Hyundai i30 N-Line Sedan review

I think Hyundai is on to a good thing with the i30 Sedan.

There are a few sedans you can get at around this price point. For example, you could go for the Kia Stinger 200S, which is a nice car in its own right, but then you would have to answer endless questions about why you didn’t “just get the GT?”

That would get old fast.

Or you could choose the Toyota Camry, a sales-leading stalwart with undeniable reliability, but then you would have to deal with everyone yawning and falling asleep when you tell them you bought a Camry.

The i30 Sedan, on the other hand, isn’t boring. It has sharp lines, a premium interior and at the back, it looks like it has been rear-ended by a 1986 Alfa Romeo Carabo. With the LED light running the length of the boot though, the look works.

Even better? It’s cheaper than the equivalent trim in both aforementioned cars, significantly so with the Stinger.

What’s the i30 N-Line Sedan like inside?

It’s well equipped and to be honest, I was surprised to learn that the price was just $42,152 drive-away. It feels much more premium than that price point implies.

The large panoramic sunroof lets the light and air in if you open it right up, which makes the cabin feel larger. It also makes it feel more expensive as the light beams down on the combination vegan and genuine leather wrapped seats. They’re electronically adjustable and get a heating and ventilating function upfront, which helps as the temperature dips.

You get 2 large widescreens fitted to 1 continuous panel, spanning the vast majority of the dashboard. It looks pretty impressive.

The infotainment screen measures 10.25 inches and has Hyundai’s standard operating system. It is easy to use, crisp, responsive and comes loaded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It’s all set up in a “cockpit” design, which makes it feel sporty and more importantly means it makes it easier for you, the person who purchased the car, the owner, the driver, to use the infotainment.

There is even a wireless charging pad for your phone so you don’t have to deal with cables running around the cabin.

It has more going for it in the back too, with plenty of room in the back row, although headroom takes a bit of a hit with the sunroof. It is fine for kids or smaller humans.

No USB ports are fitted in the back though, meaning that devices will need to be charged in the front, or tell the kids to read a book. Kids don’t read enough these days.

Does the i30 Sedan have a decent boot?

There is 474 litres of space available under the boot of the i30 Sedan, which is slightly smaller than the Toyota Camry with 493 litres.

What’s the i30 Sedan like to drive?

Its 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine has enough punch for all your accelerating needs. You can even put it in "sport" mode, which sharpens throttle response and gear changes to give you that bit of extra "oomph". The exhaust also has a surprisingly good soundtrack.

2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan
Power	150kW
Torque	265Nm
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch
Combined fuel economy	6.8L/100km
Braked towing	1,200kg

But if all of those things tickle your fancy, you would probably be better off looking at the i30 Sedan N.

The new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission does a good job of switching the gears around and generally makes the right decisions at the right times.

The important part here is that it rides nicely and despite its sporty profile, you aren’t going to need a trip to the physio after hitting a bump.

Steering is light and for those who are used to smaller cars like its i30 hatch sibling, it’s still fairly easy to park. You get reversing cameras and parking sensors which tell you when you are close to things you shouldn't be, and it has a back window you can look out if you don’t trust these.

How safe is the i30 N-Line Sedan?

Hyundai has fitted it with a comprehensive safety suite with features like adaptive cruise control, as well as lane keep assist to keep you a nice distance from the car in front, slowing and accelerating in tandem.

Radar-guided autonomous emergency braking picks up whether the object you are potentially about to hit is a car, pedestrian or a cyclist. The i30 Sedan will also keep an eye on you, monitoring for drowsiness.

Some other safety systems include:

• Forward collision avoidance assist
• Blind-spot collision avoidance assist
• Blind-spot view monitor
• Lane follow assist

What is the i30 Sedan warranty and ownership like?

It comes with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and services are due each 12 months or 10,000km.

There is a capped price servicing plan for the first 50,000km that costs $1,562.20, or $312.44 each service.

You will also get 12 months of roadside assistance from when you drive off the showroom floor and receive another 12 months each time you have your car serviced at a Hyundai Service Centre.

My verdict on the i30 N-Line Sedan

It’s nice to drive and a cinch to park around town. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol that is matched to the dual-clutch transmission has enough get up and go for any situation – unless you are drag racing – and inside it feels like a premium sedan.

Here is the real kicker though: it’s roughly 13 grand cheaper than a Stinger 200S and roughly 9 grand cheaper than the top-of-the-line Toyota Camry SL, which gets a panoramic roof, premium sound system and heated and ventilated seats.

I think that makes the i30 Sedan a bit of a bargain in this segment.

i30 N-Line Sedan vs Kia Stinger 200s vs Toyota Camry SL

	2022 Hyundai i30 Sedan	Kia Stinger 200s	Toyota Camry SL (hybrid)
Power	150kW	182kW	160kW (combined)
Torque	265Nm	353Nm	221Nm
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch	8-speed automatic	e-CVT
Combined fuel economy	6.8L/100km	8.8L/100km	4.7L/100km
Braked towing	1,200kg	1,500kg	-