Driven: 2017 Hyundai i30 Tourer Premium SE Review
I recently got the opportunity to test out the latest Hyundai i30 Tourer and here are my thoughts on this popular car.
What’s the Hyundai i30 Tourer Premium SE all about?
The Hyundai i30 Tourer of course is based on the popular i30 model from the range. The Tourer adds more practicality with that estate shape and larger boot.
The model that we have on test here is painted in Ara Blue that will really pop out to you in a car park and looks fantastic. The trim level is Premium SE that sits at the top of the range and gives you lots of nice luxuries such as 17” alloy wheels, heated seats and steering wheel, Panoramic glass sunroof and LED headlights.
The car was fitted with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that creates 140 PS and 242Nm of torque. All of this power goes to the front wheels using a 6 speed manual gearbox. The i30 is capable of doing a combined economy figure of 51 mpg and will create only 129 g/km of CO2.
How does it drive?
The Hyundai i30 provides a great driving experience for many reasons. Firstly, and the one that impressed me the most, was just how economical the car was. On the motorway the mpg figures can easily exceed 50mpg for a very long time and in town or on country blast you can still expect a good return from your fuel.
Secondly, I am at the point in life now where I really prefer an automatic gearbox over a manual, but the shift in the i30 is actually really nice. It is a short shift with a solid feel to it. I felt that this added to the driving experience and had a feeling of quality to it.
The level of power and torque out of this engine was by far superior to the size of the engine, despite a small bit of turbo lag the car will pull very nicely on the roads even when you are fully loaded.
The Hyundai i30 is packed with good technology and one of my favourite features on the car is the Lane Keeping Assist System. This feature on the motorway will assist the steering to hold the car central in the lane. Not that I recommend it, but if you take your hands off the wheel the car will steer its self down a lane on the motorway unassisted, which is incredible. But why do we need this? The Lane Keeping Assist System takes the pressure off your arms a little and guides you into the correct lane position. These minor changes make a big difference on a long journey allowing you to conserve slightly less mental and physical energy during the trip.
The i30 Tourer also comes with other safety features such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with Forward Collision Warning System and Blind Spot Detection System (BSD). The AEB may help avoid a collision and stop the car by itself if the car believes it may hit something. The BSD system is a nice little feature that will alert you if there is a car in your blind spot and it is just a fantastic way to avoid simple little accidents.
What’s it like inside?
Inside the Hyundai i30 Tourer is a really nice place to be and knowing that the car is £24,720 in total I think the interior functionality and quality is at a great balance point for the price.
The Premium SE model comes with an 8” Touchscreen Satellite Navigation which of course has DAB, and phone integration. The drivers instruments have a 4.2” LCD supervision screen giving you lots of information you might require while driving. And my favourite bit of technology inside is the wireless phone charger that sits just infront of the gear stick. This really covers everything you need from a car.
With regards to practicality and space on this car, the boot of course has significantly more space over the hatchback and provides a nice storage tray underneath the boot floor. The leg and head room for both front and back passengers is more than ample and the storage capacity in the cabin is very good with pockets available all over to store your goodies.
The Experience
The Hyundai i30 Tourer to me gives a great everyday car feel, because of how effortless and practical the car feels to live with and drive; day in and day out. It is a roomy, warm car that just squeezes every last drop of performance out of the fuel, which is great for the cash conscious buyer.
Verdict
Some how the Hyundai i30 Tourer appears to have it all, good economy, practicality, performance and even a bit of vibrance in Ara Blue. And to put the icing on the cake at £24,720 the car still comes with a 5-year warranty giving the buyer peace of mind when choosing the car. The i30 Tourer will certainly be sold in masses and is a solid choice for small family or company cars. If you are looking for something faster the i30N is available.
Specification
Hyundai i30 Tourer Premium SE
- Price: From £24,720
- Engine: 1.4-Litre T-GDi
- Power: 140 PS
- Torque: 242 Nm
- Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
- 0-62mph: 9.2 Seconds
- Top speed: 129 mph
- Weight: 1,262 kg
- Economy combined: 51 mpg
- CO2: 129 g/km
Author: Paul Hadley
