NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise
NZ Autocar
No Result
View All Result
Home Hyundai

2017 Hyundai i30 Elite review

Words: Peter Louisson | Photos: Tom Gasnier

by Tom Gasnier
November 28, 2017

While the star of the new i30 show is still yet to arrive, the N model which is the first in the brand’s performance family, it’s cars like this one that will be bigger sellers.

However, knowing Kiwi buyers, many will plump for the ease of the 1.6T Limited, given it’s only $4k more and offers a heap more performance.

How much more exactly? With 150kW and 265Nm the Limited scuttles to the legal limit in 6.75sec. The 2.0L GDI in the middling i30 Elite gets 120kW and 203Nm, but the torque peak is at 4700rpm, three times higher than where it starts in the 1.6T. Despite the turbo version being almost 100kg heavier, it outruns the Elite easily, the latter needing 8.9sec to hit 100km/h. There’s a 1.6sec difference in the overtake too.

The hit of torque lower down with the turbo makes the Limited that much easier to extract the performance, and less taxing for everyday ease of driving. That said, you can drive the Elite on the throttle in Normal mode and the six-speed auto responds well and smoothly. Still, you’d probably think the $4000 money well spent, especially as the Limited also gets active cruise. However, without the sunroof you get better headroom in the back of the GDI variant.

Real world economy will likely favour the 2.0 but by less than you might imagine. Give it a workout and the two are neck and neck for fuel used, around 14L/100km. And their claimed combined averages are virtually identical, both around 7.5L/100km.

On the other hand while you miss out a few bits and bobs, the spec level of the Elite isn’t too shabby. You get blind spot monitoring, lane change alert, LED daytime running lights, seven airbags and RCTA, along with a five-star ANCAP safety rating. Niceties run to leather trim, a powered driver’s seat with lumbar pump, smart key, an electronic parking brake, and dual zone air. There’s also sat nav, dual zone air, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera and even tyre pressure monitoring. So it’s chocka.

To drive, in a qualitative sense, it isn’t a million miles away from the i30 1.6 Limited. The steering characteristics are the same – too much weighting in Sport mode, among other things – and it’s arguably the worst aspect of the new i30. The steering characteristics are the same – too much weighting in Sport mode, among other things – and it’s arguably the worst aspect of the new i30. But Hyundai isn’t the first firm to struggle with electric steering. As with the Limited the suspension is set up for tight body control and efficient cornering, the firm damping (and torsion beam architecture vs multilink set-up that the Limited gets) making the ride a touch busy at slower speeds. But it’s a quiet runner, both the engine and tyres hushed at speed.

Alternatives? You could always save $4k and go for the base i30 at $35,990, or perhaps wait for Kona. Me? I’d probably be eyeing up something from the Mazda3 range; it’s unconventional in some ways and somewhat the better for it.

ModelHyundai i30 Elite
Price$39,990
Engine1990cc, IL4, DI, 120kW203Nm
Drivetrain6A, FWD
Fuel Use7.4L/100km
C02 Output170g/km
0-100km/h8.92sec
Weight1338kg
Previous Post

2017 Citroen C4 Cactus review

Next Post

2017 Volkswagen Amarok AWD V6 Highline review

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Free NZ Autocar Enewsletter
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NZ Autocar is New Zealand’s leading automotive magazine. Delivering news reviews from the automotive world, including commentary from leading automotive writers and covers the scope of motoring including new cars, classic cars, EVs and motorbikes.

Our team

Publisher: Mark Petch
General Manager: Gavin Shaw
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Senior Editor: Peter Louisson
News Editor: Harrison Wade
Art Director: Alex Schultz
Photographer: Isaac Western

To Subscribe

nzautocar.subscription.co.nz

Contact Us

Advertising:
Gavin Shaw
[email protected]
.
Editorial:
Kyle Cassidy
[email protected]
.
NZ Autocar
PO Box 44 304
Point Chevalier
Auckland 1246
New Zealand

Categories

Useful Links

Home
News
Motorsport
New Car Prices
New Bike Prices
Subscriptions
Competitions
Contact Us
Advertising
Terms and Conditions

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Electric
  • Industry
  • Bikes
  • Classics
  • Motorsport
  • Prices
    • New Bike Prices
    • New Car Prices
    • Make
      • Alfa Romeo News and Reviews
      • Aston Martin News and Reviews
      • Audi News and Reviews
      • Bentley News and Reviews
      • BMW News and Reviews
      • BYD News and Reviews
      • Chevrolet News and Reviews
      • Citroen News and Reviews
      • Cupra News and Reviews
      • Ferrari News and Reviews
      • Fiat News and Reviews
      • Ford News and Reviews
      • GWM News and Reviews
      • Haval News and Reviews
      • Honda News and Reviews
      • Hyundai News and Reviews
      • INEOS News and Reviews
      • Isuzu News and Reviews
      • Jaguar News and Reviews
      • Jeep News and Reviews
      • KIA News and Reviews
      • Lamborghini News and Reviews
      • Land Rover News and Reviews
      • LDV News and Reviews
      • Lexus News and Reviews
      • Lotus News and Reviews
      • Mahindra News and Reviews
      • Maserati News and Reviews
      • Mazda News and Reviews
      • McLaren News and Reviews
      • Mercedes-Benz News and Reviews
      • MG News and Reviews
      • MINI News and Reviews
      • Mistubishi News and Reviews
      • Nissan News and Reviews
      • Omoda News and Reviews
      • Opel News and Reviews
      • Peugeot News and Reviews
      • Polestar News and Reviews
      • Porsche News and Reviews
      • RAM News and Reviews
      • Renault News and Reviews
      • Skoda News and Reviews
      • SsangYong News and Reviews
      • Subaru News and Reviews
      • Suzuki News and Reviews
      • Tesla News and Reviews
      • Toyota News and Reviews
      • Volkswagen News and Reviews
      • Volvo News and Reviews
  • Subscribe
    • Print
    • Digital
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Advertise

© 2021 AUTOCAR 2016 LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.