The Hyundai i30 Wagon
19-March-2009
- Vital Stats
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$20,890 - $29,990
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Petrol or diesel
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Huge - bikes, luggage, strollers, you name it
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4
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The Lifestyle
The new i30 CW (crossover wagon) is going to surprise and delight a wide fan base, with its wagon practicality and small car running costs.
It has stylish crossover appeal and an extensive list of features. You might even say the 'I' stands for "included". And for a car priced at just $20,890, outstanding value.
The i30 CW is Ideal for young families, or active, sporty couples who might be planning a family. Yet the small-car maneouvrability and feel upfront will make you forget you're driving a 'wagon'.
What I Liked...
What I liked about the i30, was the practical storage aspects, and the fact Hyundai have included an array of great technology and safety features.
The Drive
The i30 CW has the handling and eco-friendliness of the multiple award-winning i30 hatch.
It's smooth, and the steering is tight. We experienced a downpour on our test drive, and it handled extraordinarily well. Visibility is fantastic as well, and while it comes with reverse park assist, you don't feel the need for it as you might with many vehicles in the category.
For our test drive, we cruised up with Hyundai to the Hunter Valley on a test-drive adventure themed 'Full of Unexpected Surprises', a great locale to test out the i30 CW with its windy roads and uneven surfaces.
We drove both the petrol and the diesel version. As a 'greenie', I recommend the diesel both for the quality of the drive and for the fact that it cuts CO2 emissions by at least 30%.
As Liesel Jones, the i30 ambassador has said, at least it 'minimizes my footprint on the environment' (she's also a big fan of the wagon for its storage systems for mounting her training bike on the roof rack system etc.)
Hyundai have launched their Blue Drive initiative, aiming to become the leading eco-friendly car manufacturer. While the diesel version is priced slightly higher, at $23,390, it's worth it environmentally. Plus I found the diesel version had a bit more grunt up hills.
Boot & Storage
The i30 CW can easily accommodate sporting gear on top and inside the car, with roof rails and many other storage surprises.
Or, you can throw in a full-size stroller.
There's ample room for more passengers (lots of extra 'knee' and cargo space). The car is also longer (50mm) than the i30 hatch.
Safety
The i30 comes with a 5 star ANCAP safety rating, the highest possible safety rating. With 6 airbags, ESP, ABS, and electronic brakeforce distribution, that rounds out the safety package nicely.
It also sports some other great safety features including a patented central locking system called HALO that automatically locks all doors when the car reaches a speed of 40 kmh. The doors automatically unlock when the key is out of the ignition, and front seat passengers can override the system to easily exit the car.
Goodies
Hyundai provides a range of "Genuine Hyundai Accessories" in an effort to really tailor the car to each customer's lifestyle such as:
* USB auxillary and iPOD connectivity as well as steering wheel audio control
* A deep, air conditioned glove box stores drinks
* Rear cargo nets (very handy for holding down wine bottles and other items that can annoyingly roll around in your boot!)
* A standard screen separator which fits between the front seats and the rear seats, mountable in two positions. Great for keeping the dogs or cargo from the folks upfront.
* Cupholders in all positions, sunglasses storage, driver console storage spaces which can be closed off from view
* Slide cover for the boot, obscuring your possessions from view
Interiors
While the i30 CW delivers on roominess, storage features and other conveniences, the interior is tasteful and simple. No fancy detailing here, rather practicality is the hallmark of this car.
It comes with its own 15L 'fridge' - so literally, the kitchen sink aint too far behind!
Colours
The i30 is a classy little thing which comes in sleek elegant colours:
Continental silver, crystal white, vivid blue, shine red, moonlight blue, steel grey and stone black. Knowing Hyundai, they can probably match your star sign too!
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