Aye Aye, Hyundai

3:07pm Monday 17th December 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

What price a longer life? If I was looking to buy an economical and practical mid-sized hatchback, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a more sensible option than Hyundai's new i30.

For the base 1.4 Comfort Manual as tested, £10,995 on the road is a small price to pay, given the company's solid build quality and high-scoring reliability.

Factor in the peace of mind provided by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and three years' RAC assistance and the price becomes quite a bargain - with the added bonus that you could well live longer due to the reduction in the usual stress levels of running a car.

It may not be the most sophisticated hatchback in its class, but there's loads of room front and back, good equipment levels, very good safety levels and a decent choice of engines to suit most tastes.

Top of the range is the £16,595 CRDi Premium with 138bhp and 127mph.

The 1.4 petrol I tested produces 108bhp and 116mph.

All models have alloy wheels, front fog lights, traction control, Isofix seat restraints, glovebox cooling, air conditioning and, if you need them, USB, auxiliary and iPod connections.

I found the engine commendably quiet, though at 1.4 litres you need plenty of revs for any kind of performance - the pay-off was that road noise was more noticeable. The inside is ergonomically pleasing for the driver with comfortable seats, a smooth gearbox, chunky dash and window knobs and an excellent, bright instrument display.

For those that care, the pedal positions were very good, allowing slick double-declutching and heel and toeing to liven up the driving experience.

Visibility is good forward with large door mirrors helping rearward manoeuvring though my children found the rear windows a little high to see out.

Other gratifying points include the large size of the air vents which ensure good airflow, whether using the air-con or not, and the good-sized boot - unusual when the cabin of a car of this type is so roomy. There are also practical underfloor boot compartments. Most families could comfortably go on holiday in this car.

Cruising at 70mph at a comfortable 3,500rpm contributes to good overall fuel consumption figures, with an official combined figure of 46.3mpg.

An interesting development is a new version of the i30, available from January, which has a CO2 emission figure of just 119g/km. This puts it in the £35 a year road fund bracket, alongside the company's Getz diesel models.

The new car uses a 90ps version of the 1.6-litre diesel engine, complete with particulate filter, and the car will carry appropriate green "i" badging.

See why it's such a sensible mid-size hatchback? Perhaps life insurance companies should reduce premiums for owners too!