Third-Generation Hyundai i30

Looks like we're having a little case of Deja Vu right now because about five years ago, Hyundai gave us the second-generation i30, which is based on the Avante MD, and while it delivers the same stuff they've expected from the previous Avante, how they sum it up is anyone's guess. Now in the year 2016, five years later, the Hyundai i30 hatchback has reached its third-generation and while Hyundai claims that it's now hotter than the previous model, there's nothing hotter about how hot this new model is. In fact, there's only one way to find out...

2017 Hyundai i30

Following last year's launch of the latest Hyundai Avante/Elantra (AD) saloon, its five-door equivalent, the i30, has been redrawn from scratch and whereas the previous i30 looks like when the designers faced the common sentence "Finish or not finish, pass your papers", this brand new i30 looks like it's got its test papers finished...and got a grade of 90%. Now that's what I called a major improvement in the design stakes.

2017 Hyundai i30 interior

On the outside view, the new design started to feel like work in a more athletic kind of manner, and judging from every angle, this hatchback really means serious business when parked alongside its rivals, namely the VW Golf, the Ford Focus, the Peugeot 308, the Citroen C4, or even the Toyota Auris. On the inside, everything's starting to look like they've inspired it by either the Alfa Romeo Giulia or the Mazda Atenza, but from every angle, the interior, like the exterior itself, really means serious business after all. As a five-seater hatchback fit for all kinds of lifestyles, the i30 really suits various lifestyles very well and when folded, there's much more room for all your garage sale haul.

2017 Hyundai i30

What about performance? Does it really mean serious business for this new i30? Make your guess but thanks to its new chassis and the Advanced High-Strength Steel dons, as well as its reworked dynamics, the new i30 is starting to feel as enjoyable as any hatchback can get, without breaking a sweat. Yes, it's starting to feel as sharp as the Europeans but the word of precaution, however, is when your mate is carrying a very big birthday cake he bought at the bakeshop, and when you corner it like a sports car, you're going to ruin that cake, awesomely. Speaking of newly improved dynamics, the new i30 offers a choice of small-displacement turbocharged petrol and diesel engines ranging from the brand new 1.4 T-GDi, the similar 1.6 T-GDi from the Avante Sport, and the 1.6 CRDi-VGT engine. Of course, while the 1.6 T-GDi is the most powerful variant while the diesel has the most torque, the brand new 1.4 T-GDi balances fuel efficiency and performance at the same pace. It produces 140PS of power and 242Nm of torque while delivering a 13.0km/L fuel consumption, which is somewhat average for an entry-level variant, but know this; all of the variants are mated with a seven-speed double-clutch transmission for a more dramatic shift in performance and efficiency resulted in all variants, as long as you got your maintenance budget prepared when things get ugly.

Not only does the new i30 drive very well, but it's very smart indeed because it comes with an array of gizmos in store, including the five-inch touchscreen, an array of safety tech, and a clever way of unlocking doors at the flick of the keys. Touch one time and the driver's door will be unlocked and when touched two times, all of the doors will be unlocked. Nothing says a little easier access than this kind of feature.

2017 Hyundai i30

Should you buy it? The brand new, third-generation, Hyundai i30, starts at a very reasonable 19,100,000 for the mysteriously called "Tuner Package" up to 26,150,000 Korean Won for the 1.6 VGT Premium. Even though is slightly more expensive than the previous model, it's going to be a very competitive hatchback when compared to the best of Europe. So, how can I sum this car up? Well, the new design means business for the new i30, its new driving feel really makes it feel more European than being a Korean hatchback that can be sold at a very reasonable price and I think that's just the start for the new i30 because there's more to come for this new model. 

Available colors: Phantom Black, Iron Grey, Platinum Silver, Polar White, Demitasse Brown Intense Copper, Fiery Red,  Stargazing Blue, and Marina Blue.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company