Test drive Hyundai I30 2007 Hatchback

Comparative Test: Hyundai i30, Citroen C4

Even five years ago we would have said, compared with the Citroen Hyundai - Is That Possible? But today, looking at the Citroen C4, we can try to understand how the newcomer Hyundai i30 Russian market submitted by the European genes of its founders
Koreans are seriously concerned about the lack of penetration of its products in Europe. And not just penetration. Hyundai and KIA are full of ambition the desire to bite off a big chunk of the European market pie. And to reach it, they have to build plants in the Old World, and to develop here, often with the help of hands and heads of the same in Europe, the new model. In many countries, Hyundai i30 romp is almost two years, and only this spring machine reached Russia. What would it compare? Maybe with KIA Cee'd? This is the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, for some time, when concerns began to work, they say, in one pocket, try on each other Hyundai and KIA was like comparing the same type of two apartments on different floors immediately after the housewarming. The kitchen is the same, the living area is the same. And the balcony is the same. The only difference is in the quality of finishing works, although it is also, in principle, comparable. It is no secret that the Hyundai i30 and KIA Cee'd not just soplatformennika and almost twins with similar strength body structure, suspension architecture, the ruler of motors, etc. And so we had to look for another i30 cparring partner.
Without being original, we went for the simplest way, and it looked into the press releases Hyundai. Reasonableness and good quality design, designed by Europeans for Europeans created to neutralize the stress, which is a necessary consequence of life in the big city and the decision came naturally: we need one hundred percent European car, such as stress fighter, nice and invented in Europe. And it is having on other markets doubtful chances of success. And such there is a car! This is recently updated Citroen C4. What can be more beautiful and at the same time hopeless (in the sense of market prospects, let's say, in the same South Korea) than the representative of the glorious tribe Citroen - Pleiads of cars created by the French in a considerable degree in the name and for the sake of enjoying the process of their creation? However, here I lie, because globalization launched its tentacles even in the Holy Saints - in Citroen, this Citala Creative and AvtoVaglia. I mean the fact that under the hood of C4 as one of the options now settled developed together with the BMW 1.6-liter 120-stroke gasoline engine VTI. However, the essence of the case does not change: Hyundai i30 claims to the European Green Card, and Citroen C4 should help figure out how much I30 is full of European ideology and is ready to confess the values \u200b\u200bof the old world
On the eye
Hyundai i30 Golf Class hatchback was first introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show. The car went on sale in the European market six months later and was passed quite positive. To save the reader from a tedious description of what and so can be seen in the photos, speaking of appearance, let's try to formulate the essence. Visually I30 almost European car. Behind - largely due to vertical sails, completely devoid of traditional Korean caution. The profile is a typical golf class. And two opinions here can not be: the angle of tilt the edge of the back wing, do you know, dimensions and generally the mood ... slightly drunk except that front, because in the photo in the passport, I30 still appear family features (something elantre-sonatius). This is the unpacable Korean headlight cut and as a result - the lack of a call in the view. Not enough here, or some self-confidence, even if you want, arrogance. Although, in principle, it is also subjective as the aesthetics of hatchback Citroen C4, although he collected all possible design awards at one time.
Analyze the appearance of Citroen - this is completely utopia, because two chevron for the French means one simple thing: if you do not like, then you still sleep and did not open your eyes. Just gliding the look here will not work here: the puzzle from the angles and illogical curves of the lines is differently folded into the incredible geometry of the streamlined hatchback circuits. However, comparing cars on external parameters, it should be recognized: at least the root Frenchman Citroen C4 is extremely organic and very well (even in the Hatchback version), Hyundai i30 in a traditional understanding looks much more European. If, of course, repel from the idiologists that the concept is traditionally European means thoughtful, effective, but at the same time sufficiently discreet and unaded.
The points
A similar situation is observed and when viewed from the inside. The Salon I30 is far from the concept of conservative, it does not at all pull into sleep from the faceless side of the same buttons. Everything looks quite fresh and even intricate. Just in comparison with C4, this salon with organic leather seats with good lateral support still seizes the thoughts on rationalism, compliance with traffic rules submitted on the period of tax returns and on time paid alimony. Ergonomics I30 can be called if not exemplary, then classic is probably. Large devices are highlighted by a soft blue light, buttons are noted by cute purple eyes, the optimal three-spoke steering wheel is covered by not the most delicate, but the skin, and the two adjustments and the abundance of the buttons on the knitting needles are quite capable of satisfying a person who has sent a man in Hyundai I30 from the machine class higher.
On cars as part of our test, almost one to one came together: in its capabilities, the equipment of the salon I30 did not yield to C4. Bluetooth, USB and AUX connectors, two-stage heated seats, magnetol with mp3 support, cruise control, not to mention such obvious things like heated mirrors, cooled glove box and driver's seat elevator. Citroen asked only due to the lack of a leather cabin, which is only available for versions in the EXCLUSIVE configuration, while we had a confort with a rich set of additional options (worth just over 720 thousand rubles). Hyundai i30 at the price (if a discount) in the area of \u200b\u200b710 thousand rubles (Comfort equipment) resolutely refused to give up to an employee competitor. The only mistakes is the lack of two-zone climate control, which is actually for the driver makes the controls more compact and easily readable. Even by the number of displays a full parity - three on the brother. Although it is for the level of innovativeness and intricateness with a translucent, changing color, depending on the lighting of the C4 LCD display, located deeply on the front panel, perhaps, will not be undeveloped even recognized centers of the genre. I am measured with Citroen with the number of clauses packed in one car, it is like on the asphalt paver to chase for Bugatti Veyron. Undoubtedly, these arrows (as, for example, a legendary double handlebar with a fixed hub, a special container for flavoring or a folding hook for a handbag from the left knee of the front passenger) form typical for Citroen image not like everything. And it would be surprising if the usual cabin spiration lever walked in C4 in the way, like everyone else, and not across the movement of the car!
It should be noted that the disciplinary statute of I30 is formed by several other means, for the most part associated with the functional component. The mood here is set to suspend compared to the European version, the energy intensity and the density of which makes driving on the I30 fascinating. A 122 hp and 154 Nm of the engine of 1.6 DOHC CWT with the help of a 4-range automaton simultaneously instill and take hope. They instill her in the one who is driving, quite satisfying his ambitions, and selected from the neighbors in the thread that do not expect from the car such a modest size of a sharp jerk, for example, from a speed of 100 km / h to 160. Perhaps overtaking at high speed - Konk I30. From the place he is not so amarten, even though his automatic and it is difficult to blame in thought. It starts willingly, but what is called, within the limits of reasonable. Until hundreds for 12 s with a small - result, no matter how cool, quite moderate. In terms of salon noise, the I30 is withstanding a completely European standard: quietly, only at high speeds under the rear wheel arches, did not have time to fly out from under the bottom of Decibel. In the case of C4, the picture is somewhat different. Even the doors in the French are closed with an iron ringing, and on the go to the salon is not always the harmonious silencer song. Nevertheless, you are again and again trying to listen to it, because the 4-range automatic C4 is more advanced than that of i30: there is not only Sport mode, but also the function of manual gearbox, which time after time makes the engine causes the engine. I must say, the Frenchman's noticeable vanity of the transmission variability does not add, the automatic machine is not bad and in normal mode, but the owner's pride of the owner.
Tell me
If we abstract from the idea that the trip to Citroen is equivalent to enter the light in a shirt with colored butterflies, if you make yourself not pay attention to unauthorized front wipers (while the team was given only by rear), if you stop the electronic brain of the radio, without The reason for the fact and the matter is changing the favorite radio station on some other, then you can even enjoy the trip. Especially good in Citroen braking process. If you have already passed the instructions on how to connect your phone to a speakerphone (do it from the first time itself - utopia), then you probably appreciate - and here already without irony - branded brake (not to be confused with the braking!) Electronics. With a sufficiently sharp press on the brake pedal, the car slows down adequately effort, and after a second, without your intervention, power the slowdown is incomprehensible dragged. So the brake force dispenser (REF) is valid, which equalizes the pressure in the brake system, and the AFU system (an auxiliary system in emergency braking). There are modern security systems and in Hyundai (this is a four-channel ABS and ESP), but they work more familiar and traditional way. On the steering wheel, and he is not even sluggish, it comes enough information about the position of the wheels and the clutch of them with the road, which, thanks to the already mentioned very chain suspension, it allows you to pose a heat ...
So, you can once again state that Citroen C4 is a kind, but very serious car with a lot of advantages. Although he cannot boast by the company's Citroenovskaya pneumatic suspension, but without it is sufficiently comfortable on the go, dynamic, extremely comfortable inside, unusual and just beautiful. It may seemed to someone that on his background Hyundai I30 looked not too convincing. By no means. Surely people with a more rational warehouse of the nature who did not read the French novels on the youth of the Youth, more than I30. This is a truly assembled and thoughtful to the smallestly machine that made a lot of things that managed to achieve in this segment of the European Auto Industry. In Russia, no doubt, I30 is waiting for success, even despite well-known, but hopefully, temporary difficulties in the market

Ilya Rybakov
Photo Yana Segal
 
 

 

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"