Hyundai i30 : THE IS HAVE IT

June Neary is surprised by Hyundais impressive i30 family hatchback

Hyundais 130 is the most complete family hatchback the Asian market has yet produced period. Based on Kias ceed but offering a more polished design and a wider engine range for just a little more, its a surprisingly impressive effort. The key advantage over the Kia is in the availability of the 138bhp diesel model Ive been trying.

The stylings a little bland but that never hindered best sellers like Toyotas Corolla or Fords MK2 Focus. Anyway, inside the i30 fares better. Its still hardly what you would call avant garde design-wise but the quality of the materials and the construction is convincing. Nice touches include blue illumination for the dials that also extends to steering wheel controls and ignition key slot so you wont be fumbling around at night.

Dim the illumination and the wheel-mounted controls dim too, which is very slick. Space is plentiful for the rear seat occupants (making putting childseats in easy) and the huge boot suggested by the cars bulging rear end is only a mild disappointment. Its a good size for the class rather than enormous, with 340 litres available. Fold the rear bench and this rises to 1,250 litres, certainly enough for the Tesco shop.

The i30 has been designed specifically for the European market and benchmarked against class leaders like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. Like those two cars but unlike many of the other established names in the sector, the i30 has fully-independent suspension all round or at least a version of it. Which is why it handles a great deal more competently than you might be expecting it to. Lewis Hamilton-wannabees will still opt for the Focus and rightly so but for the majority of buyers for the majority of the time, the 130 is everything you need and more.

A full complement of engines is offered with the i30 and that includes a pair of CRTD common-rail diesels with variable geometry turbocharging for improved refinement. The entry-point into i30 ownership is the 1.4-litre petrol with a not inconsequential 107bhp and then you have the 120bhp 1.6.

The diesels are 1.6 and 2.0 in capacity with outputs of 113 and 138bhp respectively. Its a good spread of options though none are particularly heart stopping in their performance.

The big diesels 304Nm maximum torque helps it to a 0-60mph time of 10.3s and it will roll on to a 127mph top speed. All models get 5-speed manual transmission except the 2.0-litre which has a 6-speed box and a four-speed automatic is available with the 1.

6-litre petrol.

Prices start at around £11,000. Official fuel economy figures reveal a 46.5mpg showing for the 1.4-litre with the 1.

6 a mile per gallon thirstier. The 1.6-litre diesel returns an impressive 60.1mpg and this 2.

0-litre, a less eye-catching 51.4mpg. On emissions, the smaller oil-burner is once again the best of the bunch with 125g/km of CO2 produced and that could set the seal on this model as the pick of the engine range. Depreciation has been a dirty word at Hyundai in the past put the improvements in quality and desirability the i30 makes should go a little way towards addressing this.

Insurance groupings range between 4 and 8.

If, before the i30s introduction, youd asked me which of the South Korean makers would be first to introduce a family hatchback that was properly on terms with cars like Volkswagens Golf or Fords Focus, Id have said Kia or maybe Chevrolet. With this model, Hyundai have surprised all of us. Its the car that Kias ceed should have been and with a more dynamic look, would shift some serious numbers for Hyundai in this sector. As it is, the i30 is one of the best kept secrets in this market.

Dont ignore it.