Hyundai i30 hatchback - Interior & comfort
Interior quality is a Hyundai i30 strong suit, as is standard equipment – although we do have one slight gripe
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.
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 The original entry-level model was withdrawn, which means both equipment levels and prices are higher than before.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.
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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.
