of my range… especially now, being unemployed (self employed)….. looking for a job as a writer for an online bike review site. ;)
Cheers
Steve
The telling moment will be when a group test is performed.
This car is so lovely! We should just stop thinking Korean cars are just “cheapest in the range”, it is more of “best value for money but not compromising on quality”. Also looking forward to seeing Kia C’eed, which i30 is based on (or C’eed based on i30)
Car is nice as Kay! Writeups are all similar saying it is superior and amazing quality – all ahead of Japanese cars except Lexus I read in THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER! One does not need to be 4metres across the forehead to realise that as one sit and look and more importantly a drive reveals that answer quickly – I did it as like and lets just see how it unravels on what public think and whether any issues crop up!
The C’eed is another nice dam car. Will change others to lift game and style these two cars!!! Good for buyers as cuter cars will come out more!
I think there was a review of the Kia C’eed on Fifth Gear a while ago and the thing was packed with features, there weren’t that many options because it came with a lot of good standard gear.
Though, from reports that satisfied my opion that car manufacturers are dumbing down cars that come to Australia and making what other countries have as standard fitment, we have as options we have to pay extra for. I hope that the Aussie model is just as well appointed.
Steve
Is it just me, or does the i30 and the C’eed look a lot like the previous gen Corolla Seca?
if u havent noticed alot of the hyundai cars look like corollas of the previous generation
I think it’s just you, Jay. I’m not going to have any trouble picking it in traffic. It shares its upswept C-pillar window line with the Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza (from its class alone, never mind RAV4, Outlander and others), but the previous gen Corolla? Maybe in the shape of the headlights. The remainder couldn’t be more different.
I had a squiz at the i30 and the Skoda Roomster at neighbouring dealerships yesterday. Both impressed and both are welcome.
Jay, the cars looking similar nowadays, probably because of the “TREND in design”, the new Impreza rear looks like Holden Viva (aka made-in-korea Daewoo Lacetti) or Civic Type-R (based on European model Civic).
At this poing Hyundai would be making cars with designs that can appeal to many buyers and to do so will have to adopt some of the design concept from cars proven to be appealing. I also think i30 rear looks like BMW+Merc but isnt that a good thing? :) If Hyundai tried something Frendch (Pug or Renault or Citroen) would do, people will say “Hyundai is crap” because they know its a Hyundai. When French do it, its suddenly becoms beatiful!
ps. I love new 207 gti :)
Tony i know that the only idiots in this world are the ones that love hyundais
This car is a lovely car i drove one the other week and it drives really nice well the base model has a bit of road noise but the overall car, inside the cabin its really nice and outside the cabin the looks just keep flowing, im getting the manual version and the slx which is the model between the base model and the sr and it comes with everything u would usually have to put as options, dont criticize hyundai for being korea praise them for creating a car thats so nice and that anyone can drive either be young or old.
This car is fantastic.
I jsut purchased the SLX. I went to the dealer with no intention whatsoever of going near a Hyundai despite reading previously that Hyundai had now moved up a level. I saw the car & it stood out straight away with such a stylish shape. Once I sat in it & learnt what features were included I just had to have it. When people ask me why I bought a Hyundai I will set them straight – Hyundai’s bad reputation is now a thing of the past for me.
Good on you SB! It’s an excellent car and I’m sure you’ll be very happy with it.
BOOH
You suffering from depression Bubba…….you don’t seem to have a nice thing to say ! How about you try?
I’m in the same boat as SB. I would never have considered buying a Hyundai before the i30 came along. After much research, I narrowed my choice down to the auto i30 SR and Mitsubishi Lancer VR CVT. I test drove them back to back, and the i30 was a MUCH better drive than the Lancer, to my utter surprise. I now have a auto i30 SR in steel grey coming, it will be here within a fortnight. You won’t believe how far Hyundai has come unless you drive this car. To steal an old Nissan slogan, ‘Just wait ’till you drive it!’
Hyundais are a little bit like women. A woman has to work twice as hard and be twice as good as a man to be considered equal.It’s a bit like that with Hyundais. They have to be better than the opposition to be considered in the same class.
I test drove an I30 diesel yesterday and have decided to buy one. Excellent in every department, but the clincher for me was the fuel economy (4.7litres/100) and the CO2 emissions (125 g/km), the latter within striking distance of the hybrids, but with the advantage that the i30 is 95% recycleable. It’s a beauty!
IB – Great news on your purchase. I think you’ll be really happy with the i30 it’s a great car. Drop us a line in a few months and let us know how it’s all going for you.
Matt.
RD, it’s kind of funny because I did the same comparison test between the Lancer VR and the i30 SLX and also think that the i30 has better ride,more room,nicer dashboard layout,and I think the Lancer looks ugly :) Anyway,after reading a few positive reviews on the i30 I decided to buy the SLX with the protectz pack,in steel grey color, mine is in stock so will pick up next week.The wife is still worried about the hyundai quality and resale value though :(
Q. Hyundai quality?.
A. Look at the US JD Power survey – 3rd overall.
Goes along way to say something about Hyundai, especially in the land of the lemon laws where the consumer has their say and the market it much bigger than ours.
Was looking at the Golf Mk 5, but thats getting on a bit now, and when you hear that its costing too much for VW to make and their proposed Mk 6 will be designed to be cheaper to make – does that mean they will sell it at a lower price? Or reduce quality? Anyway its built in South Africe – so its not really german – like the Focus, 3 series BMW,… Also a 5 year warranty means they stand behind the product they sell?? Defintitely a long way from the first Accent that Alan Bond brought in back in ‘86.
Did not even consider Hyundai in the mix when looking at the small cars…. Started thinking about by new with the on road price of the KIA Rio.
Went to test drive the Rio but just on looks when walking into the yard,the Mazda 3 was what we tested (& the budget limit sights was pushed up!) Unfortunately when the top off the gear shift showing trans configuration fell off before we left the yard – so did my confidence in the quality of car – may not be fair but hey..
We had looked at the Toyota Corolla Accent & I had told my wife that this was what we would buy but I wanted to test drive first before making a committment based on research alone.
Monday was booked in to test drive & then the Sunday paper came out with the I30 as Car of the Year on two counts. Never even heard of this car & WTF Hyundai cheap ass cars!
As there was a Hyundai dealership close by before test driving Toyota we had a look at the i30 sat in the back & all that jazz was impressed with the room in back of it as I am a big person. The body shape & look is pretty nice too. Told the salesman we were more interested in Corolla & so he said if we wanted to come back after the Corolla test drive feel free.
Test drove the Corolla (manual)and were happy with the overall feel of the car but in the back of my mind the fuel economy of the Turbo Diesel i30 was hard to believe & felt more spacious to myself in back.
Made the decision to test drive i30 & the torque was very impressive – I am sorry but the transmission (manual) was so smooth to put through the gears and steering just felt solid compared to Corolla – suspension & feel on the road was not comparable to Corolla, it was miles better.
OK I have had to change my way of thinking & have put my money behind the i30 – only downside is due to demand will not have until late Jan/early Feb but the upside is 2008 compliance plate :0)
If your in the market it would be foolish to make a judgement without testing i30 for yourself. I would be pissed if I bought the Corolla & then drove this car afterwards…
I can not wait to purchase an I30 TDI, but must now wait till Feb 08 before i can get my hands on one.
Impressed I was with the test drive, and I like the look.
Like others I never thought I would say I am excited about an Hyundai, but they didn’t have the I30 before now, did they.
For the record I was considering the Mazda 3, not the Corolla, prior to the I30 TDI, and price was the deciding factor.
SR Turbo sounds interesting. I can’t find any reference to this elsewhere. Is this true? Does anyone know where I read the specs and get more info on the release date?
Gday,
For all those who have purchased the i30 SLX – what was your drive away price. I can get them down to 27 000 but that is the limit. Wondering if any others have got anyone down further and what was the dealership.
Cheers
Hi John,
I was able to get the automatic SLX with protectz pack for 27400,but I have to wait for the order (initally they told me that there was one in stock but it was gone) so I decided to get the auto SR for 28500,still have to wait for the body kit arrive from eastern states though,i’m in WA. Good luck.
Thanks Maximark,
Im in WA as well but i forgot to mention in my message that i was talking about the i30 SLX Turbo Diesel.
Cheers
The I30 is a great car, my wife is the lucky owner of an I30 Diesel…..take a look at http://www.ath-hinsberger.de or http://www.koreanstyling.dk and see an awsome I30 bodykit…..
Just purchased a i30 slx diesel for the wife , have to wait till early Feb 08 for delivery but thats ok cost $28400 drive away with Protectz, Tow bar and roof rack in Brisbane.
We own a mazda6 diesel wagon as well and it gets 1000 – 1050 km per tank, great car, was also considering the mazda3 diesel but was $3000 more than the i30.
Hey
Just ordered the i30 diesel slx. Ended up getting it for $26000. No extras but i think it is worth it. Cant wait to get it in late feb early march.
John, I think it’s reallyy worth to spend an extra grand for the protectz pack..ESP and TCS is very important safey feature..
Sat in a i30 today & was very impressed. Personally, I like the base SX diesel manual model (white) & would buy one tomorrow without hesitation. What impresses me are the fuel consumption figures & with the price of fuel only getting higher, the i30 must be considered by anyone in the market right now for a new car. Hyundai are certainly one of the car makers who are going forward with their new vehicles & no wonder Toyota are “very” worried by their growing reputation for building sound reliable cars. Good on Hyundai & I am looking forward to the release of their new vans in mid-February, particularly the iload !
I find it hard to understand the statement that Hyundai’s might be “crap”. Have owned nine Hyundai’s now – three excels, one accent and five getz’s (have older kids in uni so currently own four at once). Buy them a year or two old and sell just prior to warranty expiring. Over 7 years we have never had any problems. After sale service has been remarkable(we forayed into ownership of one Daewoo Matiz during that time and had major dramas getting them to fix a faulty engine immobiliser). The only small problems – split in rear seat of an excel, broken air vent louvres in a Getz have been fixed at no cost by Hyundai dealer (although one of the Getz’s had what appeared to be deterioration in plastic due to sun exposure in rear seatbelt clips and they would not replace those). We are definitely going to buy a one year old i30 now because of our excellent history with Hyundai.
Seen an i30 diesel automatic at our local dealer today incase anyone wants to know when they are available !
^Lightbulb do you know is it a 4 or 5 speed?
I am not sure Lcat as I only had a quick look from the outside but I “think” it is a 4 speed. Sorry I cannot give you a definite answer as I am not real sure !
Yes, the i30 Auto is a 4 speed. Specs can be found on http://www.hyundai.com.au/i30
Purchased an i30 SLX diesel a few weeks ago with protectz pack. Came across the i30 by accident when looking online to compare against my inteded first choice Peugeot 207. I’ve been a Pug drivers for years … 306, 307, 407. The 407 is only two and a half years old but wanted to downsize to a more economical 207 touring diesel. Pug dealership I’d bought all 3 models from treated me like crap. Kept me waiting for a week for an estimate on trade-in value on the 407 until I lost all patience and started hunting around elsewhere. And found the i30 SLX diesel, test drove the SX diesel and loved its pick up, build quality and look. Bought one on the spot … steel grey. Now I have to just wait for its arrival in Australia in April. Can hardly wait. If I’d gone with the standard solid colours it would have meant a wait of a further three weeks. The only thing that worries me is that some i30 reviewers say it’s not that great in on-road handling, and after the corner gripping Peugeots I might feel a little dfisappointed in that area. But what the hell, so many features, a good solid sounds when the doors close, and about $3k cheaper than the Peugeot. Can anyone who is driving an i30 give us some impression of how it handles on the roads and around winding bends. Thanks.
Greg,
We ordered ours at the end of November. Same specs as yours but in white. We have been told it will arrive in Adelaide at the end of month (Feb). I can’t give you any impressions about road holding. Some reviews are critical while others offer praise. I am not a hoon driver so I doubt I shall be trying it out to the extremes.
I have also come across a diesel tuning chip called a DPChip that is claimed to boost power to 100kW and torque to 295Nm. It plugs in after the engine ECU and can be fitted in under 10 minutes. At $1320 rrp it could be a bit expensive for some.
Bob,
Thanks for that. Like yourself I’ve no great interest in burning rubber either, but just loved the sense of safety given by Pugs for corner handling. Generally the i30 reviewers say handling’s OK. A lot could have to do with upgrading to premium tyres too. Will just have to wait to see and compare.
^^^Thanks Lightbulb & Bob.
A friend has been waiting a month for his slx manual diesel and should arrive on the 6th March.
I’ve booked a test drive! – will give you my impressions soon as….
I think the grip issues I’ve read about relate to the 15″ Hankooks on the sx only.
Have been reading some blogs online about the Aussie versions of the i30 which says we don’t get the special ‘Hyundai iPod full control cable’ but only a 512MB USB stick. I haven’t received delivery of my SLX diesel yet so can’t check. Apparently the full control cable, which the Euros get as standard, provides proper functionality for the iPod and Hyundai recommends against the standard iPod cable you get with the player. Has anyone out there had problems getting functionality out of the standard iPod with its Apple cable in their i30? It seems it a bit strange if we’re forced to use a memory stick, and one that doesn’t have that much storage space on it.
Hi All,
Any standard USB Memory stick will work. We test drove an i30 and my daughter happened to have an MP3 player with her. We plugged it in and presdo, the radio stopped and the files started to play. The steering wheel contols enables me as driver to contol which track we wanted to hear and the song titles and album title displayed on the dash. Don’t know about what happens with an ipod but the standard memory stick works fine. My wife has and 8gb memory stick (cost us under $30). I’ve got an 80gb USB hard drive and I am betting that will work as well.
Hi everyone.
First of all, I have no problems with Hyundai’s. I have an excel, which is my first car, and have had it for 3 years, and it’s been soo good to me. I’m a uni student, so it was economical, cheap to run, and cheap to service. I hardly had any problems with it- i think people who had bad experiences didn’t look after their cars properly. Or maybe manufacturers default, which can happen even in a BMW!!
Anyhow, I’m pleased to hear such good reviews for the i30. I’m finishing uni soon, hoping to get a full-time job by June, so I was really looking into selling the excel and getting an i30. I’m on a bit of a budget, so I was wondering is there that much difference in the SX and the SLX? I was going to get the SX cause it’s cheaper, but if the SLX has alot more going for it, perhaps I should save a bit more for it? Owners of the SLX can you give me advice?? Thanks, would be much appreciated!!!
I’m leaning towards the SLX… but has anyone added after market cruise to the diesel?
I absolutley must have cruise and the type of driving I do lends itself to a diesel.
If you study the list prices… Compare the upgrade path between the diesel and petrol. The diesel cost $2500 more than the petrol for both the SX and SLX but you don’t get the cruise control with the SLX diesel. That’s funny, no cruise but you pay for it, why wouldn’t I go for the SX?
I had a word to my local dealer yesterday and they said they hadn’t noticed…yeah right! And they say Hyundai are waiting to see how well sales go before adding cruise to the SLX diesel…how long is the waiting list now?…yeah right!
I find myself worrying about adding after market cruise, why have they not included it in the SLX diesel?
I test drove the auto diesal a couple of days ago and was amazed by the pickup up a steep hill. Some of the current owners are getting around 1100 kms around town on one tank so that’s pretty good! I’m ordering a top of range one next week but will have to wake 2-3 months for delivery!! On a country drive some owners are claiming 3 litres/100kms at 100 kmh so this thing should go forever. After looking around at the Mazda 6 and Ford Focus, I’m amazed that these company’s don’t do autos as that is a must have for my wife who will be driving this car.
Ness,
A work colleauge bought a petrol SLX over the SX and I asked him they same question. His reply was;
It looks and feels better inside and out. He didn’t mention anything about the extra airbags (he didn’t get the protectz pack). And grinning like a mud crab he said it was the demo model and it was in the yard and he could have it NOW! not in two months.
For the music lovers he also just plugged in his memory stick play his own music during the test drive. Not that I agree that any memory stick will work, I have seen a SET memory sticks not work in a USB port on a course, the problem was fixed by changing BRANDS. I’m exactly sure of the standards on memory sticks but may find variations.
I still rather a Corolla over a i30.
Waiting for elec. windows in the rear and ESP on the base model Corolla.5 speed auto would be nice too.
They are a lovely vehicle, and well worth the little extra over the i30 [as long as your not wanting diesel]
Good on hyundai for putting the heat on corolla, do more so that they can upgrade sooner
cheers
F-0
Good news at last. SLX CDRi has arrived at our Hyundai Dealer. Agree with Eyma Teapot Moonlight Blue is a nice colour so will stick with first choice. Getting Towing Kit as part of deal so will be Thursday when take delivery (just in time for Easter – yippee) Probably have a 1000km up by Easter Tuesday. Will give an update on economy, driveability etc for anyone thats interested then…
P.S. THERE WAS A PETROL SLX AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH TWO FLIP REMOTE KEYS, MY DIESEL ONLY HAS ONE. HAS ANYONE ELSE GOT TWO KEYS FOR THEIR i30 WITHOUT PAYING EXTRA?
Will post this on all three i30 blogs to see if i get any feedback…
Cheers,
Ness,
If your budget allows than you should go the slx model. The main reason i say this is because with the sx you get two front airbags and in the slx you also get side and curtain airbags. Apart from the obvious safety advantage, the slx will have far better resail as most states will be passing laws to have all new cars sold in this fine country of ours to have side & curtain airbags by around the year 2010-11.
Apart from the airbags, the slx also gains Climate control air con, Trip computer, 16′” alloys, fog lights Cruise control on the Deisel and last but not least, Colour coded door handles. Yeah Yeah!
Dazz,congratulation.. my SR has only one set of flip key,was thinking to get another one but quite expensive around $400..that’s rediculous,every car should have 2 set of keys as standard.
Dazz, congrat…my SR has only one flip key set,was thinking to get another one but quite expensive, around $400 which is quite rediculous, every car should have 2 set as standard.
Hi Maximark,
Thanks.. Did you get an alloy wheel as your spare as Bob did on another forum? I won’t know whether I scored one or not until I collect the car 2moro. The specs say a 15inch steel wheel as a spare but Bob and anyone else who scores a mag as a spare is laughing as it means you can rotate all 5 tyres and thing wont look dodgy if you happen to get a puncture!
Cheers,
Dazz
Hi Dazz, just checked mine, it’s 15 steel wheel,and maximum speed is 80k if it’s used,too bad. I agree with you, it would look very ugly compare to the alloy ones. I call hyundai tomorrow to check the cost for a 17 alloy one. By the way, if anyone in perth has a SX model, whatever it costs for 15′ steel one, you can have it for carton of beer :)
Hi Maximark,
That’s a bit weird (maximum 80km on your spare) sounds like they’ve given you a skinny space saver spare wheel. On the Hyundai website and in the brochure all models are supposed to get a full size 15inch wheel! If it’s a space saver I’d be jumping up and down at the dealership and putting the pressure on for a very special deal on another alloy…I love the alloys on the SR model unfortunately because I wanted the Diesel had to go with second best and don’t want to waste money upgrading them now. Reckon if a 2nd remote key costs over $400 those flash SR mags with 17 inch tyres to match might set you back anywhere from $600 to $1000 each!
Good Luck…
Dazz
Hi Dazz,I think my spare one is full size 15 inch,somehow they put the speed limit on it, maybe it’s due to a big different size between the 225/45/17 and the 185/65/15.I read the manual book and learnt that the car ESP and TCS won’t work if I have the spare one on,another reason to get the 17 one, I forgot to call hyundai to check the price for the cost today,will call them after Easter.Hopefully it’s not up to your figures :) The SR 17 alloy look nice but it gives the car a bigger turning cirle 10.8m compare to 10.34m of 16 alloy,and my wife find it hard in the carpark sometime. Honestly I prefer the 16 alloy, it looks smart and also save you money when have tyres changed since it’s a comon tyres size.I think i30 diesel is a better choice than the petrol, it has more torque and better economy. I bought the petrol because the wife can’t drive the manual, at that time the auto diesel wasn’t available either. Enjoy your new i30 diesel and Happy Easter.
Cheers,
MXM
Hi Maximark,
Thanks for the good cheer and encouragement. The i30 owners on these forums seems like a great bunch.. very friendly and positive with their comments.
Well, I collected our Moonlight Blue SLX CRDi at 4.30pm yesterday and ran up a quick 130kms (including test drive by my friend “LCAT” – his blog comments to come)
Firstly although I only got one Electronic Key did manage to score an Alloy spare wheel (bonus!) On the negative side I was a bit stunned to get less than half a tank of fuel (the dealer here in Tasmania has according to the salesman told them to only supply half a tank as over a month at current fuel price full tanks would add up! – not impressed) Gauge was showing just under half full but when i went straight to garage managed to squeeze in 32 litres of diesel (ouch).
Initial Impressions, Great finish and paintwork, lovely steering excellent pull from 2000rpm, good ride and nice brake feel.
On the negative side fair bit noisier on course bitumen than our new Tiida and refrigerated glovebox a bit of a joke (very small). Economy so far including say 20km of city and 110 of highway at 100 – 100 kmph is around 6 ltrs per 100km. Trip computer appears to be pessimistic on remaining KMs …Happy Easter to all will give more feedback after trip to Hobart and return (over 600kms) in a few days time…
Cheers,
Dazz
After looking at second hand Mazda 3’s for months, I thought I would branch out and test drive an i30 – just to confirm that it was definitely a Mazda that I wanted. I have now totally eaten a slice of humble pie and am just about to place an order for an i30 diesel. I must admit that I will still be a touch hesitant about admitting that I’m a “High and Dry” owner but after summing up the fuel economy, driveability, looks, interior finish and not to mention a 5 year, unlimited km warranty – I am fast becoming Hyundai’s best advocate! Good on you Hyundai – finally, a stylish and economical car that doesn’t come with the million dollar price tag.
Good on you SLS (Haven’t heard them called “High & Dry” before – good play on words!) You won’t regret it.
Hyundais are getting more and more reliable and the stigma associated with owning a cheaper brand will become a distant memory with cars like the i30 now on the road.
We’re getting nothing but positive feedback about our 130 diesel and it seems to have a quirky likeability and a feel good factor that is hard to put your finger on.
No doubt Hyundai is good at replicating features of other brands but it often seems to enhance them and these features combined with a few of their own like key out lights off improve the owning experience even further.
Finally I have approached Hyundai about what support they would lend to the establishment of an Australia wide i30 club (they have advised someone will respond within 3 working days – if I can get it off the ground with enough members I would try and negotiate say a 4 cent fuel discount on fuel for members through one of the fuel companies – including diesel of course!)
Cheers,
Dazz
Dazz,
Great idea, not sure what support you’d receive from them though. I have about one month left to go until I receive my i30 and I can’t wait! Saw one yesterday at a shopping centre and reminded me of what is yet to come! :)
apologies, the above was me haha i think i was thinking of replyign to “Dazz” and typed in Dazz in the name field lol
Hi all,
I guess you can put me into the same group of people who thinks Hyundai cars are all about quantity, not so quality. Intended of getting a Civic until I saw this! From I can gather around the web, this car is beauty! I might have to test drive it myself to believe it. Can anyone recommend a Hyundai dealer around Melbourne?
Cheers.
The real test for hyundais as far as Im concerned is reliability, something no 24 hour car review is going to discover. I have friends who have bought new (Getz) and older ones (Sonata) and had problems.
TP,
you mean the same Hyundai that is now serving it up to toyota in terms of quality?
my mrs has a hyundai and to my extreme surprise has never had a problem with it apart from batteries, plugs and leads.
i even asked the mechanic one time when it had a service and a bit of a going over what were common problems with them?
he said they are actually pretty good. just make sure you keep on top of the plugs and leads because they wear a little more quickly. (that i had already discovered)
yes you can tell by looking at them that they are a little cheaper, but have a look at a lancer of the same age for eg and they prob aint that far behind.
plus the new i30 has gone a hell of a long way to shed the stigma of “cheap looking” when it comes to hyundais.
the new sonata also looks like they have chosen a bit of honda styling and so to has its styling shed the “cheap looking” stigma.
TP, You are a joke. Fair dinkum, If isnt a toyota you just bag it. Didnt your mother ever teach you that if you aint got something nice to say, than say nothing at all?
JKelly, I ordered my i30 SR over the phone yesterday and thanks to Maximark’s advise re pricing, I am happy with the deal I got. It was 3rd time lucky for me, I thought I’d make a final call before giving up the idea of buying a Hyundai. The salesman I got was very friendly and helpful.
If you like, I can email you details. I live in Melbourne.
Cheers,
CV
Hi CV,
That would be great! Just how much you paid for the SR and I was really thinking of getting the SLX CRDi. Did you test driven both? How do I give you my email?
Thanks mate.
No problem CV.Congrat on the purchase.Try to get 2 pair of flip keys if you can, a few new i30 owners were lucky to have 2 of them, so it wouldn’t hurt to ask for them. Also, I hope you are lucky to get the spare alloy as well, because it costs about $850 each without tyres :(
JKelly, if you leave your email here or if you like just create another hotmail address and post it here.
I was told all new cars comes with 2 fob keys and I paid $28,500 for the SR, same as Maximark. It was a good deal. The second dealer I went to can only come down to $29,500.
I’ve already got the ipod cable thrown in, so I don’t know about the spare alloy wheel, Maximark. I don’t want to ask for too much. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.
I did test drive both, Jkelly. I went for SR cos’ if you compare the SLX and SR, the SR has better value and I like the look and the interior.
I am negotiating to buy an i30 SLX CDRi auto. Test drove the SX – loved it. Currently own a Mazda 3 SP23 and the i30 has more guts. I have had a few people tell me that getting the Protextz (ESP and Traction Control)is a waste of money?? Also have read that the tyres on the SLx are not crash hot. Can anyone help? Thanks
Tallulah -
Yeah i can help, buy a Corolla!
Hope that helps, God Bless
Cheers
F-0
Tallulah…Easy choice mate, buy an i30 as review I read in Australian paper stated in it better then Toyota on build quality (which it ranked above Toyota) and reliability and presented in an astonishing un-Korean like way! Better value for money too as better deals and more inclusions! My hat I wear is not of “one car maker”…unlike DINGO!
Hope that helps
Cheers
NM
Plus i30 is diesel, tyres can swap over and will only get better hey! As for protecx pack….get it period as I had car accident years ago and suffer from shyte neck….. do “not” hesitate safety out of equation even if upgrade!
Tallulah,
I have the SLX CRDi and got 5 16″ mags and Kuhmo tyres. I have read elsewhere that some are criticial of the tyres fitted, but I am unable to fault them. I also read read one review that praised the 16″ Kuhmos and bagged the 15″ Hankooks fitted to the SX. For sheer road holding, the SR 17″ mags and tyres would win out. Consider also a review I read from UK that favoured the 16″ over the 17″ as the lattter gave a harsh ride due to the lower profile. As I drive on country roads and sometimes dirt, the higher profile 16″ wheels and tyres are a good middle of the road choice.
Bob
I have just bought the sx diesel, my dad & brother are both mechanics and had a drive, my brother wants to buy one now and my dad said its a beauty, bar the hyundai badge, I’m stoked and for a diesel car, fab price, go Hyundai!!
Hi CV,
Thanks for following up on my request. Can you please post the details of the dealer to jkelly001@live.com.au?
Well, deciding on which to buy between SR and SLX CRDi is a toughy. I was thinking of getting the diesel because I travel about 25,000km per year. But I am started to wonder is diesel really the way to go, given it is constantly 20 cents higher than petrol anyway? Hmmm…
Cheers.
Jkelly,
Don’t get too hung up about deciding whether to go diesel or petrol. Just test drive the diesel, preferably where there are some hills. The answer will be obvious, even if diesel is a little dearer.
Being a SLX diesel owner very much agree with LK.
It’s not just about the economy but the driveability and resale as well. With all the good press and the waiting list for the Diesel should be the best ever Hyundai for resale (hopefully)
Don’t reckon the 20cents difference between unleaded and Diesel will remain expect(and hope)it will return to the 5 or 10 cent difference sooner rather than later.
Regards,
Dazz
JKelly, have sent details to your email. Good Luck!!
I’d say, read, gather info and then decide. The final decision is still yours to make.
I am happy with my choice of the SR model. :-)
Cheers,
CV
ESP is standard in all Hyundai’s sold in NZ, surprised that this is not the same in Australia..
Hi Greg,
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. From what I’ve seen the I30’s are considerably dearer in NZ even taking the exchange rates into account. Not sure about other Hyundai models though. As there are still a few high profile manufacturers in Aust that don’t have ESP across the range guess they decided pricing was more critical.
Cheers,
Dazz
CV or Maximark,
I have a favour to ask.
I have been reading this blog with interest for some weeks and finally took an SR auto for a test drive last weekend and am sold on it. Will be ordering one this week, though the prices I have got so far I feel have been a combination of low-balling and a token discount. I would appreciate it if you could email me where you purchased and any tips re prices.
My email is nigel_bartonsmith@yahoo.com.au
thanks, Nigel
Sure Nigel, will post info to you. Dealer I went to, highly recommended and am happy to recommend.
Cheers and Good Luck,
CV
Just got my i30 SLX diesel auto 2 days ago so thought I’d post a few thoughts as they’re quite new (the car, not the thoughts!). Interior fit very good and tight during driving – no sqeaks or rattles. Certainly sounds like a diesel from the outside but very quiet inside – where it counts. Was interested in the ‘turbo lag’ but it’s about .3 to .5 of a second and then the beast is off like a rocket – perfectly OK for about 99.95% of how most people drive. After take-off you’d not know if you’re driving petrol or diesel. Very comfortable/supportive seats and (I’m 6′ in the old language) able to get a great driving position coutesy of the ‘pump up’ seat adjustment. Also plenty of room in the back for my lanky 13 year old son. Some cute ideas such as the A/C glove box (with pen and business card holders), rear seat A/C via vents under the front seats, multi-media capability etc. Have read some comments about the styling but there are only so many variations possible on a mid size 5 door hatch so – does it matter if there are elements of BMW/Mazda/Toyota/Honda, who cares? Car purchase should largely be based on ‘fitness for purpose’. Similarly some comments on the cost of diesel fuel – be aware you use less of it and the additional cost of the diesel option will retain it’s resale value over the next few years as all manufacturers are pushing their diesel options. Got the Protectz package for an additional $990 as it seems good value and all new cars in Victoria will require the additional air bags within 2 years so, again, a good aid to resale value. Last point regarding the pricing – when getting an insurance cover note yesterday the agent made the comment “…oh, we’ve had quite a few of those recently…” with my point being Hyundai are selling as many of these as they can get off the boats so don’t expect any cute deals for a year or so. In summary, delighted with it. Cheers – Clive.
Hi Clive,
As a fellow CRDi SLX owner (mines a manual) would like to invite you to the Hyundai Forums Site (www.hyundai-forums.com) – Myself and many others are delighted with our i30’s also and if you haven’t been there yet you’ll find some interesting topics to browse.
I’m taking nothing away from this site which is also very good!
Regards,
Dazz
Good to see you guys enjoying your i30. Many of the comments could be duplicated for my Golf. The ease of driving belies the kilowatt figure and I’m sure you’ll be just as delighted in 2 years time.
Hi Golfschwein,
Thanks for the positive comments (on behalf of all i30 owners)
It’s nice to see the owner of another brand having positive things to say…
Rgds,
Dazz
Hi,
We’ve recently started looking at upgrading our 2nd car. Have been looking at Mazda3(top of list), Corolla,Astra and Lancer. My husband (a previous Hyundai owner) asked me to look at the i30 today. I did with some reservations and my 14yr old son in my ear about “ugly” Hyundais. I now have to eat humblepie and admit it is at the top of my list. Well done Hyundai on a great looking car. Does anyone know what the wait time for a Slx is? Thanks
IA:
A couple of days ago I spoke to my local Hyundai dealer about the waiting time to buy a new i30. He said there is at least a “12″ week waiting period for the new i30 & reading between the lines it could even be longer. Hyundai really have a supply problem here with this car, because it is just so “good” & I hope that if I am ever in the market to buy one that I don’t have to wait 12 weeks for it. The model I like is the SX diesel manual.
Cheers !
IA,
The wait is going to be quite a while. We ordered an SLX Diesel at the beginning of December (with a protectz Pack) and took delivery at the beginning of March – but the wait was worth it. Hyundai are soon to open a European plant which should help with supply shortages, but that will not help in the immediate future.
If you decide to go the i30 way, suggest you visit (and perhaps join) the Hyundai Forums. Lots of Aussies are heading that way and there is a lot of discussion and info there. http://www.hyundai-forums.com
Go the i30
Bob
Hi Bob,
Surprised if we get european made i30’s here as from what i’ve read we won’t be getting the Kia Ceed in Aus because they are only built in Europe and the freight cost would make them too dar here.
If they use a Euro factory to feed demand in other countries it might free up demand from the Korean Factory.
Guess time will tell. Don’t want the Kias with 7 yr warranty to come hee as would possibly effect our resale.
Loving all the positive feedback about “our” vehicles.
Good One!
Dazz
Interesting to see the enthusiasm of i30 owners and soon-to-be owners on this and the main Hyundai forum site. But having a manual SX CRDi, it is easy to see why.
Like so many others on these forums I would never have considered a Hyundai before the i30, having been a French car buff most of my life. I test drove the i30 back to back with a Peugeot 207 diesel (same dealer), and put down the deposit on the i30 the next day.
Really enjoyed punting it up the Brown Mountain (far South Coast of NSW) a couple of weeks ago. Had a red Holden ute (mags, body kit etc) come up fast behind me when I got caught up behind a slower car. When the slow car pulled over I thought I would see how the i30 handled. That little diesel really punches above its weight, and the ute vanished out the back. After we got on the flat he passed me like he was in a hurry. And the best part, 5.4 l/100k which included plenty of city driving. I am hooked!
LK:
Congratulations on buying a great car & with the price of fuel only rising you certainly made the right choice. I would have no hesitation at all in buying a new i30 CRDi but I dont like the idea of waiting about 3 months for it.
Cheers !
Hi Lightbulb,
Not wrong about rising price of fuel! Yesterday diesel was 162.9 cents at a servo that had 145.9 in late Feb. Somebody is being ripped off!
Interesting point you raise about waiting times – I wonder whether people out there are buying something else because they don’t want to wait 3 months, or whether they are just holding on to their current vehicle for the time being?
LK -
In Melb. its 20cpl gap…..and growing!GLAD/WRAPED to be out of my DIEsel vans! :-)
Like i said before DIEsel is total False economy,INFACT there is NO saving to be had….!
You CANNOT even make up the $2.5k extra to get into a DIEsel let alone the +20cpl your paying, due to higher and higher use of DIEsel together with the lower sulfer fuel coming out 01/01/09 [UP will go the price, needs more refining] its TOTAL 100% MADNESS and money losing deal to buy a DIEsel.
The ONLY solution is the Made in Australia fuel = LPG!
Cheers
F-0
The fact this car was introduced to take on the Focus/Astra/Golf was a big undertaking for ‘cheap’ Hyundai and they failed miserably. The Focus/Astra/Golf are all much better. The interior is especially horrible and that plastic on the door trims is woeful. Keep kidding yourselves that this is a superior car when it’s really just an Elantra with a new name. Funny, funny, funny :-)
ADAM -
Its NOT a class leader, long way from that!
Nonetheless its also not the worst either.
Its just a good value for money vehicle, but forget the DIEsel if you think u can save money with it[why else would you bother with that smelly/grease stuff?]
I still find it expensive -v- the others,
The BEST overall car in the cat. is the Corolla.
The Civic and Mazda3 close behind.
END-OF-STORY!
Cheers
F-0
Fortunately for the manufacturers, people choose cars for all sorts of reasons. I guess it comes down to what features you consider important and what you don’t. The important thing is that you are happy with your decision. I’m relaxed.
LK -
Indeed, 100% correct, if your happy with your purchase and it spins-your-top driving around in a pick car with yellow hub caps, so be it!
Long live many different choice
PS No such thing as “best”, just better!
:-)
Cheers
F-0
F-O, I was told by a toyota dealer principle that the facelift Corolla coming in this August will miss out on ESP and TCS again :)
By the way, buying a diesel is not just about little bit economy over petrol, it’s all about TORQUE.
Just test driven the diesel i30. Seems like a good car but the engine is limited to 3000 rpm, resulting in top speed through the gears of 25km/h, 45km/h, 75km/h, 105km/h, 140km/h. Is the petrol more responsive without this “dead spot” / rpm limit? Appreciate your comments. Thanks
I only have a Golf experience to report, Dmann. Its redline is 4500 rpm and it’s absolutely all over by then. Change up.
How is the i30 limited to 3,000 rpm? I don’t understand. Was the salesman nannying you?
Technique: bury the right clog hard and early, even in a higher gear than you might be accustomed to with petrol and change at four thou-ish. There’s no reason it shouldn’t impress, or be fun.
Dmann, actually there are three reported cases which the 130 diesel wont pass 3000 rpm in rev, and I believe yours test one is the 4th one. Hyundai engineers are trying to fix this problem at the moment.
Hi Dmann,
Assuming you extrapolated that top speed in 5th and didn’t take her up to 140kph while test driving!
Regards,
Dazz
Thanks for the feedback, especially Maximark. I didn’t really want to be put off buying so I’ll follow up the fault aspect. Appreciated!
Thank god for imported cars such as the Hyundai I30
Just like the Jap cars before them the Hyundai is now producing quality cars after a few years and are now getting it right.Remember the early Nissans,Mazda and Toyotas
It has taken the JAP and now Korean manufacturers to force Australian makers to include many of the features we now get as standard in our cars.Yes I am old enough to remember when Aussie cars had no radio, disc brakes, efi, carpets,even heaters and carpet were not standard. It took these cheap? manufactures to smarten up the Aussies? ” realy American” cars “GM & FORD”.installing these features as standard
When was the last time you drove a quality GM small product “never” keep sending the small cheapies. Aussie makers will go the same way as their American cousins soon out the back door. The only reason they still exist is because we continue to prop them up with protectionist tariffs
Hi guys!!
I’m glad to hear you’re all happy with your i30’s! I test drove one yesterday, and it was a very nice drive. I was tempted to put an order in, but I have to wait another month, talk to my mum who is helping me with my loan. But I’m dead set on the i30. I’m getting an SX, only cause it’s what I can afford, but really there isn’t that much difference. Once I put some tinted windows and rims it will look sweet. Anyhow, just wondering, those who have got/are getting an i30, did you call around different dealers? Did you try to compromise business with them? My partner reckons we should hit them up and say “why should we buy from you, will you give us floor matts, etc”? Do you reckon that would make a difference? Or would they say no? thanks!
Ness:
I would suggest you shop around & ask if they will include any extras. You certainly picked the right car for a lot of reasons but if you decide on a diesel SX i30 model, prepare for a fairly long wait for it. The diesel in particular is so popular at the moment that Hyundai have a supply problem with these cars. My local Hyundai sales rep said there is at least a 12 week waiting list & could be longer depending on options. I am not trying to put you off from buying an i30 but you must realize that Hyundai are producing such great cars now that you may have to wait a little longer for your car. Still the wait will be well worth it in my opinion particularly with the i30.
Cheers !
Hi Lightbulb.
I’m going for the petrol SX which apparently has a 6-8 week wait, which works out convenient for me anyway cause my sister is in process of getting her licence and is buying my car. Anyhow, thanks!
Hi, we are looking at changing from a 6cylinder and have had a quick look at the i30. Could anyone that has one, know if there is enough room for a 6ft 4. man to sit comfortably and also for a distance of travelling time.All your reviews sound great, but we need that comfort.Both of our kids are adults, so we aren’t really needing a huge car anymore.
thanks.
Hi Lindsay
My nephew-in-law is 6 foot 2, and has a Subaru Outback. He sat in the driver’s seat of my i30 recently, pushed the seat back and said there was a lot more leg room in the i30 than in the Outback.
If you like the torque of a 6cylinder, you will like the diesel. I can’t believe the performance, especially up hills, from the ‘little’ 1.6 litre engine. Even with 4 adults there is no noticeable difference in performance.
Take one for a test drive. Just bear in mind there is a fair waiting time for delivery.
Hi Maximark & LK
Don’t think I’ve seen you on the i30 forum at Hyundai Forums it’s definately worth a look (there is also a link to our new i30 Club…)
Cheers,
Dazz
Actually you have Dazz, but under a slightly different name – the i30 forum requires a minimum of three letters to register. I fess up to not yet signing up for the new club though. Mainly ’cause I am too busy trying to keep up with all the new postings on the i30 forum site!
Regards
L
Next time we are in Toowoomba we’ll organise to take one for a test drive. Always seem to have trouble with head room, so we’ll see. We are also use to being able to overtake with really good pick up. You have mentioned that we’d be impressed with the up hill performance of the diesel. Do you think the room in the back seat(leg room) is sufficient?
Hi LK,
Although official 0-60 times for the diesel are around 11.8 which seems sluggish at the best driveability is amazing. Accelleration on the highway for overtaking is very linear and effortless (even up hills).
Rear Seat legroom is also equal to or better than the class average (i30 in the same class as Mazda 3, Focus, Etc..
Good luck finding a diesel to test drive though, due to their popularity most demo cars have been sold off!
Regards,
Dazz
Hi Lindsay,
I think Dazz was addressing his comments above to you rather than me, probably because we both have great initials!
Re headroom, the i30 has adjustable height drivers seat (and adjustable steering column), so I suspect you would be ok.
Also as Dazz says, rear legroom is pretty good. When we were looking around for a new car, I was looking for something that could carry four adults around in comfort (aging in-laws in the back). So I adjusted the front seat to suit my driving position, then hopped out and sat in the back. Plenty of room for me, but obviously your legs are longer than mine. No harm in checking it out.
My comments about performance apply to the manual, I can’t speak for the automatic.
Enjoy your car hunting!
Regards
Lawrie
Sorry,
I thought you were both one and the same!
The bit of feedback I’ve had from Auto Crdi owners would suggest the Diesel is well matched to an auto box and so performance is still impressive.
Cheers,
Dazz
Hi Guys, Just got back from a days fishing trip to the coast. Fishing was ordinary but the trip was great in my Hyundai I30 crdi slx manual with just on 5000k on the clock. Reset trip computer at start of trip leaving from Canberra and finishing in Batemans bay, approx 150k. I averaged 4.7lp/100k for the trip. Not to shabby when one takes into account the windy and steap hills one must negotiate on the trip. Handled like a dream through the curves. For the record, just finished a delicious feed of flounder that my 11 year old son caught topping off a really great day.
Yes the i30 diesel is a good car, better than the petrol i30 in some areas, i test drove both the mazda3 diesel and the i30crdi.. i purchased the mazda, (27grand driveaway 07 runout) because of six speed box and standard dsc stability control,and also the 3 diesel has handling and performance more akin to a sports model(way ahead of the petrol 3!)unfortunatley the i30 diesel does not.
Hey Eyma,
Are you on the Hyundai Forums or i30 Club site with a different Moniker? They’re worth a look,
Cheers,
Dazz
Yes Paul all good, but DIEsel fuek has cracked +30cpl more than ULP……and rising.
01/01/2009 more rises due to lower sulfer DIEsel which needs more refining.
Cheers
F-0
the price of diesel fuel in oz bears no relation to the cost of refining we are one of the few western developed nations where the price of diesel is higher than ulp,we share that dubious honour with the poms.
incidently,low sulfer diesel has been around for years in europe,just another bullshit conjob by oil companys to rip off aussie motorists with the help of do nothing goverments state and federal!
cheers
paul
Hi all
I used to own a Huyundai 150 Excel about 12 years ago and I loved the thing (unbelievably). It was just a happy little car and never gave me a day’s trouble. Since then I have had all sorts, Alfa 145, BMW 320 diesel, Pajero, and lots more. Although I am a girl I LOVE cars. Now I just need to sell my Subaru Liberty so i can get my hands on my new i30. I think I want the diesel SLX, because I want all the airbags and tweeters, etc. ;-) I also want ESP. HOWEVER although I drove both the manual and auto I am SO undecided on which to get. I love speed but here in Aus you can mostly only do 60 (Gaah!) so I’m gonna get fines. I loved the manual but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit of a hassle to change gears. But the auto seemed to have a flat spot. Also, so what if you only use 4,7l per 100 kms when diesel costs that much more??? Also, I didn’t drive the 2 litre and now I am regretting it. Any advice from thrill-seekers? HELP!
I would drive the petrol and see if the power/torque delivery meets your expectations.
Auto/manual I’d choose manual especially for a four pot car and also in real world a lot better on fuel if driven properly in my experience.
If u aim to keep the car for less than five years get an auto as resale/easier to sell when u want to upgrade again.
Nice looking car. Good luck.
would it be possible to buy a new hyundai i30 with your own wheels ordered somewhere else, and they can put it for you and get your money back from their stock wheels itself?
Or is it easier to get the car first and order the wheels?
We ordered the i30SR 2 litre petrol auto yesterday. Compared to Impreza, Lancer, Corolla and Mazda3 it certainly comes out on top for features and style. Very sporty- handles well and a great get about car!!! Who cares what the badge says you can’t go wrong with a 5 year warranty. Our little excel (10years old) has not missed a beat. Good on HYUNDAI!!!
I ordered my SLX in the dark grey today. 1.6 manual with esp extra and a back spoiler extra. I was a bit disappointed that esp is not standard when they have even included it in the Getz! $780 for esp, and $495 for a spoiler.
You can trade in the mags for after-market mags but they don’t give you the full value back, only a couple of hundred dollars.
Oh, and mats will set you back $115.
BTW I have a 2 month wait for my car ;-(
Hi P P
You won’t regret ordering the SLX diesel (it’s worth the wait)
come and wisit us soon at
http://www.i30ownersclub.com
Cheers…
Picked up my i30 SR in black on 31st Dec 07. Please with they way it runs. This is the second Hyundai I have bought, the first being a 2004 Elantra Elite. Both times I compared with the Mazda 3 and went to the Hyundai as they offer a better value for money at the time and service costs are lower.
Service from Hyundai Springwood in Brisbane is great.
Friend of mine has the Mazda 3 and is really impressed with the i30 and seriously thinking of an 130 for the future.
Hi all,
I have been looking at i30, diappointed the sr doesn’t come out in crdi (although I have been told Hyunai are thinking about it depending on demand). Have done lots of research and decided I like the slx crdi. the salesman has told me that for an extra $600 I can get the slx with basically all sr specs minus 17″ alloys and body kit. interested to know if anyone else has been told this.
Hi gang, reading lots about the i30, Can anyone tell me if you can fit a baby capsule in the rear seat, plus a childcar seat and a pram?
Hi Babycruser,
I30 has 60/40 slip fold rear seat and boot is same size as Mazda 3 hatch (with seats up) so depending on size of pram would be tight but will fit…Great car…
Suggest you visit http://www.i30ownersclub.com to learn more ;-)
Bought a Diesel Auto SX last week. Ripper car.Have had windows tinted and 17in wheels put on. BEWARE…Car had to be returned to dealer for FULL front end and steering geometry alteration to take 17’s. I am in the trade, yet it still cost $450. Worth it (to me anyway!) as car looks awsome. 16’s will go on ok, but any bigger is a prob. Never considered buying one of these things, but changed mind after driving my sisters. PS ipod cable a rip off!
We purchased an I30 back in February 2008. It was an excellent car, and we were both very happy with it and were giving it a huge wrap to all our friends who were knocking Hyundai’s! Unfortunately, a couple of BIG problems have emerged since the purchase. Firstly, about 3 months after we purchased the car, we had problems starting it. It was intermittent, and would start most of the time, but every now and then it wouldnt. As a result of this, my wife and 6 month old baby boy would be left stranded at ATMs, shopping centres etc until the car “miraculously” started again! We took it back to Tweed Hyundai on numerous occasions, but of course, it would work fine for them and they couldnt fault it! This went on for about 2 months. They finally figured out the “key chip receiver” in the car was faulty, and wouldnt accept the key code, which wouldnt allow the car to start. Anyway, thats now fixed. THE SECOND problem only raised its ugly head yesterday! The clutch went in the car! The car has only done 4,000 klms so we were dissapointed to say the least. My wife and baby boy were almost wiped out in a car accident as a result of this as she couldnt get it into gear while she was going through a busy intersection, which resulted in a truck narrowly missing them! She came home crying, and was a nervous wreck! Anyway, Hyundai have just picked up the car and have taken it away, hopefully it will be repaired soon, and that we wont have anymore problems! As a result of this, I’d never buy a Hyundai again! But thats just my opinion!
I’ve just had my 15,000km service in my i30 sx diesel, and am glad to say nothing has been wrong with it at all so far! Even the service price was fairly reasonable at $193, so I was quite happy. Also went to Qld and back in August for $260 in fuel for nearl 5200km without it missing a beat. Love the little car.
I’ve just bought myself an i30. Pick it up tomorrow. Had a pretty tight budget but managed to get the diesel sx with tints and safety pack for 23000 which I thought wasn’t too bad. Am kind of wishing I could’ve gone for the next model up for all the fancy stuff (climate control, cruise control etc) but hopefully won’t miss all that too much. This is my first ever new car so am pretty excited!
Its sad you have had such a scare with your i30 Geoff and quite supprising you would have such issues, I wouldn’t see this as a reflection on Hyundai directly, more just a case of bad luck. Most new car owners would be very happy if the only incounted 2 problems in the first 7 months of ownership, Its just a shame that the clutch failing almost caused a major accident. I wouldn’t cross Hyundai off your list yet for your next car as this could happen with any make, in fact I know of a couple of examples in BMW, Merc and Honda. I hope your problems are now over.
recente ly took delivery of my vivid blue I30 SLX CRDI manual. Very impressed with the car. Even has cruise control. Would recommend the car and the wife loves it too.
I have just purchased the new i30 slx Diesel Vivid blue, To sum it up in one word FANTASTIC.
I’ve had Falcons and Commodores but must say i can’t see myself ever buying one of those cars again ever. This i30 is rock solid and drives like a big Six with power and great fuel economy.
We have our white i30 SLX CRDI for one month and this car is excellent. Looks small on the outside but is very roomy and easy to get in and out of. Drives and handles really well. Everything about this car is well thought out. The diesel is amazing. No need to rev this thing as it pulls strong from 1500rpm all the way to 4000rpm. We have plenty of steep hills our way and the i30 tackles them better than any 6 cylinder Falcon or Commodore. I have driven company Commodores for the last 12 years and the i30 is better. 5 year unlimited km warranty, economy, 5 star ANCAP safety…..GREAT! If you are wondering why the American government is bailing out Ford, GM and Chrysler from financial ruin, please ask Hyundai as the Korean car maker is listening to the motorists.
I ordered a red i30 SX petrol today! Realy excited! Just wondering if anynoe thought getting colour coded handles are worth it and how much would it be?
Thanks!
Carol
Anti-Carjacking feature in Australia? Is it really that bad in Alice Springs?
hi
i need help, i want to know if there is a problem with my I30 or not, when i mount the mp3 player (512MB) and start playing the songs on it, suddenly it turns to radio system, and when i try to get back to USB mode after a while it comes back to radio mode by itself, what’s the problem? i tried to change to another player and it’s the same, and also it happens when on CD mode it turns back to radio mode… !!!!!
I cannot play my i pod in my hyundai i 30
Khader..
Have not heard of this problem before..
Suggest you post your question on our site..
http://www.i30ownersclub.com
Over 450 i30 Owners on that site now…
I test drove a petrol i30 today with a young friend who is buying his first car. I was very impressed with build quality, and the drive was so much fun. This little car felt sporty and willing, it bustled through the traffic with ease and whizzed around corners like a Mini. I didn’t want to take it back to the dealers. The sound-proofing is very good, there was very little engine noise or road noise, in fact it’s quieter than my current-series Mercedes E-class. If I can work out how to get rid of the hyundai badges so the neighbours won’t ask if my business is going downhill, I’ll buy one of these for myself. I suspect that it’s better than a BMW 1 and it’s miles ahead of Mazda 3, in my opinion. There should be a queue for these. I drove previous hyundais and was not impressed, sort of motorised wheelbarrows, but this is something else.
Thanks everyone for your comments. I am looking at getting a new car soon and i30 is high on my list. Good to see lots of positives about it. I have a 12 year old Hyundai Excel and it is still going well.
I was contemplating buying one of these (SLX model), but decided against it after renting one (SX automatic model) and driving it for a week. Styling is great and the range of goodies you get for your money is excellent. The deal killer for me was the bumpy ride (felt every bump in the road) and the really slow acceleration when moving. It takes off through the low gears very well, but in the higher gears It almost felt like the clutch was slipping. You put your foot down and the engine revs up, but it takes ages for the car’s speed to actually increase. Changing from 80 to 100 kph took a full 6 seconds to achieve. Perhaps this car did have a slipping clutch, but there was only 11,000 kms on the clock. Around town it would be fine, but if you need to do some highway driving it falls down a bit and I wouldn’t attempt to overtake without a long run up. At 100 kph the rev counter is sitting just above 2,500 revs which I found odd for a 2.0 litre engine. My previous 2.0 litre cars would sit closer to 2,000.
I just purchased a 2009 I30 SR. The car came with a 17″ alloy spare wheel, and did not come with, nor was I offered, the recommended cable for Ipod connectivity. its only today when I’ve tried to use the regular PC cable, that I’ve discovered I might have to dish out more money to get the required cable. Using the regular PC cable, only about 50 songs out of over 3000 songs, were available to play while driving.
I also have a 15 year old Hyundai Excel….has never missed a beat and is still going strong. The only way I’d give her up is for a new i30, I think it’s a great looking car.
Credit where credit is due…well done Hyundai.
Anyone put off by Mark’s comments should visit …
http://www.i30ownersclub.com
The Manual diesel is the pick of the litter in my opinion but the great majority of our 580+ members are happy with their performance and most of the the cars other attributes too…
are the diesels a bit thin on the ground at the moment? my local dealership didn’t have *any* to offer for a look or drive :(
Very Rare Brian….
I had trouble getting one.
Still having trouble, ordered a couple SLX Diesel Auto’s and have been waiting about 5 weeks now with a further 3 more before the dealer see’s it. Can’t believe on the wait time, funny thing is you see i30 ads every 2nd ad break. Can you imagine someone going yeah i want to go check that out only to be told it is a 4-8 week wait for the car.
Interested to see how the new Holden Cruze CD Diesel goes in terms of sales and stock, definately will take some of Hyundai’s potential sales away me thinks…..
Jase thats actually very quick. You want a couple so easy to imagine alot of other people do too?
Dont look at Golf Diesels then (15weeks) or Hilux diesel SR (16weeks).
Dealers are caring way less stock now because of the downturn, so cutomers have to be patient.
I must admit that the i30 is growing on me [its for her] be nice if the base SX had a trip-computer [like Corolla/Astra etc] in it and also if they had a 5-speed auto in it.[Like the Jizz]
Hyundai Australia have certified a 1.6 engine for this, wonder when/if they are going to start selling it here [Its the normal ULP engine used in Europe]
Whens the update out?
Cheers
F-0
Not now that its gone up $1k, was already marginal, why not like the sister Cerato and REDUCE it by $1k?
The Lancer punches it silly in superior quailty, value, features, warranty, capped serive etc etc
The i30 is better than a FSM Niki though in all fairness
I did a couple back to back test drives between the Lancer and the i30.
the lancer may appeal to some people on its looks and may sound good on paper but is as mundane as a Camry to drive, it was a big disappointment.
The i30 impressed as a good overall package, easily as well put together as the Lancer.
I30
Any Melbourne dealers offering free-carwash-for-life as per Brighton [Elsternwick] Toyota.
I believe thats the *main* reason for wanting a Corolla!
Cheers
F-0
These are great value for the Money.
I haven’t driven one yet but given what I have seen from the commercials This is On the shopping list to replace a 2006 Nissan Tiida Come Mid 2011.
I have seen things like the current Mazda 2 and given the kind of driving I do things like that and Ford Fiesta,Yaris kind of cars are far from suitable but will also consider those If the Budget won’t strech to an I30.
I had a Mazda Astina and a Mazda Metro 121 all before the Nissan both bought by by now deceased father.
Ordered a 2.0L petrol Hyper Silver SLX, and it’s on the ship – I’ve admired the i30 since it first came out and when I test drove recently it put the other contenders to shame. and Hyundai sponsor Carlton, so it’s the perfect car ! :)
Very happy with performance and economy of CW diesel (auto)and a great roomy practical vehicle, Ive had it three months.
BUT it is very noisy on gravel road as the door sills are unprotected hear every stone, like a hail storm!
Something funny going on with the car’s box of tricks with intermittent wipe, and hi/lo beam not working, but its going in for fix next week, the after sales & follow up service is good, so I’m sure that will get sorted out.
The vehicles security system was a nuisance, locks the doors while driving but only unlocks drivers and tail gate when switched off, these settings/features can be turned off by the service dept computer thing, but would be worth getting it set up as you like before delivery, as I had to pay the labour charge for it to be changed.
i have ordered a vivid blue manual sx diesel, 6 weeks wait according to the dealer….23k drive away with driving lights,mud flaps & bonnet& h/light protectors…cant wait
collected my vehicle nye – 2 weeks later than promised by the dealer….got a bargain with tinted windows & protection pack(uphosltery & paint)$400 extra that i didnt even order …hence the extra waiting
still going thru 1st tank of diesel…not happy with fuel consumption….does it get any better???
Best car.
My God, if thats the case the Chinese are going to have a field day with your type!
Just test drove a Holden Cruze CD Diesel and then immediately after a i30 SX Diesel.
i30 is the better package I feel. Much roomier inside – my head hits the roof in the Cruze back seat (6ft). Engine performance in the i30 felt more responsive – the lag in the Cruze was very noticeable and bordered on annoying. Deal clincher is I was quoted a 3 month delay on the Cruze – 6 weeks on the i30.
We have just purchased a Hyundai I30 SLX diesel. Can I put any diesel in it or only B5, B10, B20?? I would appreciate any help you can give.
BTW, have a great 2010.
JM
not sure, not available where i am located, have just clocked up my 1st 3/4 tank of diesel 600ks @approx 42 lts = 7 lt/100ks mostly open cruising …thought it would be more like 6lts/100 in real driving conditions…a/cond etc…hoping to get at least 800ks to the tank….does anyone know how far u get on fuel light???
Check the manual or inside the fuel filler flap, most manufacturers are B5 only – but B20 should be physically OK if it meets Australian Standards – but may void your warranty. You can probably go to i30ownersclub forums for more info.
just picked up my Hyper Silver Slx i30 diesel manual from metro hyundai in Brisbane.
Traded our Nissan Patrol(shed a few tears) after 4 years touring Australia. Miss the Patrol but this i30 is something else again! Great performance, the quality of finish is also excellent. Had read that dealers supplied only one flip key. Not so! We got two also an alloy spare, the same as the road wheels. Found that the hand book was also excellent, comprehensive.Have only 370 kms yet on the clock but very happy.Anyone out there who has fitted seat covers on this model with airbags in the seats? Some on E Bay but Hyundai said they did not recommend them.
Next step is a tow bar, Hyundai at Gympie will fit that. Very happy driver.Have to watch my speed now!
Hi Peter, you can buy seat covers made for seats with airbags. They have a big “hole” on the front edge / side of the seat cover. I got some for my old car at my local auto shop.
G’day
Just ordered an i30 SX diesel with 2010 accessories plus metalic paint and cruise control. First new car after 35+ years of car ownership!
I was wondering if $22 800 drive away is a good deal in the current discount period?
Cheers
great bargain!
Just have to wait 8 to 10 weeks for delivery biggie to enjoy the bargin.
Thanks
Tezza, $22 800 drive away for a diesel i30 SX with accessories plus metalic paint and cruise control is a good deal, is it a manual car? 2010 plate? and where is the dealer? is it within brisbane? cos i am interested too. btw, it seems they have 3 yrs extended warranty period, so ended up 5 yr man. warranty period + 3 yrs.
does anyone know the servicing cost for a Auto SLX diesel i30? I’m trying to get a good idea of ongoing servicing cost to see if its worth over a new Mazda3. Hyundai is not a brand i would think of going to but if the price is right and the gadget/tech/drive/livability ads up than it would be a car to replace my Citroen C4… to put in perspective an average basic service is $300, $5-600 for a medium or $2,000 for a 100k km. To make it worst not every car mechanics have the specialised tools or dianognostic softwares to even touch it. So i hope the i30 service is less fussy.
Tezza, $22 800 drive away for a diesel i30 SX with accessories plus metalic paint and cruise control is a good deal, where is the dealer? is it within brisbane? cos i am interested too. btw, it seems they have 3 yrs extended warranty period, so ended up 5 yr man. warranty period + 3 yrs.