Hyundai i30 Estate road tests and consumer car reviews

Hyundai i30 Estate 1.6cdi Estate 2008

I bought a used i30 estate with 26300mls on the clock in Sept 2010. Everything was fine, a great car with lots of kit! In July 2011 the turbo blew and it needed a new engine, turbo and injectors, with its mileage now at 32912mls. In Nov 2011 the turbo blew again, I don’t know how much damage has been caused yet as I’m awaiting the garage report. The mileage is now at 35455mls. You guessed it, I’m not a happy bunny!! I might part-ex for a petrol model! Footnote: I always run the engine for 30secs. after startup before pulling away,and vice/versa on stopping.

Hyundai i30 Estate 2009

Just thought you should know I bought an i30 Estate brand new Sept 2009, had a Citroen ZX before wish i had kept it !!! First thing to go on new i30 was the clutch ! Noticed that when in reverse there was a scraping noise this first happened week car was bought. Took car in to dealer and unfortunately it didnt make the sound when they tried it out. Second time I took it back they found the problem the clutch was faulty one from new! This was sorted by the dealer under the warranty no arguements. Next to go was the steering. This is electronic and it just failed whilst I was driving this time the dealer changed the sensors and the motors. No arguments all ok. Then a week later the rear suspension on left hand side turned up a fault, apparently a rubber bush or protector had come adrift causing a loud cluncking noise. This was also fixed by the dealer on warranty no problems. My feelings are that the car only being just over a year I should get a replacement car as I cannot rely on the car not to develop another fault. Tried contacting Hyundia main offices via e mail three times! First time they sent an e mail saying that as work was done on warranty they had done all they needed to. I replied that having spent £13000 on a new car iI did not expect any faults for at least 5 years and asked if they could do anything else for me, i.e. check out car for anything obvious that was wrong. The last two e mails have been sent back to me with message saying that recipient rejected e mail!!! Some customer service from main Hyundia offices!! Wish i had kept my old ZX as at least I could rely on it!

Hyundai i30 Estate CRDi Estate 2008

Just to add to major moan re local main dealer’s disastrous clerical inefficiency, this spate of zero and sub-z temps reminds me of army drivers running blowlamps along fuel lines when diesel jellified therein! Seriously, my mpg reduces to mid-40s from a constant higher 50s as soon as the outside temp drops, doing exactly the same sort of pottering around Cheshire on minor roads/lanes. All sorts of problems with sound system as installed, won’t play CDs every so often, starts MPs per USB whether head unit on or off, dealer’s senior receptionist tells me they’ve had a lot of demands for radio replacements but quite honestly I can’t be a***d! (sorry, ’bothered’).

Hyundai i30 Estate 1.6 diesel 2008

Huge problem with (main) dealer’s refusal to give invoice for my purchase of a pre-reg ’demonstrator’, for which I’d part-exed a low mileage Getz - I’m naturally worried in case a warranty dispute arises. Quite unnecessarily quick acceleration links with unbelievable economy (60+ mpg bobbing around the lanes) + a quiet and smooth ride to give an excellent motor-car: the only - and infuriating - problem so far being that when a memory stick is plugged in the system starts playing every time the ignition is turned on even though the head (radio) unit is switched off. AND the flaming thing returns to the 1st track every time! Service manager’s response: "Oh yes, my dad’s just bought an i30D estate like yours and it does the same - must be a software fault somewhere". Car excellent, local main dealer deserves a Gordon Ramsey style description.

Responses to this review

Headley, Bought a demontrator as well, with 7,000 Km on the clock. I agree the acceleration is overdone - and perhaps it’s this issue of torque that may be at the source of my problem? My 1.6 Crdi CrossWagon Deluxe needs to get up to a fair speed, 70 KPH (I’m in Republic of Ireland) to drive in 5th without the clutch shuddering. I’ve smelt the clutch burning twice and the gears are sticky going into 2nd (and maybe 3rd). I don’t know if my ex Demo car had the guts raced out of it by irresponsible journos or Hyundai staff? Or is the too-strong torque an inherent burden on the clutch system? The car is registered as 90 bhp; but I sometimes think it must be the 115bhp version. Any thoughts on my experience before I go back to Hyundai? I love the drive and comfort of the car aprt from this issue - Brian Hanley from Northern Ireland

Brian - my car nearly kangaroos if I put into 5th at too low a road speed (40 or 50 mph): I thought the problem was too high a gear ratio and/or lack of torque but the clutch issue had not occurred to me. While the synchro’s fine on all forward gears, selection of reverse can be awkward, even with the eminently sensible lift-sleeve on the stick. As I had a similar problem on 2 previous Getzes(!) I have wondered where Hyundai sources gearboxes? Overall I find it very difficult to fault the car in any area - Headley des Forges from Cheshire

Just driven from London to near Aberdeen fully loaded in eight hours with 50 mpg - because the overdrive 5th gear is a brilliant fuel saver, yet accelerates well due to good torque range. The engine is designed to cruise at 3000 rpm. Yes the 5th gear is unhappy below 40 - get used to it - Instant Convert from Scotland