Hyundai i30 hatchback (2011-2016) - Reliability & safety

The Hyundai i30 has an excellent record for safety and reliability, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and Hyundai’s five-year warranty cover

Carbuyer Rating

3.8 out of 5

Owners Rating
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Reliability & safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

Unlike its European rivals, such as the VW GolfFord Focus and Peugeot 308, the Hyundai i30 comes with a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. However, judging by owner comments in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, you’re pretty unlikely to need any work done, because the i30 seems to be very reliable.

Hyundai i30 reliability

The original Hyundai i30 was voted Britain’s best car to own in the 2010 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but the current car hasn’t managed to repeat that success – it wasn’t listed at all amongst the 150 cars rated in the 2016 edition.

However, its performance in previous Driver Power surveys suggests owners are pleased with running costs, and other Hyundai models get a strong rating for build quality. Reliability concerns, however, will more than likely be kept at bay by that impressive five-year warranty.

Safety

The Hyundai i30 was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2012 and it achieved a full five-star rating, with good scores for adult occupant protection and the best score ever achieved for child protection at the time. Pedestrian safety was also rated highly, and its crash-test performance in other markets suggests it’s still one of the safer family hatchbacks you can buy.

All models get six airbags, electronic stability control for safer handling and anti-lock brakes with braking assistance for emergency stops. Other safety highlights include hill-start assistance, two ISOFIX child-seat mounts in the rear seats, automatic door locks that engage as you drive off and front-seat airbag deactivation for when you’re using a rear-facing child seat. i30 buyers who go for the top-spec Premium trim also get a driver’s knee airbag.

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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