Blue Drive thinking
Road Test
With European looks, a well-appointed cabin and a fuel-sipping appetite, the Hyundai i30 no longer plays catch-up with the competition
The Hyundai Pony, South Korea’s first mass-produced car was a small, rear-wheel drive model. Ex-Austin Morris MD George Turnbull hired a team of British engineers to design a car which would use Mitsubishi engines and transmissions, selected Ford Cortina parts and a Giugiaro‑designed body. Introduced in 1982, it established Hyundai in the UK, and paved the way for the larger Stellar, beloved of fleet managers and taxi drivers in the mid-1980s. While the large i40 may have taken the place of the Stellar in Hyundai’s modern range, the i30 follows in the tyre tracks of the trailblazing Pony.
A five-door hatchback and estate, the i30 1.6 CRDi Blue Drive offers advantages for fleet drivers. The small family car was first introduced in 2007, with the first eco‑minded model, the i30 Blue, introduced in 2009. Powered by a 1.6‑litre diesel engine, the i30 Blue Drive has CO2 emissions of 97g/km with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 76.3mpg.
890 miles between fill-ups
The latest i30 uses a Stop & Start system called ISG (‘Intelligent Stop & Go’), stop-start technology it shares with its partner brand, Kia. An alternator management system also helps cut fuel consumption. With a 53-litre fuel tank, Hyundai claims that i30 drivers could ‘comfortably’ achieve a range of up to 890 miles between fill-ups. While we didn’t achieve the official fuel return figures, a real‑world average of 55.2mpg is on a par with competitors in the class. A six-speed manual gearbox drives the front wheels, while narrower 15-inch wheels and tyres help the i30 Active Blue Drive achieve its sub-100g/km emissions.
The neat styling of the i30 echoes that of Hyundai’s ‘New Generation’ range of cars. Bolder looks replace the somewhat generic styling of the i30’s predecessor, with curved and pronounced wheel arches as well as a more assertive front-end featuring LED daytime running lights.
The interior shows more of Hyundai’s more new-found styling flourishes. The be-winged centre console houses the infotainment system with Bluetooth/USB/CD connections, and clear instruments with blue lighting display all the information a driver needs. Materials give an impression of quality, and alloy effect fascia trim lifts the cabin ambience. Standard equipment is high, with air-conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, follow-me-home headlights, six airbags and rear parking sensors.
Highly competent
A particularly useful feature of Blue Drive models is a cruise control system with speed limiter. Hyundai’s ‘Flex Steer’ system is also fitted and is a controllable electric power steering system giving three modes of operation – Comfort, Normal and Sport. The 109bhp 1,582cc common rail diesel engine pulls well, and is particularly refined when cruising, spinning at just under 2000rpm when at 70mph. Fully independent suspension gives a good ride and capable handling. The interior is impressively quiet when on the move, refinement approaching that of the VW Golf.
The i30 is a highly competent family hatchback, which is borne out by Hyundai’s sales figures. Global sales of both generations have exceeded 1 million, with 59,000 cars finding homes in the UK. It’s the company’s best-selling model in Europe.
Just like the more expensive Golf BlueMotion, there are no excess fripperies and drivers don’t need to seek out any hidden modes to get the most economy out of the i30 Blue Drive. No extra kit is fitted to make it economical, because it is optimised for economy straight out of the box. A five-year warranty trumps that of the Golf, while a BIK rate of 15 per cent is competitive.
In summary then, the Hyundai i30 Active 1.6 CRDi Blue Drive offers a wide mix of talents in an affordable, good-looking, and well‑made package. Just like the Stellar in its day, contemporary drivers may have found a contender for their new fleet hero.
Hyundai i30 Active 1.6 CRDi Blue Drive
ENGINE: 1,582cc, four-cylinder diesel
CO2: 97g/km
MPG (combined): 76.3
VED: Band A, £0
BIK: 15%
PRICE (OTR): £18,295 (including VAT)
