2012 Carbuyer Car of the Year - Hyundai i30

See why the Hyundai i30 was awarded the 2012 Carbuyer Car Of The Year

  • Price when new: ÂŁ14,200 - ÂŁ24,200
  • Price now: ÂŁ3,000 - ÂŁ12,000

What we said at the time: “This is a clear sign of how far Korean companies have come in recent years, with their cars now as sought-after as Korean technology products such as TVs and mobile phones. The i30 is a great all-rounder – it’s stylish, practical, well built and good to drive. On top of that, it’s great value, cheap to run and comes with peace-of-mind as standard thanks to a five-year warranty.”

Like the Kia Sportage that won the year before, the Hyundai i30 showed that Korean cars were now on par with their European counterparts for style and quality. Before that, it was likely you’d buy a Hyundai for the same reasons you’d buy a washing machine; quietness, reliability and low price. The i30 still offered all these plus points, and the five-year unlimited-mileage warranty charmed buyers too. Its boot matched the Volkswagen Golf, while there was a more practical estate version if you needed it and, latterly, a stylish coupe model. We can’t deny that you’ll probably have more fun in a Ford Focus or Mazda3, but the i30 offered more space than either of these cars and had a broad range of other talents.

The 109bhp diesel offers the best economy, although its claimed 78mpg figure (NEDC) is optimistic to say the least. Picking a diesel also gets you cheap road tax, and they offer respectable, if not earth-shattering, performance that’ll easily keep pace with traffic. It’s a similar story with the petrol engines, although they’re not as economical and you’ll be paying more in road tax. The entry-level S model gets Bluetooth connectivity, air con and front fog lights, and SE gets alloy wheels, all-round electric windows, parking sensors and cruise control. SE Nav and Premium get a touchscreen with sat nav, giving the interior a more upmarket look, and the latter also comes with leather upholstery, a reversing camera and dual-zone climate control. Earlier cars were badged Classic (S), Active (SE) and Style Nav.

£4,000 is enough to buy an earlier Active model with under 90,000 miles on the clock, while you’ll need £10-12,000 for a rare 183bhp Turbo or a barely used SE Nav car.

Check out great deals on used Hyundai i30 models on Buyacar.

Our other winners in 2012:

Best City CarVolkswagen up!
Best Small CarFord Fiesta
Best Luxury Small CarAudi A1
Best Family CarHyundai i30
Best Large Family CarFord Mondeo
Best Estate CarSkoda Superb Estate
Best Hot HatchbackSuzuki Swift Sport
Best Executive CarBMW 3 Series
Best Large Executive CarBMW 5 Series
Best Luxury CarMercedes S-Class
Best MPVSEAT Alhambra
Best 4x4Kia Sportage
Best Luxury 4x4Range Rover Evoque
Best ConvertibleVolkswagen Golf Cabriolet
Best CoupeVauxhall Astra GTC
Best Green CarKia Rio 1.1 CRDi

Click to see our 2013 Carbuyer Car Of The Year

Recommended

Hyundai i30 hatchback review
2021 Hyundai i30 driving
In-depth reviews
14 Jun 2023

Hyundai i30 hatchback review

Most Popular

Tesla Cybertruck finally delivered: specs, prices and UK availability
Tesla Cybertruck side view
News
1 Dec 2023

Tesla Cybertruck finally delivered: specs, prices and UK availability

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light
Engine warning light
Tips and advice
1 Dec 2023

Engine management light: top 5 causes of amber engine warning light

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
1 Dec 2023

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
20 Apr 2023

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

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
12 Apr 2023

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors 2022
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors 2022

Top 10 best electric cars 2023
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
15 Nov 2023

Top 10 best electric cars 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
17 May 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
18 Aug 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023