Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017) Review

Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017) At A Glance

Flat, low, practical load area. Easy and relaxing to drive. Well-equipped in most trim levels.

Single choice of petrol engine is poor. Not as good to drive as a Focus.

Real MPG average for a Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017)'s top 3 rivals

Kia Cee'd

Great looking estate car that's also superb value. Huge boot. Useful economy.

Vauxhall Astra

Very practical and spacious. Economical CDTi engines. Not a bad looker for an estate. Decent ride quality....

Ford Focus

As good as the hatchback. Great to drive and very refined. Upmarket and comfortable interior. Usefully...

Inside of the Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017)

• Boot space is 528–1642 litres
• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

The i30 Tourer might be behind the Peugeot 308 SW and Volkswagen Golf Estate when it comes to outright capacity with the seats up, but in the real world there’s nothing in it. In fact, the i30 Tourer is one of the most practical family estates around, with a wide tailgate and a low load deck.

That makes loading heavy items easier, plus it’s easier for dogs to get in and out unaided. With the rear seats in place the boot has a maximum capacity of 528 litres to the load cover. Folding them down frees up 1642 litres of capacity to the roof, so there’s plenty of room for trips away or visits to the garden centre or furniture shop.

Up front, the Hyundai i30 Tourer is very comfortable. There’s plenty of adjustment in the seats, while all of the controls are logically placed and intuitive to operate. Back row passengers are well served too, with ample leg and headroom even for adults. Even the middle seat is useable thanks to a flat floor.

Build quality is very good. The plastics are plush yet sturdy, while the dials and switches feel like they’ll stand the test of time. There’s not much flair to the execution, though – and some of the styling, like silver-painted plastic details, looks low-rent compared to the cabin in the excellent Volkswagen Golf.  

Basic S models come with modern essentials including air conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity with voice commands, but if you want alloy wheels and cruise control you’ll need a mid-range SE. SE Nav adds navigation, while top Premium models have auto lights, auto wipers, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry/start.

Standard Equipment

S comes with 15-inch steel wheels, four speakers, air-conditioning, Bluetooth, cloth upholstery, electric front windows, front fog lights, USB and Aux inputs.

SE adds 16-inch alloy wheels, front arm rest, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, cruise control, electric driver’s lumbar support, rear electric windows, Flex Steer, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, rear parking sensors.

SE Nav adds power folding door mirrors and a touchscreen navigation system.

Premium adds 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, electric driver’s seat adjustment, electric parking brake, front wiper de-icer, headlight washers, HID headlights, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, leather seat trim, rear luggage net.

Child seats that fit a Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

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Driving Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017)

• Engines range from 1.6 CRDi 110 Automatic to 1.6 Automatic
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 38–62 mpg

The Hyundai i30 Tourer has a straightforward engine range. There is one petrol choice – a lacklustre 1.6-litre with peak power of 120PS – and two diesels. Both are 1.6-litre, with either 110PS or 136PS, paired to a smooth and accurate six-speed manual as standard or, optionally, to an even smoother seven-speed auto.

For the majority of buyers a diesel will be the best choice, but even the most powerful 136PS variant is far from potent. That said, for motorway cruising or overtaking the i30 is fine. We'd avoid the petrol altogether, though - it's old-fashioned and lacks punch.

With a diesel the i30 Tourer very good indeed. The cabin is quiet, the controls are light and the suspension provides good ride comfort even when the road surface gets lumpy. Most versions have cruise control and a speed limiter, so average speed cameras and long trips are straightforward and easy.

The i30 Tourer is good around town too - the light clutch, steering and gear change make stop-start traffic effortless. Unfortunately, on a country road the steering is a bit too light, giving little feedback even when the Flex Steer settings are changed to weight it up. Despite that fact, the i30 is predictable, stable and capable through bends – it’s just not much fun.

The petrol engine doesn’t provide very competitive running costs, with official economy of 42.8mpg and emissions of 150g/km. The diesel options are better – the 110PS manual has official economy of 72.4mpg and emissions of 102g/km, while the 136PS variant has the same emissions and is officially just 0.1mpg less frugal.

Hyundai i30 Tourer (2012 – 2017) Models and Specs

On sale until November 2017

On sale until October 2015

On sale until April 2015

On sale until September 2012

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What to watch out for

Model History

• February 2012: Estate version of i30 revealed
• March 2012