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07/04/2008
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Hyundai's i30 is one of the most cosmopolitan cars on the Australian market today. Which is certainly no accident because the South Korean maker is very serious about competing on a global scale. So much so that it had the car styled in Europe and set up for the high speed roads that are such a feature of efficient driving over there.
 Another feature of European cars is that they are often offered with a turbo-diesel option. Quite a few of the Euro importers are pushing in the direction of these fuel efficient units, but it took a brave move on behalf of Hyundai in Australia to bring diesels to this country. Because, believe it or not, our fuel is still cheap in comparison with that on the European continent.
Our road test car for the last week was a Hyundai i30 with the turbo-diesel option. A 1.6-litre unit, it produces a handy torque output of 250 Nm of between 1900 rpm and 2750 rpm. The result is plenty of performance and acceptably short turbo lag. Our test car had more than an average smell of diesel fuel when it was first started, or when stopped after a run. It may have been aggravated by the still weather conditions we were experiencing at the time because we don’t remember the odour when we were introduced to the car at a press event towards the end of 2007.
Hyundai's diesel engine is pretty quiet from inside the car and not too bad on the outside.
The big advantage of diesel is of course fuel economy, and the lower carbon dioxide emissions because of this. We were impressed by a car that could use as little as five to six litres per hundred kilometres on easy country runs. And which seldom went over seven litres per hundred in suburban driving.
The magical 1000 kilometres from a tank is there for the asking if you drive moderately.
The turbo-diesel was initially sold only with a five-speed manual gearbox, but a four-speed automatic transmission is now available as a $2000 option should you be doing a lot of heavy-duty traffic commuting. The manual gearbox in our test car was on the loose side in the feel of its changes. But the ratios are well selected and the strong torque means you can often hold a higher gear than you originally anticipated. Which is another plus in the fuel saving game.
The petrol engine is also sold with the same transmissions choices.
 As mentioned, the Hyundai i30 is aimed at those who enjoy driving and demand a precise feel through the steering wheel, as well as sharp on-road dynamics. The Australian importer is well aware of our local drivers’ desires and insisted that the Korean engineers spend time downunder to build a car to suit our needs. It really does work well, though, inevitably there are downsides. The good handling and steering feel has resulted in a rather firm suspension. While it works fine on good to moderate roads, it can be on the harsh side when taken onto rougher surfaces.
Interior space is good for what is a relatively small car. Four adults can be accommodated, but two in the front, and a pair or trio of children in the back is a more reasonable load.
Boot space is good, with a decent depth and ease of loading that lets you get all but the bulkiest objects inside.
Quality of build is very good. The South Koreans have been working hard at this important aspect of their cars for several years and really are getting close to Japanese standards both inside and out.
 Hyundai has generally built a quality interior, but the use of flat plastic in the centre area of the dash takes away some of the refinement that is present in most other areas of the car.
With a price of just $21,490, the Hyundai i30 CRDi is the lowest-cost diesel car on our market. It’s certainly well worth considering by those who are hearing rumours of fuel costing three dollars per litre in Australia in the not too distant future.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
SX 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $18,990
SLX 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $23,490
CRDi SX 1.6-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch - $21,490
CRDi SLX 1.6-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch - $25,990
SR 2.0-litre five-door hatch - $26,490
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: $2000 option in all models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in SLX and SR, not offered in SX
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in SLX and SR, not offered in SX
Stability Control: Standard in SR, optional in SX ($1790) or SLX ($990) safety packs
Traction Control: Standard in SR, optional in SX ($1790) or SLX ($990) safety packs
SPECIFICATIONS (Hyundai CRDi SX 1.6-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.582 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 17.3:1
Bore/Stroke: 77.2 x 84.5 mm
Maximum Power: 85 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 255 Nm @ 1900-2750 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Five-speed
Automatic Transmission: Four-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.941:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4245 mm
Wheelbase: 2650 mm
Width: 1775 mm
Height: 1480 mm
Turning Circle: 10.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1399 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 53 litres
Towing Ability: 500kg (1200kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, multi-link type, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 11.4 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 18.3 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSION RATINGS:
Fuel Type: Diesel
Fuel Consumption - Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 4.7 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 8/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Five years/unlimited km |
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