New Hyundai i30 Fastback arrives
The new Hyundai i30 Fastback arrives to join the i30 Hatch and i30 Estate and extend the i30 range with a sexier five-door coupe.
It’s not a proper coupe take on the i30 – unlike the appealing i20 Coupe – but it is a good looking, sleek and impressive take on the i30 Hatch, and more practical, certainly for families, than a three-door coupe would be.
There are subtle tweaks to the grille, air intakes and lower front spoiler to inject a more aggressive stance, an elegant sloping roof, wide wheel arches, an integrated spoiler at the back, shapely C-pillars and sculpted flanks.
Inside is what you’d expect from an i30, which means competent and well bolted together rather than dramatic and glitzy, with an (optional) 8″ touchscreen infotainment with Sat Nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging and rear view camera, although you don’t need to pay for Bluetooth.
Safety kit includes autonomous emergency braking, driver alert, lane keep assist and driver attention, and extra money buys you stuff like adaptive cruise, blind spot and cross traffic.
Clearly aiming the i30 Fastback at the ‘sportier’ buyer, Hyundai has fettled the chassis and suspension for a bit more dynamism, and lower it by 5mm. Which is not enough to notice.
Engine options, at least for now, are the very good 1.0 litre three-cylinder with 118bhp you’ll find in the i20 Coupe, and the 1.4 litre T-GDI with 138bhp. Doubtless there will be diesel options at some point. And, as we’ve said before, we’re hoping Hyundai will deliver an i30 N Fastback.
Expect a price premium over the i30 Hatch – after all, Hyundai considers the i30 Fastback a mini Panamera for the masses – but it won’t be too silly a premium. Hyundai aren’t daft.
The new Hyundai i30 Fastback will be in Hyundai’s UK dealers at the start of 2018.
wolfie says
Hyundai had to do something to improve the i30; the new standard model is just dull-looking. I reckon this ‘coupe’ will be the big seller in the range.