Hyndai i 30 kombi style der unterschie zum yes

Hyundai’s quest to seemingly saturate the small car market with a variety of compact hatchbacks and sedans almost didn’t include a wagon version of its i30. Despite selling a load-lugging version of its Euro-designed hatch in the previous model, the Korean company vacillated for a few months before finally deciding that Australia needed a wagon too.

And here it is: a little longer than the hatchback, badged the i30 Tourer, designed with the same swoopy lines and with very few rivals except for wagon versions of the Holden Cruze and Opel Astra.

We’ve chosen the top-of-the-line Elite model with a diesel engine to drive, and maybe find out whether the extra space further extends the attractiveness of one of Australia’s best-selling small cars.

What do you get?

Prices start at $22,990 for the entry-level manual 1.6-litre petrol Active model or $2000 more than the equivalent hatch, and that’s despite the Tourer coming with a smaller engine than the hatch’s 1.8 litres. The 1.6-litre diesel adds another $2500, a six-speed auto a further $2000 or you can go for the better equipped Elite model that comes only with an automatic diesel drivetrain for the princely sum of $31,190.

Hardly bargain basement prices, but you get a lot for the cash. On top of the Active’s basic equipment package of keyless entry, cruise control, seven airbags and more, the Elite adds a seven-inch display with satellite navigation, a rear camera, dual-zone climate control, auto headlights and wipers, some extra interior lighting and bits and pieces such as a rear-seat central armrest and even map pockets behind the front seats.

The i30 hatch’s Premium line hasn’t made it to Australia, so that model’s leather seat trim, glass roof, 17-inch alloys and other good stuff aren’t available on the Tourer.

What’s Inside?

The i30 Tourer shares the same wheelbase as the hatch but gets an extra 185mm of length in the rear, which together with the more upright tailgate equates to an extra 150 litres of luggage space with the rear seats upright. It’s a useful extension of carrying ability but not a massive load area: you’re still going to struggle to chuck in a large pram or similar.

There’s a full-sized spare under the floor and an extra power outlet, plus a luggage blind and cargo net, and the floor is lower than a small SUV (like Hyundai’s own $5000 more expensive ix35) so the practicality’s there, if not the outright carrying ability.

The driver is faced with the i30’s heavily stylised dashboard, which in the Elite model means colourful major instruments behind the multi-function steering wheel while the centre console holds the menu-based display for sat-nav, stereo and other functions with the push-button ventilation controls below. It all looks ritzy for a relatively affordable small car and once you learn the controls, there’s no problems operating the clear and concise buttons and dials.

Under the bonnet

Despite the extra expense the diesel might be the best option for the i30 Tourer given the petrol engine has only 1.6-litres and 99kW of power, compared with the hatch’s 1.8-litres and 110kW, a function of this car coming from Europe rather than South Korea.

The diesel is also 1.6-litres in capacity and produces 94kW, but also has plenty of low-down pulling power with a hearty 260Nm of torque peaking at just 1900rpm. Combined with the six-speed automatic, it means there’s plenty of easily accessible performance for driving around town and a relaxed demeanour on the highway as it bowls along at low engine revs with plenty in reserve for overtaking.

There’s never any doubting this is a diesel thanks to the chugging engine note and while fuel consumption is low as you’d expect from an engine of this type, the automatic gearbox means the Elite burns fuel at a rate about 25 per cent higher than the manual. About 7.5 L/100km can be expected in day-to-day driving; whether this is worth the extra spend on a diesel powerplant is one thing, but the torquey performance is another.

On the road

The i30 was designed primarily to take on the European market where cars this size are the most popular choice and in terms of on-road ability it’s largely competent and comfortable.

The all-independent suspension set-up delivers acceptable ride quality and it is unlikely many owners will want much more in terms of handling ability and road holding. That said, it lacks the last little bit of composure when absorbing bumps that the better Euros can manage (we’re talking Golf and Astra here) and there’s also a degree of excess tyre noise transmitted to the cabin.

The electric power steering is somewhat numb and lacking in feedback despite having three levels of assistance available. Overall though, the i30 wagon is indistinguishable from the hatch in terms of on-road ability and hits a better than average level rather than absolute excellence.

Verdict

Small wagons such as the i30 Tourer have become something of a niche market given buyers can find similar degrees of practicality to a greater or lesser extent from either a five-door hatch or small SUV. What this one offers is a huge degree of style, plenty of equipment, easily accessible performance from the diesel engine and a price tag that’s not too scary.

More debatable is whether marginal increase in load carrying ability warrants the extra spend. Yes, the Tourer carries more than the hatch, but you’d need to be very sure of just how much the extra payload is needed before investing.