Hyundai i30 Style

As the name suggests, the Hyundai i30 Style is the most stylish and upmarket model in the line-up, aimed at buyers who are perhaps downsizing from larger executive cars or who cover very high mileages. It is also the best equipped. Rivals include the Ford Focus Titanium and Volkswagen Golf GT. In addition to the Active model’s cruise control, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors, Style trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front parking sensors, electrically folding door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, plus automatic headlights and windscreen wipers. The exterior is also adorned with chrome trim, for an even more stylish appearance. For an extra £1,000, you can upgrade to Style Nav which adds a touchscreen sat-nav and reversing camera with parking guidance system. Hyundai’s engine line-up is very easy to understand, featuring two petrols and two diesel engines, all of which are smooth and quiet. The 1.6 CRDi diesel for example, is our pick of the range, as it is both powerful and impressively frugal.

Good points

The Hyundai i30 Style features all of Hyundai’s clever systems designed to make life easier. For example, Style models feature a clever automatic de-fog and de-icer system for the front windscreen, while the lights and wipers also switch on automatically. Thanks to the halogen headlights, larger alloy wheels and chrome trim it is also much more distinctive than lower spec Active and Classic models. It’s not all style and no substance however, as on longer motorway journeys the i30 is very relaxing. The cabin is really well made and offers passengers class-leading levels of space and comfort. Even the boot is the biggest in its class at 378 litres. We were so impressed by the new Hyundai i30, we named it CarBuyer’s 2012 Car of the Year.

Bad points

Peel back the fancy exterior and remove the convenient gadgets, and the i30 Style differs little from the considerably cheaper Active and Classic models. There are no exclusive engine options at this level and the optional automatic gearbox dents fuel economy and emissions far too much. We’d also like to see leather upholstery fitted on top-spec models, but it’s not even a cost option on the i30 Style. Combine these negatives with the existing i30 downsides of poor rear visibility, an uninspiring driving experience and a lack of desirability, and the i30 Style begins to look expensive compared to the rest of the range.

What you get

• Alloy wheels
• Folding rear seats
• Electric folding wing mirrors
• Alarm
• Rear parking sensors
• Passenger & Driver airbag
• Front side airbags
• Curtain airbags
• Front fog lights
• Auto climate control
• Leather steering wheel
• Height adjustable driver's seat
• Front electric windows
• Single CD player
• AUX stereo input
• Cruise control
• Automatic wipers
• Reversing camera
• Rear electric windows
• Bluetooth

Recommended optional extras

• Style Nav upgrade

Our choice

While it is expensive in Style trim, one engine stands out above the rest - the 1.6 CRDi diesel.