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Which used Hyundai i30 should you buy?

The Korean car maker’s family hatchback was first introduced in 2007, and the third-generation model is the best yet. The latest Hyundai i30 is a long way removed from the early budget-oriented cars – although that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth considering as a used or nearly new buy.

Most of the units available on the Hyundai i30 are turbocharged petrols, which are good all-rounders and suit it well.

The mild hybrid models introduced when the Hyundai i30 was updated in 2020 will be worthwhile picks for drivers who spend a lot of time in towns and cities, since their fuel-saving tech will help make them a bit more economical in stop-start traffic.

At the other end of the scale, there’s a 1.6-litre diesel that will be a better fit for drivers who do lots of motorway journeys.

Perhaps the big appeal of the Hyundai i30 as a used buy, though, is its five-year warranty, which is transferable between owners. This gives extra peace of mind if you decide to buy a Hyundai i30 that’s a few years old, and since there’s no mileage cap on the warranty, there’s still cover if you opt for a well-travelled example.

Read our full Hyundai i30 review

 

What used Hyundai i30 trim levels are available?

If you’re in the market for a used Hyundai i30, you’ll be pleased to know there is a wide variety of trims. Below we summarise the features on some of the key versions.

Hyundai i30 S

At the car’s launch in 2017, the Hyundai i30 S was the model that kicked the range off. Standard equipment is adequate, and there are some useful safety features.

  • Alloy wheels
  • Automatic headlights
  • Bluetooth
  • Cruise control
  • Front and rear electric windows
  • Lane departure warning system
  • Autonomous emergency braking

Hyundai i30 SE / SE Nav

Hyundai i30 SE models came with the same equipment as the entry-level Hyundai i30 S cars, as well as additional handy creature comforts. There was also a Hyundai i30 SE Nav model at launch, which offered evn more tech. But this trim level was dropped in 2019, and its additions incorporated into the standard Hyundai i30 SE spec.

  • Reversing camera
  • Rear parking sensors
  • Five-inch touchscreen
  • Space-saver spare wheel
  • Eight-inch touchscreen with built-in sat-nav (SE Nav)
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Android Auto

Hyundai i30 SE Connect

When the car was facelifted in 2020, the Hyundai i30 S and Hyundai i30 SE trims were replaced with a new entry-level model called the Hyundai i30 SE Connect. By and large, the equipment on Hyundai i30 SE Connect cars was broadly similar to the old Hyundai i30 SE models.

  • Eight-inch touchscreen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Cloth seats
  • Front and rear electric windows
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Android Auto
  • LED headlights

Hyundai i30 Premium

The original flagship trim level, the Hyundai i30 Premium spec introduced some advanced equipment (detailed below). There were further upgrades when the Hyundai i30 was facelifted in 2020.

  • Automatic air-conditioning
  • LED headlights
  • Electronic parking brake
  • Heated front seats
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Reverse parking warning assist 
  • 10.3-inch touchscreen (from 2020)
  • Seven-inch digital instrument display (from 2020)

Hyundai i30 Premium SE

For drivers who were after even plusher transport, the car was also available as the Hyundai i30 Premium SE. This built upon the Hyundai i30 Premium spec with extra equipment, but would end up being discontinued when the model was facelifted in 2020.

  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Heated steering wheel

Hyundai i30 N Line

Introduced in 2019, the Hyundai i30 N Line trim provided a sportier look than the more mainstream models in the range. Much of the equipment on the Hyundai i30 N Line was carried over from the Hyundai i30 Premium trim. A tweaked suspension set-up makes the Hyundai i30 N Line more responsive to drive than the Hyundai i30 SE and Hyundai i30 Premium models, although it is less comfortable.

  • Redesigned front and rear bumpers
  • Twin exhaust
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Bolstered front seats
  • Eight-inch touchscreen
  • Digital radio
  • Lane keep assist
  • Recalibrated suspension

Hyundai i30 N / N Performance

The Hyundai i30 N is the hot hatch version of the car, and a rival for the Ford Focus ST and legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI with its grippy handling and strong pace.

Two flavours were offered: the regular Hyundai i30 N and the Hyundai i30 N Performance model. The latter has bigger brakes, a more powerful engine (279PS, versus the regular Hyundai i30 N’s 253PS) and a limited-slip differential that helps the car accelerate out of corners more quickly.

If you plan on using the Hyundai i30 N as a daily driver, the post-facelift models may be worth going for: these versions have retuned suspension that, while still firm, is less bouncy and jiggly than the original car over rough roads.

 

Is a used Hyundai i30 a good buy?

The third-generation Hyundai i30 can genuinely stand alongside some of the most well-rounded cars in its class.

Overall interior fit and finish is good, equipment levels are fairly generous across the board and, while the Skoda Octavia beats it in terms of outright practicality, there’s still sufficient space for the Hyundai i30 to handle day-to-day family life.

Boosting the Hyundai i30’s appeal further is that the car isn’t just available as a five-door hatchback. Buyers looking for a bigger boot are catered for with the Hyundai i30 Tourer estate, whereas those who are willing to exchange some outright versatility for a swoopier look can opt for the Hyundai i30 Fastback.