Hyundai unveils i30 in wagon format

Published Feb 23, 2012

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Hyundai's assault on Europe's Golf and Focus playground is not stopping with the daringly styled new i30 hatchback.

Now there's a wagon version which shares all the qualities of its hatchback sibling but adds a longer body to allow for significantly more luggage space.

Measuring 4485mm in length, the i30 is 185mm longer than its hatchback sibling and is claimed to be one of the most accommodating vehicles in its class, with luggage space increasing from 378 litres to 528 litres. Fold the back seats down and it has 1642 litres to stash your stuff.

The i30 range is designed, engineered and built in Europe for Europeans and Hyundai reckons that stretching it into wagon format has not compromised its styling. We're not inclined to disagree in this case.

In fact, designers at its European R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, developed it alongside the hatchback from the earliest stages, enabling the stylists to fashion a coherent design that bears a strong family resemblance.

It also shares its engine range with the hatch, which means three petrols and three diesels, the former offering outputs of between 73kW and 99kW and the latter offering between 66kW and 94kW.

Highlights in the cabin include the 'TFT Supervision' cluster that gives the driver essential information in high-resolution clarity and the Flex Steer steering adjustment system that allows the driver to choose between three levels of power assistance.

While the i30 hatch is due in South Africa later this year, it's unlikely that Hyundai will opt to bring the wagon here, given that there's not much of a market for this type of vehicle.

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