After yesterday's dizzying mix of high performance cars and racing cars, it's time to bring things down to earth somewhat I'm afraid. Hyundai has announced prices for the new i30, which will go on sales from the 1st of March with prices starting at £16,995. This makes me look like a bit of a dingbat as my last article stated the price could be around £12,995 (must have been a typo).
What's Included?
The i30 has been designed to be more refined, with more equipment in a bid to draw customers away from its European rivals. The styling of the car also reflects this and signifies the next chapter in Hyundai's generation of styling. The Korean brand even said that the design of the new i30 would be 'timeless', which I still think is a bit of a stretch. That aside though, let's focus on what you can expect in the new model.
There will be a choice of either a 5" or 8" touchscreen with DAB radio and smartphone connectivity on hand to keep you entertained and connected. Sat nav is also available with the 8" inch screen and there is plenty more tech where that came from. For safety and convenience there is also a rear-facing camera, AEB, Smart Cruise Control and Blind Spot Detector.
Step up the trims and you'll enjoy features such as dual zone climate control, tinted windows, heated front seats and LED headlights. The range topping Premium SE, which starts at £23,495, adds a panoramic sunroof, leader seat facings (sorry, what?) and a heated leather steering wheel. As with most cars, I'd probably opt for the mid-range model which is the SE Nav, starting at £19,645. This is cheaper than its rivals but not as cheap as the FIAT Tipo, which is a competent albeit not very engaging to drive.
In regards to engines, the base model S will be fitted with a 1.0 litre petrol which offers 118bhp and is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. There is another petrol engine available in the form of a 1.4 litre unit producing 140bhp, plus there is a 1.6 diesel producing 108bhp. These engines can either be mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed auto.
The i30 does look rather good, but can it do enough to entice buyers away from the likes of the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra?
