Hyundai i30 Fastback Premium 2018 UK review

There are better examples than the i30 Fastback of the Hyundai Motor Group’s reinvention from purveyors of well-built, well-warrantied and, well, decent but not exceptional cars to a bold, ambitious rival of big European firms. 

You could look at the Volkswagen Golf-baiting i30N hot hatch or the BMW-bothering Kia Stinger executive GT. Next to those, an i30 hatchback that – to describe it uncharitably – has had its roof squished and rear stretched a bit doesn’t seem all that radical.

Still, even if Hyundai’s marketing talk of how the i30 Fastback is bringing premium five-door coupé styling – as seen on the likes of the Audi A5 Sportback – to the mass market is somewhat exaggerated, the fact that the Korean firm is considering the category at all is a sign of its boldness. After all, in the mid-sized family car market, the i30’s existing hatchback and estate forms are likely to remain the most popular.

We’ve already driven the i30 Fastback with the 137bhp 1.4-litre T-GDi petrol engine in Spain, but this is our first taste of it on UK roads. It’s also our first taste of the car fitted with Hyundai’s seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

Much like the hatch version, the i30 Fastback is perfectly pleasant to look at, if not exactly a styling revolution. Still, that revised rear end – it’s 115mm longer than the hatch, with wrap-around rear lights – has its charms, especially when combined with the slightly longer nose and lower front grille. Our test car ran on 18in wheels (it also comes with 17in wheels).

The exterior work ensures the i30 Fastback has a style of its own, although it’s clear that it’s a reworked version of a hatch. That mild makeover doesn’t continue inside; it’s exactly as you’d find in any other i30. It’s well laid out and comfortable, if not particularly exciting. Still, everything feels practical and solidly built.

It’s worth noting that the i30 Fastback slightly increases the capacity of the boot, and Hyundai has bundled in plenty of technology and driver assistance features. Our £23,440 Premium test car included safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, blindspot detection and lane departure warning. It also came with an 8.0in touchscreen, wireless phone-charger and plenty of USB charging points and sockets. Much like the non-Fastback i30, really.

Under the metal, the i30 Fastback has received a bit more work, with a slightly lower chassis and slightly stiffer suspension than the hatch. It’s not enough to turn the natural and stable i30 into a truly dynamic sports coupé, but it is an agile steer that’s pleasantly responsive. 

That slight stiffening of the suspension hasn’t come at the expense of ride quality on Britain’s roads; our test car was unruffled on city streets and country lanes, and coped fine when munching motorway miles.

As we found on our first test, the 1.4-litre petrol unit is a pleasantly refined cruiser and, with 179lb ft of torque from 1500rpm, has accessible – if unspectacular – performance.

Somewhat less convincing was the DSG gearbox. At speed, it was fine and suited the car’s relaxed character. But it was less convincing during city driving; in stop-start traffic, we were occasionally left with little to no accelerative drive due to its over-eagerness to change up gear and reluctance to drop back down through the 'box. Unless you’re set on an automatic, we’d lean towards the six-speed manual 'box.

In a way, it’s a compliment to Hyundai’s developing boldness that identifying likely buyers for the i30 Fastback is a little difficult. It’s more dynamic than the hatchback sibling, but unlikely to appeal to those seeking a really sporty coupé.

Yet, there is a decent amount of appeal here: it’s practical, decent to drive, well built and well priced compared with the hatch version. In the same way the Audi A3 Sportback has found itself an audience, those seeking a slightly alternate family car would find plenty of positives here.

Hyundai i30 Fastback Premium

Where Surrey On sale Now Price £23,440 Engine 4 cyls, 1353cc, turbo, petrol Power 137bhp at 6000rpm Torque 179lb ft at 1500-4000rpm Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch auto Kerb weight 1287kg Top speed 129mph 0-62mph 9.2sec Fuel economy 49.6mpg CO2 rating 134g/km Rivals Mazda 3 Fastback, Honda Civic