Hyundai i30 Sedan Review 2024: Champion or Challenger?

The Hyundai i30 Sedan is one of the most popular small cars in Australia, thanks to its spacious interior, stylish design, and competitive pricing.

But with the arrival of the 2024 model year, the i30 Sedan has received some significant updates and improvements, making it even more attractive and appealing to buyers.

In this article, The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan Review, we focus on the top-spec Premium variant with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a CVT transmission.

We will evaluate its performance, handling, design, features, safety, reliability, and value for money, and compare it with some of its main rivals in the market.

Key takeaways

• The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has a new CVT transmission that replaces the old six-speed auto, resulting in a smoother and more efficient drive.
• The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has a revised front and rear design, with new LED headlights and tail lights, a new grille, and a new ‘H’ theme.
• The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has more standard features and equipment, such as wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging pad, and three USB-C ports.
• The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has some new safety features and technologies, such as speed limit recognition, blind spot monitor, and surround view monitor.
• The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, a lifetime capped-price servicing plan, and a five-star ANCAP rating.

Performance and Handling

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan Premium is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 117kW of power and 191Nm of torque.

This is the same engine as the previous model, but the transmission has been changed from a six-speed automatic to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The CVT is a welcome improvement, as it makes the i30 Sedan feel more responsive and refined. The CVT also has a manual mode that simulates eight gear ratios, which can be controlled by paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

The CVT also helps improve the fuel economy and emissions of the i30 Sedan, which are rated at 6.8L/100km and 158g/km respectively.

The i30 Sedan also has different driving modes that can be selected by a button on the centre console. These are Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart.

The driving modes affect the throttle response, steering weight, and transmission behaviour of the car. The Smart mode is the most adaptive, as it automatically adjusts the settings according to the driving conditions and the driver’s style.

The i30 Sedan has decent performance and handling for a small car, but it is not very exciting or engaging to drive. The engine is adequate but not very powerful, and the CVT can be noisy and dull at times. The steering is light and accurate, but lacks feedback and feel.

The suspension is comfortable and composed, but not very sporty or agile. The braking is strong and stable, but the pedal feel is soft and spongy.

The i30 Sedan is a good car for everyday driving, as it is easy and smooth to drive, but it is not a car for enthusiasts or thrill-seekers.

For a more fun and dynamic drive, the i30 Sedan N Line variants might be a better option, as they have a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a sportier suspension and steering setup.

Engine	2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power	117kW @ 6200rpm
Torque	191Nm @ 4500rpm
Transmission	CVT with manual mode and paddle shifters
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Fuel consumption (combined)	6.8L/100km
CO2 emissions	158g/km

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Design and Features

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has a distinctive and attractive design, with a sleek and sporty profile. The front end has a new hexagonal grille, new LED headlights and daytime running lights, and a new bumper with chrome accents.

Rear end has new LED tail-lights with a ‘H’ theme, a new boot lid with an integrated spoiler, and a new bumper with a diffuser and dual exhaust tips.

The i30 Sedan has a spacious and comfortable interior with a driver-centric and ergonomic layout. The dashboard has a minimalist and modern look, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The seats are leather-appointed and manually adjustable, with heating and ventilation functions for the front seats. The rear seats have a 60/40 split-folding function, and a centre armrest with cup holders.

The i30 Sedan has a generous boot space of 474 litres, which can be expanded to 1350 litres by folding the rear seats. The boot also has a full-sized spare wheel underneath the floor.

I30 Sedan has a lot of storage spaces and compartments throughout the cabin, such as door pockets, cup holders, a glove box, a centre console, and a wireless charging pad.

The i30 Sedan has a lot of features and equipment, especially for the Premium variant. Some of the highlights are:

• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB-C, and satellite navigation
• 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster with adjustable gauge displays
• Bose premium sound system with eight speakers and a subwoofer
• Wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones
• Three USB-C ports for charging and data transfer
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
• Keyless entry and start
• Electric sunroof
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Dusk-sensing LED headlights
• LED tail-lights and daytime running lights
• 16-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare wheel

The i30 Sedan has a stylish and feature-packed design, but it is not without some flaws. The exterior design might not appeal to everyone, as it is quite bold and busy.

The interior design might not feel very premium or luxurious, as it has some hard and cheap plastics and some questionable panel gaps.

The features and equipment might not be very intuitive or user-friendly, as some of the controls and menus are confusing and complicated.

Safety and Reliability

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan has a high level of safety and reliability, as it has a high star rating by the US safety authority, a five-year/unlimited-kilometer warranty, and a lifetime capped-price servicing plan.

The i30 Sedan also has a lot of safety features and technologies, some of which are new for the 2024 model year.

The i30 Sedan has six airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control system (TCS), hill-start assist control (HAC), and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as standard.

The i30 Sedan also has Hyundai SmartSense, which is a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include:

• Forward collision-avoidance assist (FCA) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane keeping assist (LKA) with lane following assist (LFA)
• Lane departure warning (LDW) with lane change assist (LCA)
• Blind spot monitor (BSM) with rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA)
• Driver attention warning (DAW) with leading vehicle departure alert (LVDA)
• Smart cruise control (SCC) with stop and go function
• Speed limit recognition (SLR) with intelligent speed assist (ISA)
• Parking collision warning (PCW) with reverse parking assist (RPA)
• Surround view monitor (SVM) with rear view camera and parking sensors

The i30 Sedan has a comprehensive and effective safety package, but it is not flawless. The FCA can be too sensitive and intrusive, and sometimes fail to detect obstacles.

LKA can be too aggressive and overcorrect the steering. The SCC can be too slow and jerky to adjust the speed. The SLR can be inaccurate and inconsistent with the actual speed limits. The SVM can be blurry and distorted in low-light conditions.

The i30 Sedan has a good reputation and track record for reliability, as it is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometer warranty, a lifetime capped-price servicing plan, and a 10-year roadside assistance program.

The i30 Sedan also has a reasonable and predictable maintenance cost, as the servicing intervals are every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first. The servicing prices range from $259 to $499, depending on the year and mileage of the car.

The i30 Sedan is a safe and reliable car, but it is not immune to problems or issues. Some of the common complaints and faults reported by owners and reviewers are:

• Engine oil leaks and consumption
• Transmission shuddering and slipping
• Infotainment system glitches and freezes
• Bluetooth connectivity issues and dropouts
• Paint chipping and fading
• Door handle and lock malfunctions

FAQs

Hyundai i30 Sedan Review Conclusion

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan is a facelifted and feature-packed small car that offers a lot of value for money. It has a spacious and comfortable interior, a stylish and distinctive exterior, and a generous and comprehensive safety and reliability package.

It also has a new CVT transmission that improves the performance and efficiency of the car, and some new features and technologies that enhance the convenience and comfort of the car.

However, the 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan is not perfect, as it has some flaws and drawbacks that might deter some buyers. It has a mediocre and dull engine that lacks power and excitement, and a noisy and boring CVT that can be frustrating and annoying.

It has a light and vague steering that lacks feedback and feel, and a soft and spongy brake pedal that lacks confidence and control.

It has some hard and cheap plastics in the interior that lower the quality and luxury of the car, and some confusing and complicated controls and menus that reduce the usability and user-friendliness of the car.

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan is a good car for everyday driving, as it is easy and smooth to drive, but it is not a car for enthusiasts or thrill-seekers.

For a more fun and dynamic drive, the i30 Sedan N Line variants might be a better option, as they have a more powerful and sporty engine, transmission, and suspension.

The 2024 Hyundai i30 Sedan is a worthy contender in the small car segment, but it is not the best or the most exciting car in its class.