The Hyundai i30 Tourer is a very worthy alternative to the Ford Focus or VW Golf.

A sibling to the i30 five-door hatchback, there are two engines to choose from, the 120PS petrol, or the 1.6 CRDi diesel in the form of a 110PS or a higher-powered 128PS variant.

Running costs are low and it is also Hyundai’s best value estate car, coming with a spacious 528-litre boot, which rises to 1,642 litres with the rear seats folded. Under the floor of the boot there is a storage tray and spare wheel and handy luggage hooks make it easy to tie down heavy loads.

A Flex Steer system introduces three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – allowing you to vary the level of steering support and feedback in order to best suit the current driving conditions.

The Comfort mode gives greater electrical support, offering a ‘lighter’ steering wheel and minimal effort to reach full steering lock. The improved manoeuvrability makes city driving and pulling in and out of parking spaces a lot easier.

Normal mode is probably the most frequently used. Suitable across all road types, it offers a relaxed, yet engaging drive.

Finally, Sport mode gives the most direct feedback from the road with reduced electrical support. Steering feels more weighted, giving a more driver-focused experience. It was a bit noisy at speed, but an enjoyable drive nonetheless.

Each i30 Tourer is fitted with six airbags – front, front side and full length curtain. Other safety features include ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), ABS (anti-lock braking system), BAS (emergency Brake Assist System), HAC (Hill-start Assist Control) to prevent roll-back and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal) which flashes the brake lights when an emergency stop is detected.

Styling is similar to the i40, particularly the front, and its smart LED daytime driving lights give it a sleek appearance. It also comes with a very good set of standard equipment, including 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, dual zone climate control, parking sensors, rear view parking camera, touchscreen sat nav with traffic messaging channel and Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition.

A key selling point is Hyundai’s five year unlimited mileage warranty, which includes five years of roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks.

Factfile
Car:
Hyundai i30 Tourer 1.6 CRDi
On the road: £22,115
0-62mph: 11.2 seconds
Top speed: 120mph
Fuel: 64.2mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 115g/km