[AlanHo]

This week the UK Autocar magazine's recommended used car is the Hyundai i30.

I obviously can’t plagiarise the article but it does make good reading and mentions many virtues and a few reliability issues that have been reported on this forum. The article includes a very complimentary review of the various models and their various features. Their summary is that the car is a solid used purchase.

Some snippets worth mentioning (In random order) are :-

Hyundai UK report that they have not been required to replace a single DPF yet – the DPF was introduced in 2010 when the car was face lifted.

Tyre pressure monitoring valves can break if not cared for and cost £140 each.

Front anti-roll bar links and bushes might need replacement on cars that have been used a lot in speed bump areas. However – they are covered by the warranty up to 60,000 miles

Chrome internal door handles can suffer chrome peeling.

Brake pad and brake disc life is very good. 30,000 miles for pads and 90,000 miles for discs. They are reasonably priced.

Urban users may find that speed bumps and potholes disturb the tracking causing uneven tread wear

Retained values have exceeded predictions due to impressive build quality and reliability. There have been zero VOSA recalls for the model which is a rarity.

Their summary is that it is a car of significant ability and few flaws, it comes at a bargain price and is the most creditable effort by a Korean manufacturer yet.


But we knew all that didn’t we. I wonder if Autocar have been trawling our forum for info?

[Dazzler]

I obviously can’t plagiarise the article .. Why not... I think they might have plagiarised our site, just a bit...


 I wonder if Autocar have been trawling our forum for info?

[Shambles]

Good to read what most of us thought anyway

Brake pad and brake disc life is very good. 30,000 miles for pads and 90,000 miles for discs...

84,000 miles here and pads have been rated at 60% wear

[Doggie 1]

126,000 kms here and still original.

[succulant]

At my last service and first MOT I was told my tyres are "half worn" at 34k miles as I recon that is the only thing they could think of that comes close to an advisory. I still have 4-5mm on each although I recon the tracking might need checked as I have a slight creek coming from the rear passenger side going round left handers. Dam pot holes

[eye30]

Now I know why my lad wanted to grab my car.

[rustynutz]

Brake pad and brake disc life is very good. 30,000 miles for pads and 90,000 miles for discs. They are reasonably priced.

My Holden Barina was still on the original brake disks at $420,000k.......

I'd be very disappointed if I can't get at least 200,000k out of the Hyundai ones......

[Dazzler]

My Holden Barina was still on the original brake disks at $420,000k.......

Some Barina 

[Rogmur]

I am pleased to hear that Autocar have published a largely positive article.
It is almost impossible to avoid the unsuspecting pot holes, there are just so many on UK roads.
What excellent news regarding the durability of the DPF.
I look forward to buying a copy of the magazine.

[rustynutz]

My Holden Barina was still on the original brake disks at $420,000k.......

Some Barina 

Hmmm, how did that get there....must've had money on my mind....

Either that or Daz has been doing some creative editing.

[Dazzler]

Hmmm, how did that get there....must've had money on my mind....

Either that or Daz has been doing some creative editing.

No mate I didn't .. but I have done the same thing before 

[rustynutz]

Great minds think alike, maybe? 

[Rogmur]

Also, I am sure I read somewhere that the i30 does not have a cam-belt but cam-chain.
Therefore, in terms of long term ownership and good used purchase, the replacement of cam-belt on high milers should not be an expensive problem, (I wonder if Autocar knew this?).

[eye30]

Also, I am sure I read somewhere that the i30 does not have a cam-belt but cam-chain.
Therefore, in terms of long term ownership and good used purchase, the replacement of cam-belt on high milers should not be an expensive problem, (I wonder if Autocar knew this?).

As far as I know:

Petrol has belt (think????  2.0L has chain.  May be a 2.0l owner can confirm)

Diesel has chain

[diablo]

All the petrol engines have chain cams.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/

[Dazzler]

All the petrol engines have chain cams.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/

Don't think the 2.0 petrol has 

[Doggie 1]

All the petrol engines have chain cams.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/

Don't think the 2.0 petrol has 

 

[Keith]

So it took Autocar 5 years to find out what we already know... Hmmm...

I bought mine because of the rep they have & have been totally satisfied. 

Truly competent car with few vices, many positives & hopefully now an improving resale value used. 

I looked on UK Autotrader & could only find 1 (one) simlarly specced car as mine for sale in the country! I'm sure there will be others but man... I'm keeping mine! 

[eye30]

All the petrol engines have chain cams.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/chain-cam/

This may apply to the later model years.

I've got a copy of the service schedule for the i30 petrol 2008 model year and it indicates that the 2.0 L has the belt inspected at 4 years (47,500 miles) and replaced at 8 years (97,500 miles).

[asathorny]

So..... does the 1.6 petrol edition have a chain or a belt ?????

I am sure I have asked this before, but, being an old git I forget stuff <sigh>   

[diablo]

So..... does the 1.6 petrol edition have a chain or a belt ?????

I am sure I have asked this before, but, being an old git I forget stuff <sigh>   

Chain. I'm not quite as old as you (I think) so vaguely remembered that one of the good points I noticed in the cars in early 2010 was the chain cam. Not that I drive many miles but they usually need changing after six years or so.

Here's the 'honest John' report which shows the history of the i30 from 2007 onwards.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/hyundai/i30-2007/?section=good

- as you will see all of the engines available in the UK were chain cam even then - the petrols were gamma engines (but not the improved GDI gamma version introduced recently with less horsepower)

The 2 litre, which was not officially available in the UK was a beta engine and had a belt.

[asathorny]

Thanks Diablo, I'll try to remember this time 

[eye30]

The 2 litre, which was not officially available in the UK was a beta engine and had a belt.

When I was buying my car the 2.0L CRDi was on sale as Premium model but it was discontinued by the early/middle of 2008.

[Shambles]

I my test drive was in a 2.0L CRDi Premium, and by george it was a belter