Forget Elantra, Hyundai debuts fresh i30 Sedan

Thursday, 19 March 2020

Hyundai has just revealed the new i30 Sedan, taking over from the outgoing Elantra, though other markets will still use the old badge.

The Sedan apes the styling of the larger Sonata, incorporating a flowing design and a new platform. Its headlights merge with the grille, resulting in a visually large front end, paired with triangular corner intakes.

The triangle motif continues around the side of the i30 Sedan, seen in creases in the door, and around to the rear. There's a full-width LED light bar connecting the taillights with the model name spelt out beneath. It says Elantra in the images because that's what the Americans will call the vehicle.

The new i30 Sedan will ditch the Elantra badge for local sale and adopts the styling of the larger Sonata. Looks good, no?

Hyundai says the i30 Sedan achieves a 'four-door coupe asthetic', which fits. The new platform allowed engineers to stretch the wheelbase by 20mm (from 2700mm to 2720mm) and add 56mm to the overall length (4620mm to 4676mm). Despite a lower roof, there is identical front and rear headroom to the current car thanks to lower seats.

**READ MORE:

* Genesis retains manual transmission for 2021 G70

* Hyundai working on Fiesta ST fighter

Ignore the Elantra text here, the North American market is slow to adapt to change (as usual).

* Hyundai to expand N range even further

* Genesis reveals swanky new G80 fastback

* Hyundai reveals updated i30 for the new decade**

Technology has been improved too, with base models getting an eight-inch touchscreen and wireless support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Up-spec models get a larger 10.3-inch touchscreen with a similarly sized digital instrument cluster. The displays are set up in a similar manner to Mercedes's MBUX system, under one piece of glass. Additionally, two phones can be connected at once.

The i30 Sedan also gets the digital key technology from the new Sonata, which allows control over some vehicular functions from your phone, like starting and unlocking the car.

Under the bonnet will either be a 2.0-litre inline four running the Atkinson Cycle, which sacrifices performance to reduce fuel consumption or, for the first time, a hybrid powertrain. The combustion-only option generates 109kW/179Nm and is paired with Hyundai's 'IVT' (CVT) transmission. According to the manufacturer, the IVT 'provides superior efficiency and simulates gear shifts like those in the automatic transmissions that customers are used to.'

As opposed to a more common push belt, the IVT takes advantage of a chain-design belt that improves fuel efficiency by an additional 1.2 per cent compared with conventional belt systems.

Meanwhile, the hybrid powertrain will feature a 1.6-litre GDI Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and a 32kW electric motor. Total output is rated at 103kW/264Nm. It receives power from a lithium-ion-polymer battery with 1.32kWh of capacity positioned under the rear seats.

This isn't a plug-in hybrid so there won't be any electric-only driving going on. Instead the hybrid system will help out with more fuel-intensive aspects of driving, like taking off from a standstill and running auxiliary creature comforts as well as letting the engine switch off while coasting. According to the North American release, the i30 Sedan Hybrid is 'projected to have a combined EPA estimated fuel economy rating of more than 50 MPG (4.7L/100km).'

So, are we going to see it here? It's pretty touch and go, with the whole coronavirus thing happening. Hyundai New Zealand says it is evaluating the introducing the i30 Sedan to the local market. It added that, since we tend to take the Australian-spec models, which have changed the name to i30 Sedan from Elantra, we will also use the new badge.

Hyundai NZ also said it is looking into the feasibility of offering the new Sonata here but is currently focusing on its people and current product range. That means we shouldn't expect much local news until the COVID-19 situation calms down.