Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Hyundai i30 hatchback - Interior & comfort

Interior quality is a Hyundai i30 strong suit, as is standard equipment – although we do have one slight gripe

Carbuyer Rating

4.1 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Interior & comfort Rating

4.0 out of 5

The democratisation of high-quality car interiors means even relatively affordable hatchbacks like the Hyundai i30 come with plenty of soft-touch plastics and pleasing finishes these days – and it’s a great improvement on the outgoing model. The i30 isn’t as plush inside as a Volkswagen Golf, but it has very comfortable seats, a well-built dashboard and the overall design is resolutely modern – if a little conservative.

Hyundai i30 dashboard

Sitting in pride of place in the i30 is a touchscreen infotainment system, measuring eight inches on the SE Connect and 10.25 inches on both the Premium and N Line, which also get a 7-inch digital cluster in place of conventional analogue instruments. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and shortcut buttons make it really easy to use. For the 2020 facelift, Hyundai repositioned the buttons at the bottom of the screen, which feels more intuitive and looks more modern.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While almost all the materials inside the i30 are of a high quality, our eyes (and hands) were constantly drawn to the horizontal trim piece running across the middle of the dashboard. It looks nice enough, but feels unpleasantly cheap and scratchy. This is a shame, as it’s in a prominent position and undermines the better materials found inside the i30.

Equipment

Since the facelift, the i30 range is now much easier to understand, with just three trim lines: SE Connect, N Line and Premium. The original entry-level model was withdrawn, which means both equipment levels and prices are higher than before. The cheapest SE Connect cars feature 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, cruise control and plenty of smartphone connectivity, so should prove popular with private and business buyers alike.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The N-Line is intended as a less expensive way of getting the sporty looks of the i30 N version of the i30 without its running costs. You get sportier bumpers, twin exhausts, 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as upgraded brakes and suspension. N Line officially sits below Premium in the range but is actually more expensive due to its more powerful engine. Besides the sporty body kit, it has LED headlights, multi-zone air conditioning, front parking sensors, keyless entry and start, and a digital instrument cluster over the SE Connect trim.

Premium trim is focused on luxury rather than sportiness, so features part-synthetic leather/part-cloth seats (which are heated for front occupants), tinted windows and an electronic parking brake, while its alloys split the difference between the SE Premium and N Line at 17 inches. A heated steering wheel becomes standard, as does wireless phone charging, automatic wipers, extra safety features and a powered driver’s seat.

Options

Besides paint colour (around £600 for metallics and pearls, and £300 for the solid Atlas White) and gearbox, there are no optional extras to choose – all the tech is bundled into the three trim levels. Your dealer will be able to advise on accessories like tow bars, floor mats and roof racks.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Charlie writes and edits news, review and advice articles for Carbuyer, as well as publishing content to its social media platforms. He has also been a regular contributor to its sister titles Auto Express, DrivingElectric and evo. As well as being consumed by everything automotive, Charlie is a speaker of five languages and once lived in Chile, Siberia and the Czech Republic, returning to the UK to write about his life-long passion: cars.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Top 10 used hatchbacks – the best second-hand buys in 2024
Best used hatchbacks
Best cars
26 Jun 2024

Top 10 used hatchbacks – the best second-hand buys in 2024

Hyundai i30 review – A worthy family hatchback
2021 Hyundai i30 driving
In-depth reviews
16 Feb 2024

Hyundai i30 review – A worthy family hatchback

Most Popular

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!
Carbuyer Car of the Year – Dacia Duster
News
23 Oct 2024

It’s official – the Dacia Duster is the Carbuyer Car of the Year 2025!

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k
Best cheap fun cars
Best cars
25 Oct 2024

The best cheap fun cars from under £5k to over £10k

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
25 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024