Hyundai I30 test drive since 2012 Hatchback

Hyundai i30: They are already here

It is time to stop looking at Korean Hende cars as something simple and cheap, and even with Asian color. This was hinted to us a year ago during the comparative test of Elantra, once again repeated I20, and finally convinced I30.
The road to the center of Europe turned out to be difficult. By plane to Prague, and then 400 km by bus to Ostrava. Due to the snowfall that covered the Czech Republic, the bus trip came out quite long, and we arrived in place only in the evening. The purpose of our trip was a new one, from a needle, a car factory in the town of Noshovitsa, next to Ostrava, on which the Hyundai i30 began to be collected since November last year. Why there? Geographically, this is really the center of Europe, from which both Germany and to Russia are just a hand. And very close, in neighboring Slovakia, another same factory producing the nozzle KIA CEED. Cooperation, reduction of costs, and all other charms. This alone convincingly testifies to the seriousness of the intentions of the Korean company to seize the share of the European market. Add here the fact that I30 was developed in the company's design center in the German RUSESLHAMA (there is, by the way, the headquarters of Opel), and it becomes clear that the European hall will have to be squeezed. How much? Now we will check.
View
In appearance I30 is almost a European car. Why almost? The face turned out to be a little fresh and with some notes of the former Korean design. In the profile and behind, the car looks pretty, interesting, in European, but in the front of the designers it seemed to leave inspiration, and they performed it solidly, neatly, but without a light. It is a pity, because the smile of the nozzle KIA CEED looks more interesting and more fun, and this, whatever one may say, is one of the arguments when buying a car. But, in the end, in addition to the design of the front part in the car, there is still a lot of things.
Polygon
Initially, the instructors were supposed to carry us at the training ground, which did not cause enthusiasm, but then the Koreans rightly reasoned that Russian journalists were able to independently overcome a couple of one and a half kilometer circles on a special road, on which all the cars that had come off the conveyor are shaken. It is good in that there are many different coatings on it, from shaking Belgians to a flat area, where you can accelerate properly, and then check the work of the ABS on a heterogeneous coating. There is still a rather cool rise on which you should stop and move, checking the work of a handbrake and clutch, and a profiled turn, where the operation of the steering and stabilization system is checked. From the first circle I note good sound insulation and a perfectly configured, absolutely European chassis. Elantra, on the platform of which is made by i30, also goes well, but here they clearly worked on the settings of shock absorbers and springs, which is why the behavior of the machine has still improved. At dinner, I asked the Koreans, then supplies them shock absorbers? They specified on the phone and answered, they say, the shock absorbers are good, German, Sachs. That i30 rides better than Elantra.
Autoban
For the test, only a car with a mechanical box and a 1.4-liter 109-horsepower engine was available, but I will not dissuade buyers from it in favor of a machine with a 1.6-liter engine. The motor is modern and for such a car is sufficient: the car accelerates well with the driver and three adult passengers, it allows you to keep 130 km/h permissions, however, when overtaking should not be carried away, performing them with a margin. The programs are perpliting clearly, it is a pleasure to work with a lever of the box, not all European machines can boast of such a mechanism. It is gratifying that even at high speeds, the noise of the motor does not become annoying thank you good sound insulation and a correctly tuned exhaust. At high speed, the car is stable, no serious comments are in turning.
Space and convenience
The salon is made quite qualitatively: the design is not pretentious, but quite pretty, the materials of the finish for a car of this class are quite good, the salons of new machines do not smell of all kinds of chemistry, from which the head can be exhausted. The dashboard is satisfied with a simple and in design resembles the same Getz, besides, tall drivers will not see the upper part of the scales, because it is overlapped by the rim of the steering wheel. Otherwise, the ergonomics of the driver’s place did not cause complaints, even I, with my growth above average, albeit not immediately, but sat down conveniently. I really like the fact that the car has a long base: a colleague of my height and complexion is located in the back seat, not resting the knees on the back of the driver's seat and without supporting the ceiling. If necessary, the rear seats can be folded in parts or in its entirety, you get a fairly decent space with an even floor practical.
Hold on, Europe
What are the chances of the i30 in our market? It seems good. The car was made quite soundly, and when, after the test drive, the Koreans asked what shortcomings we noted, it was not possible to recall something serious, and in fact there were two complaints: a boring face and the fact that the upper parts of the devices were not visible to the tall drivers. What do we get in the end? A golf-class car developed and manufactured in Europe with a 109-horsepower engine and a mechanical gearbox, which already has an air conditioner in the basic configuration, 6 pillows of safety, ABS, heating of mirrors and seats, will cost 530,900 rubles. For 605900 rubles, you can get an additional climate control, electric windows and much more. If you want an automatic box, then, alas, only with a 1.6-liter 122-horsepower engine at a price of 67,3900 rubles, which, however, is not so much at the current rate. The main thing is to get rid of the idea that Korean cars are cheap soapses that can be forgiven precisely because they are cheap. Today, Koreans are already quite Europeans, and this must be considered.
Plant in Noshovitsa
The assembly factory in Noshovitsa, which was launched in November 2008, is assembled by the hatchback and the i30 station wagon, is characterized by a very high degree of production automation. There are a lot of robots at all car equipment, but here, perhaps, most of all, all the production of Hyundai. Result: The estimated capacity of the plant of 300,000 cars per year with the number of employees of 3560 people, given the administration and transmission production, where it is planned to produce up to 600,000 transmission annually. There is no such performance for one employee, probably nowhere. When asked why there are so many robots, because people could do a lot, the Koreans replied that the initial investments, of course, are higher, but then the robots pay off many times. So far, however, the plant operates only in one shift, the launch of the second was postponed due to insufficient demand. A crisis
Technical characteristics of the Hyundai i30 hatchback
1.4 MT / 1.6 MT (AT)
Power, l. With. at rpm
109 at 6200 /122 at 6200
Moment, nm at rpm
137 at 5000/154 at 4200
Max. speed, km/h
187 / 192 (183)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h, sec
11,7 / 11 (12,1)
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
city
7,6 / 8,0 (9,0)
the track
5,2 / 5,2 (5,7)
average
6,1 / 6,2 (6,9)
Length/width/height, mm
4245/1775/1480
Wheel base, mm
2650
Equipped mass, kg
1193 / 1193(1214)
Configurations and prices
1.4 MT Classic: ABS+EBD, 6 airbags, heated front seats, front electric windows, mirrors, air conditioning, fabric salon, radio with 4 speakers
530900 rub
1.4 MT Comfort: (additionally) active front headrests, rear electric windows, climate control, on-board computer, wiper heating, rain sensor, steering wheel and gearbox with skin, radio with 6 speakers, cast discs
605900 rub
1.6 AT Style: (Additionally) ESP, Electroskups of mirrors, light sensor, leather salon
715900 rub
Pros: rich configurations, good running qualities, good sound insulation
Cons: a boring face, a 1.4-liter version only with mechanics
Leonid Klimanovich
 

 
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"