New Hyundai i30 prototype review ~ station of gear

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29 Aug, 2016 (All day) Richard Ingram

We take the wheel of the prototype version of third-generation Hyundai i30 hatch

Despite the on-going rise and rise of the crossover SUV, family hatchbacks remain big business. The new Vauxhall Astra gained five stars in our first road test verdict last year, while cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus continue to impress several years after release. The pressure is on Hyundai to deliver a credible competitor in its latest i30, then…

Long considered a capable if slightly mundane alternative to mainstream models, the second-generation i30 has been on sale since 2012. The new car will be revealed in full next week, but before the wraps came off we were given the opportunity to try an early pre-production prototype on the roads around the Hyundai’s European Technical Centre near Frankfurt, Germany.

• Best hatchbacks on sale right now

Sat next to senior engineer for suspension and steering Felix Fortenbacher, we’re allowed unique insight into the new i30’s rigorous testing and development programme. Before we even turn the wheel it’s clear this new Hyundai will perform like no model that has gone before it.

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The 2017 Hyundai i30 has been designed from the ground up with European buyers in mind. There’s a completely reworked chassis that bosses say has been extensively tested on road and track – as well as in the laboratory – to cover every real-world eventuality. Many of these miles have taken place at Hyundai’s Nurburgring test facility, where the brand has had a base since 2013.

The fearsome Nurburgring has a justified reputation as the most gruelling circuit in the race circuit world, with the countless corners and crests, and unforgiving elevations offering what no road route across the globe can match. Hyundai claims to have completed more than 480 laps in its new i30, which it says is the customer equivalent of 150,000km (93,205 miles) in everyday motoring.

In addition to this, engineers have completed 160,000km (99,419 miles) on real roads, comprising a mix of town, country and motorway. Sweden is home to cold climate testing, while southern Spain hosts Hyundai’s hot weather analysis. The new hatchback has even undergone trailer testing in the Alps.

Our car uses a 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. It’s an all-new unit, and will be joined by two further petrols – including an eco-friendly three-cylinder 1.0-litre – and a single diesel at launch. The 1.4 is whisper quiet, with no shakes or rattles at idle, while around town it simply fades into the background. The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is a worthy companion if you spend a lot of time in stop-start traffic, too.

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Fortenbacher is keen to emphasise that this is a very early prototype, and that anything we see, feel or hear isn’t necessarily representative of the final car, which is due on sale before the end of the year.

“You’re driving a prototype,” he said. “So it cannot be as refined as the production car.”

Which is funny, because even covered in bags and masking tape, this new i30 is remarkably quiet. We’ll have to wait and see what it’s like with the more familiar 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine, but first impressions are good.

What Fortenbacher did say, however, is that the suspension and steering should translate to the production car largely unchanged.

“The basic character of the suspension should be kept,” he told us. “There will be small changes, but nothing dramatic. We really tried to find a good compromise – moving slightly into the agile direction, but keeping the comfort too.”

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He’s right. The new i30 feels much sportier than the outgoing car, with well-weighted steering and very little roll in the corners. Our drive was on a sodden August afternoon – but even in damp conditions grip seemed good, rivalling the best in class for body control.

Hyundai has ditched the existing car’s three steering modes, in favour of just two this time around. We tested both Normal and Sport mode – and while the latter appears ever so slightly heavier, Fortenbacher insists the differences will become clear when we drive the new and existing cars back-to-back.

The high-speed ride is impressive, too. Granted, our run took place mainly on ultra-smooth German autobahn, but the multi-link rear axis and new geometry make it a seriously competent long-distance cruiser. It’s a little bit fidgety on slower roads, but that’s the compromise you must make when trying to find a balance between agility and comfort. It’s certainly no worse than a SEAT Leon in this respect.

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While we were welcomed to impart opinion on the way the car drives, our thoughts on styling and interior quality will have to wait until the car is unveiled in full. The exterior was covered in camouflage and plastic bags, while the cabin came bathed in fabric wraps.

With only the dials and gearlever showing, it was simply impossible to garner any worthwhile views on fit and finish. Things are expected to improve over the outgoing car, however, which was often criticised for its hard surfaces and scratchy plastics. It’s not clear whether entry-level cars will get a touchscreen display, but higher-spec models are likely to feature sat-nav, DAB and Bluetooth as standard. Familiar S, SE and Premium specs are likely to remain, with an N-branded flagship due later.

We also took a seat in the back, where it felt accommodating but a little short on headroom. The heavy disguise did make the cabin feel a bit dark, while the elasticated camouflage stretching across the rear seats prevented us from getting truly comfortable. Kneeroom was good, but a Skoda Octavia will trump it for outright space.

Initial impressions show the new Hyundai i30 has the potential to rival the best cars in its class. The steering is sweet, refinement is good and the range of engines should allow it to compete with the Astra on every level.

Model: Hyundai i30 1.4 Turbo DCT Premium
Price: £22,000 (est)
Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 138bhp
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive

0-62mph: 8.5 seconds (est)
Top speed: 130mph (est)
Economy/CO2: 45mpg (est)/150g/km (est)
On sale: Early 2017

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