Hyundai i30 SR 2016 review

Craig Jamieson road tests and reviews the Hyundai i30 SR with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

When Hyundai first introduced the i30 back in 2007, it was a clear signal of intent that the Korean company was leaving behind the 'cheap and cheerful' mantra that had made it a household name.

It wasn't so much that future Hyundais wouldn't be good value propositions – quite the opposite – but the i30 was the first of its truly competitive world cars, designed to square off in one of the most difficult automotive arenas: the family hatchback.

To even rate a mention, the i30 would have to compare favourably to the picks of the segment, the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, on more than just price.

And, with full credit where it's due, Hyundai's engineers pulled it off, creating the first Korean car that could compete on a lot more than just price.

Ford and VW also had a history of highly popular sporty variants on sale in Australia, something that Hyundai didn't. Enter the i30 SR, Hyundai's crack at the sporting hatchback – not that you'd know it at first glance.

Design

The SR doesn't exactly explode out of the blocks with standout sporting features. It's got the same 2.0-litre, direct-injected engine as found elsewhere in the range – barring the entry-level's 1.8 – and the story doesn't deviate too far from the script anywhere else, either.

Hyundai says the SR gets a stiffer suspension tune to help stick it to the ground more fiercely than the rest of the line-up but, unless you had the ghost of Peter Brock giving you pointers, you'd struggle to notice. More on that later.

Equally voluminous is the boot, which, at 378 litres, is big enough for at least three of your enemies.

Considering that the second-generation i30's swooping exterior lines debuted more than five years ago, they're certainly standing up well. Generally, the car does err on the side of anonymity and the SR's unique alloy wheels and chrome trim pieces don't raise its head greatly above the crowd. 

That said, it pulls off much the same trick as mid-spec Golfs and Focuses – the subtle look of the quiet performer.

Moving inside, it's clear to see that Hyundai is agonisingly close to the interior ambiance of European Fords and VWs, but a few key areas show just how long ago the i30 was first launched.

Satellite navigation isn't standard, for instance, even on the upmarket SR grade. For satnav, as well as auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated seats, you'll need to step up to the SRP. 

Other issues include an oversized steering wheel, cheap-feeling switchgear and the perennial lack of directional rear-seat ventilation.

In the SR's favour, however, is a full raft of smartphone integration and connectivity, as well as a responsive touchscreen with crisp graphics. It doesn't lack for storage, either – cubby holes abound, with map pockets and cup holders adorning every door, and the centre console is basically a TARDIS. Equally voluminous is the boot, which, at 378 litres, is big enough for at least three of your enemies. Or a week's family vacation.

Less capacious is the seating arrangement, with rear-seat passengers forced to perform yoga once they pass the six-foot threshold, but hatches aren't often asked to carry three adults in the back seat, and it works fine for a family with young kids, pre up-size purchase.

In the front, the seat base is too high, even at its lowest setting, which means you can't really adopt a sporting driver setup, and that taller folks will have their vision compromised by the ceiling and sun visor.

Those of a generous girth won't feel exceptionally catered for, either; the bolsters, while soft, tuck in too early and too sharply for big bodies.

About town

In traffic, the Hyundai really is the little engine that could. The SR's 2.0-litre petrol isn't endowed with the engine tech du jour of turbocharging, but it's packed full of every other forward-thinking feature you can imagine, from direct injection to constantly variable valve timing.

It adds up to a truly zesty package, which is enough to push you back in your seat. It's also enough to arrive at city speed limits much more quickly than you expect.

Thanks to its suspension, steering and gearbox, you'll find the i30 SR a supremely comfortable city runabout.

Unfortunately, it's too close in power, torque and response to the lower-tech 1.8-litre in the entry-level ‘Active' spec, which you can take home, with the all-important automatic gearbox, for less than $20,000. It's not a lot less, but it's an important psychological barrier that doesn't bode well for the $27,890 automatic-equipped SR.

And, as automatics go, file the i30 SR's under 'good', rather than 'great'. It's tuned for comfort, with the torque converter slurring out the shifts to offer the smoothest possible driving experience. Oddly, its natural shift pattern feels like it wants to change up at 70, as opposed to the much more common 60km/h speed limit. You arrive at the suburban speed-limit mark and then wait for a second while the gearbox seemingly asks, "What… not a little faster?"

Hyundai has fitted the i30 SR with adjustable power steering, offering three modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – which dials in how much assistance you'd like from the electromechanical system. 

That sounds more like it for a sports model, until you realise that this tech is standard across the i30 range. In comfort, it's so light that even the most sedentary would consider it a breeze. The sport setting works, in a fashion; if you liken the i30's steering to a Christmas trifle the sport mode removes the jelly and lets you knuckle down to the rum-laden cake at the bottom. It's still not pin-sharp, but it's certainly an improvement.

The suspension is also dessert-soft, designed to soak up the vagaries of Australian roads with aplomb, rather than pummel through them in the style of some Japanese and European offerings.

Thanks to its suspension, steering and gearbox, you'll find the i30 SR a supremely comfortable city runabout. Even over back alleys in various stages of disrepair, the Hyundai remains compliant and cosseting. 

It's also a doddle to park, thanks to a rear-view camera that pops out and a tight turning circle.

On the road

The i30 SR is a quiet and refined animal on the highway, too; the excellent work done by Australian engineers on the Hyundai's suspension means that road noise generated by the Nexen tyres doesn't enter the cabin, even at highway speeds. A set of high-grip tyres would put the noise levels up, so bear that in mind if you're thinking of an upgrade.

The noise that does enter the factory-fresh SR, however, is the sound from every other car and truck on the highway; you'll be able to tell just how many revs the P-plater in the Daihatsu Charade has on board to make it up that steep hill. A little more – or more efficient – soundproofing in the body panels, and perhaps a bit more attention to the glass, would be handy.

When it's time to turn onto more tortuous back roads, it's best to remember that the i30 SR is – despite the label – still engineered for comfort, not maximum attack. Should you attempt a banzai run, the tyres will protest and the SR will shift its weight around like Clive Palmer heading for an exit door.

But coming down on the i30 for being genuinely comfortable – and comfort-oriented – is like taking a poodle to the dog track and getting angry when it loses to greyhounds. If anything, the SR is more a quick poodle than a serious race dog.

And if you drive like someone who isn't gunning for Craig Lowndes' job, you'll find a pretty able partner, that tucks in to corners well and holds on pretty tenaciously. The slightly elastic steering will take some getting used to, and the feel isn't what you'd call fantastic, but steer accordingly and you'll cover ground a lot more quickly and easily than you'd expect.