About the Hyundai i30
C&J purchased this Hyundai i30 new for $20,000 (including all on-road costs). C&J would buy this car again because: “It is the right size for us, two people and the odd rear seat passenger, reasonably priced, economical, well made and super reliable. This is our second i30, the first being the earlier FD series which was just as nice but lacked some basic safety and comfort features.”
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
Except for a start battery replacement about three years ago and recent replacement of wiper rubbers and the rear hatch gas struts – all DIY work – the vehicle has been faultless. Tyres were replaced at about 45,000km. Brakes are still fine after 53,000km and it just goes and stops on demand!
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
The i30 is not exciting by any means but I know when I want to use the car it will start and go with no drama. It has taken us on long highway journeys including many dirt roads, it has carried many boxes of unassembled Ikea furniture and taken a zillion trips to the local tip.
The paint is still lustrous, the interior looks good as new, nothing has broken or fallen off. Some of the interior plastics, particularly around the handbrake area and the door cards are hard and feel a little cheap but hey… it was just $20k.
How has the purchase and aftercare experience been with your car?
The original purchase was easy as a test drive and then a shuffling around local and not-so-local dealers to get the best price, which was a rounded $20,000 on the road in November 2015.
Servicing from the local Hyundai outfit is satisfactory in terms of quality and price although it is disappointing that things like AC pollen filters are charged for extra at crazy prices. (We now buy and fit our own).
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
At the time we thought the price was a real bargain and we still do. The vehicle may lack some of the newer safety measures but all the basics are there with seven airbags, ABS, EBD, rear camera and sensors, cruise, etc.
Entertainment options are basic but good enough to play lots of classic rock nice and loud.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
The i30 is used most days in a seaside town with not a lot of traffic and also for longer highway trips to Brisbane (about 4 hours) and it performs well. The trip computer regularly reckons average fuel consumption is around 6.6-6.8 litres/100km so I can’t complain about that.
Highway performance is fine at 110km/h although the 1.8-litre engine does lack torque and change downs are plentiful when overtaking or tackling hilly terrain. Still, the six-speed torque converter auto does it without fuss. Cruise control is a little primitive and allows too much speed variation.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
Good at the time but quite basic now, just six years later. Nevertheless, it has everything necessary for comfortable travel and I am quite happy to use my mirrors to check traffic around me, turn my head to back out of a parking spot and use my brain to keep within my lane.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
Handling reminds me a little of our 1970s Mini. It sticks to the road very well, especially on the Michelin Pilot tyres it recently received. Ride comfort is good with no banging or crashing of the suspension at any time, although there is quite a bit of road noise on coarse chip surfaces and the steering could do with a little more feel.
The available steering settings don’t seem to make any difference whatsoever! Seats are okay but have been known to give that “numb bum” feeling after a few hours on the highway.