HYUNDAI i30 Estate
Generations Timeline, Specs and Pictures
The compact segment vehicles were built in all shapes, including the station-wagon.
Hyundai i30 Wagon came late to the party, but it didn’t come unprepared.
Peter Schreyer took a big challenge when he moved to Hyundai-Kia after a successful career at Audi. He was responsible for designing the first generation of the TT and, for the Korean brands, responsible for the entire lineup. His ideas worked wonders for Hyundai, and, in 2011, he refreshed the i30 lineup look.
On the front of the 2020 i30 Wagon, there was a new bumper with a more aggressive design. A larger grille with a new design for the mesh was introduced. A new pair of headlights with built-in daytime LED running lights. Apart from the N-Line that featured black mesh on the front, the rest featured classic, chromed elements. In the back, the new taillights received new. V-shaped LED graphics to match the front daytime running lights. The raked D-pillars might remind those of the Audi A4 Avant. A roof-spoiler was installed on top of the tailgate.
Inside, the 2020 i30 Wagon received an improved infotainment system with a 10.25” screen, a carry-over from the Kona and Ioniq. For the instrument cluster, a 7” TFT display replaced the analog dials. It offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Since the roofline was longer, the rear passengers didn’t have a problem with the headroom. Like on the rest of the range, the split-folding back seat seatback extended the trunk area.
While the aesthetic was little changed, the engine compartment received new units. The 2020 model received a new mil-hybrid version. For the transmission, Hyundai offered a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch system.
In September 2018, Hyundai i30 hatchback received a sibling with a bigger trunk the i30 CW.
The station wagon vehicle returned with a remodeled shape, wearing just some part of its brother’s bodywork panels. From the front bumper to the B-pillar is the same car, but the design has been changed after that.
The extended cabin added a new set of windows to the rear and a slimmer C-pillar. The trunk was bigger, offering 602 liters (21.2 cu-ft) of space for luggage. With the rear seats completely folded, the volume could increase up to 1650 liters (58.2 cu-ft) of space. The rear low sill is low made the loading and unloading easy, and the flat bottom of the trunk helped to push and drag things.
For the infotainment system, users could choose for the 8” touchscreen unit that was able to connect via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The dashboard was simple and neat, but too much black on it and no other color options.
For the drivetrain, the i30 CW offered for starters a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 120 hp and a 1.4-liter with 140 hp. The latter can be mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, while the standard is a 6-speed manual. For those who plan long trips or heavier trailers, a 1.6-liter turbodiesel unit was offered in three output versions: a 98 hp, a 116 hp, and a 136 hp. The standard gearbox was a 6-speed manual while the most powerful version had a 7-speed dual-clutch.
The Hyundai i30 Tourer was built on the i30 platform and it was launched at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show for the European market.
It also adopted the “cascading grille” design.
The compact-size station-wagon market in Europe was big with both individuals and companies looking for vehicles with a decent trunk space but short overall design. The price was also an important factor in the equation. In the compact segment, almost all car manufacturers had something to offer.
The Hyundai i30 Tourer, as it was named the Korean station-wagon, had the same design up to the B-pillars with the i30 hatchback. On the front fascia, it featured the same cascade grille design, already shared by other models from the company. In combination with the full-LED headlamps and the vertical LED daytime running lights, the i30 Tourer had a strong visual presence.
The i30 Wagon offered a spacious interior with a horizontal layout and free-floating screen for the infotainment system. The eight-inch touch screen featured connectivity with smartphones via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and LIVE Services.
The i30 Tourer was a European car, designed in Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, produced in Nošovice, Czech Republic, and tested on the Nurburgring race track. It featured independent suspension in all four corners and rigid bodywork. It was available with an either automatic or manual transmission, but the latter was offered only as an option on specific engine configurations.
Hyundai introduced the second generation of the i30 compact hatchback in 2011, and, in the following year, it unveiled the station-wagon version.
Depending on the market, Hyundai named the station wagon either Wagon or Tourer. Still, regardless of that, it was the same practical, family-friendly compact vehicle able to carry up to 1,642 liters (58 cu-ft) of luggage with the rear seats folded down.
At the front, it featured the same swept-back headlights design. Its overall design followed Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture language, with wave-like shapes over the fenders and onto its sidelines. The roofline was extended behind the passengers’ area, over the trunk, in a slight sloped-down line. Its designers added 185 mm (7.3”) to the rear overhang over the regular hatchback version. For easier loading and unloading, the design team cut down the trunk sill into the rear bumper.
There was a good reason to buy the i30 Wagon if not for its practicality, than for its optional panoramic glass-roof that enhanced the interior light. That was not available on the regular hatchback. Both versions shared the same dashboard design with flowing lines that converged into the center stack. Its binocular-style instrument cluster sported two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and an onboard computer TFT display between them.
Under the hood, Hyundai offered the i30 Wagon with a choice of six engines, both gasoline, and turbo-diesel. It was offered with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, depending on the engine and options like its hatchback brother.
While the world economic crisis hit hard the automotive industry, Hyundai made a bold move and offered the i30 in a station wagon shape, stealing its competitors’ customers.
Hyundai introduced the i30 lineup in 2007, and it proved to be successful. Its sibling, Kia cee’d, enjoyed the same success on the market thanks to its lower price. But that wasn’t all; the i30 came in the following year in a station-wagon shape priced lower than its most important European competitors. Besides, it offered a few amenities that were unavailable for them.
While the hatchback’s back resembled the Mazda 3, the station wagon had a unique design on the market. Its rear profile looked more like a compact SUV. Its tall taillights were slim and installed on the D-pillars without intruding into the tailgate area. Moreover, the loading base was wider than the one offered by its hatchback sibling.
Inside, the i30 showed good taste in choosing colors for the dashboard and door panels despite budget materials. Unlike the cee’d, which showed different light colors for the dashboard, the i30 stuck to the light-blue bulbs and induced a relaxed mood for the driver and occupants. The car featured a split-folding rear bench. By folding the rear bench’s seatback, the trunk size increased from 415 liters (14.66 cu-ft) to (1395 liters) 49.26 cu-ft, which was good but not class-leading.
Under the hood, Hyundai installed a choice of diesel and gasoline engines ranged between 109 hp and 143 hp. While most versions were paired to a 5-speed manual, some versions were available with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Its independent suspension in all corners was a plus and placed the i30 in the comfort zone over the Renault Megane or the Opel/Vauxhall Astra.