Latest news with #i30
Motor 1
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Hyundai Might Ditch Buttons for a Massive Tesla-Style Screen. That's a Mistake
Hyundai is moving in a dramatic new direction with its infotainment system. Dubbed Pleos Connect, the automaker's upcoming user interface combines the infotainment system, vehicle operating system, and an application development platform into one seamless package. Pleos Connect is scheduled to launch in 2026, and according to Korea's ET News , the first two vehicles to receive the updated system will be the European i30 (the next-generation Elantra in the US) and the next-generation Tucson SUV. Hyundai hopes to have the technology in more than 20 million cars by the end of the decade. Pleos Connect Prototype Photo by: Hyundai The technology sounds revolutionary—and much of it is. But as we've seen so many times before, this could mean bad news for fans of buttons. Even though Hyundai is adamant that it will keep buttons in its vehicles , Pleos Connect's so-called "Tesla-style" screen has us skeptical. As previewed by the concept from back in April , the sizable display controls nearly all in-vehicle functions and takes up a significant portion of the dashboard. Only volume and tuning knobs are visible in early prototypes. Said to mimic a modern smartphone, Pleos Connect will allow for multi-window functions and multiple apps running simultaneously on the same screen. It will also have a built-in Gleo AI system that can accurately recognize voice commands and perform functions more complex than Hyundai's current voice command system. Some buttons will likely move to the steering wheel, while other functions will undoubtedly make their way onto the screen. That said, where other automakers have started ditching the instrument cluster entirely, Hyundai promises to keep that feature intact in cars with Pleos Connect. As mentioned, the first Pleos-equipped cars will hit the road sometime in 2026, and we can expect the technology to make its way to the US in the following years. We should have a better idea of exactly how Hyundai plans to use the technology by then. Bring Back Buttons Buttons Are Back, Baby BMW's New Infotainment System Throws Everything Onto the Windshield Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Courier-Mail
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
‘Mystifying indignity' of epic fuel saver
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Aussie buyers are flocking to fuel-saving hybrids, and the ultra-efficient Hyundai i30 sedan is a new challenger to Toyota's stalwart Corolla hybrid. VALUE At about $37,000 drive-away it's not a cheap small car, but the hybrid's 3.9L/100km economy could halve fuel bills compared to a petrol-only i30 – especially for urban use. The i30 sedan has decent inclusions, but this entry-level hybrid also has misses. Good news includes 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, good quality cloth seats, 8-inch infotainment, digital instrument cluster, wireless charge pad and three USB-C outlets. Unlike non-hybrid i30 sedans, this car adds more advanced independent rear suspension, dual zone climate control and rain sensing wipers. Hyundai i30 sedan. Picture: Supplied MORE: China ramps up Aussie takeover But you must use the key button to open doors – there's no smart entry – then suffer the indignity of putting a metal key in an ignition, rather than pressing a start button. Mystifyingly, there's no handle to open the boot – it's only opened via the key. It's a nicely presented cabin, but hardly flash. Better-appointed Elite and Premium grades are coming soon, but prices aren't known. If you want the likes of leather heated seats, better 10.25-inch infotainment, surround view monitor and auto boot, best wait for those. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY COMFORT The sedan's body design is edgy, busy and polarising, but certainly not boring. The cabin's a more restrained effort – Obsidian black is the sole colour – so it lacks some pop. But the layout's simple and common sense – the climate and audio controls are buttons rather than through a screen – while there's a solid, chunky feel to the leather steering wheel and gear shifter. Lots of hard plastic touch points through the doors, but they're neither cheap nor scratchy. Seats are impressively sculpted and comfy, with giant robust handles for adjustment – you feel it's a well-built car. Hybrid batteries are under the rear seats, but the headroom remains good for adults, while leg room's superb. Many small cars dismiss rear occupants' comfort, buy there's air vents and two USB-C ports to go with stretch-out space. A well built car. Picture: Supplied MORE: Australia's in love with Elon again Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wins, as are clever cup holders that adjust to the size of your cup or bottle. But the infotainment screen feels a generation old and too small, and the digital dash too basic. You miss the loading convenience of a hatchback, but this sedan's 474L boot space is mighty. SAFETY A three-star safety rating's a black mark. This entry-level includes positives like advanced auto emergency braking, driver attention warning, speed limit assist, lane keep and lane follow, smart cruise control with stop and go function, front and rear parking sensors, and rear occupant alert. But there's no really useful stuff like blind spot warning or rear cross traffic alert. Both are available on key rival Toyota Corolla in a $1000 Convenience pack – Hyundai really should offer likewise. You'll also not find rear auto emergency braking nor a safe exit warning unless buying pricier i30 sedans. Toyota Corolla Hybrid sedan. But careful what you wish for. The i30 sedan's a nannying drill sergeant, bonging at you for 2 km/h over the limit or if it deems your attention isn't up to scratch. The lane follow and lane keep assist means a constant, ghostly tug at the steering wheel. You feel such systems should only be called upon in emergencies, not all the damn time. DRIVING Hyundai's hybrid system works the same way as Toyota's – no plugging in is ever required. The i30 hybrid's a silky operator in town, pulling away and doing low speed urban work in full electric mode: smooth, silent and very economical. My 430km test through city, country and highway returned 4.1L./100km. It'll hit 50km/h before the 1.6-litre petrol engine quietly chimes in and joins the 32kW electric motor for a 104kW/265Nm total. It's no thriller, but there's lively response. A longer uphill stint revealed its limitations. The 1.32kWh battery exhausted, and with no means of recharging (through braking or coasting), the petrol four-cylinder had to work hard and noisily. A three-star safety rating's a black mark. Picture: Supplied MORE: Aussies 'not ready' for advanced driver tech A dual-clutch auto gearbox is responsive and has more driver appeal than Toyota's joyless CVT auto. The suspension's well tuned for handling/comfort balance, and response and balance on back roads is surprisingly fun-filled. Beepy driver assist aside it's a smoothie with low cabin noise on highways, but home is the urban snarl where economy gains are superb. ALTERNATIVES Toyota Corolla sedan hybrid, about $36,000 drive-away: Longstanding hybrid champ is brilliantly economical, cheap to service and offers a great driving experience, but interior is blandness personified. Mazda3, from $33,990 drive-away: No hybrid offered so fuel use is higher at 5.9L/100km, while rear seat and boot are tight. More attractive exterior and nicer, more salubrious cabin, plus excellent drive experience. City users will love miserly fuel use and EV-like slow-speed drive, but wait for higher grades for better equipment. Picture: Supplied Kia K4, from $32,990 drive-away: Loaded with kit and a seven year warranty, but engine is old and thirsty. VERDICT Three and a half stars Safety misses tarnish an otherwise excellent offering. City users will love miserly fuel use and EV-like slow-speed drive, but wait for higher grades for better equipment. HYUNDAI I30 SEDAN HYBRID PRICE: About $37,000 drive-away ENGINE: 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol hybrid, 104kW/265Nm WARRANTY/SERVICING: 5 years/unlimited km, $2150 for five years/75,000km (prepaid) SAFETY: Six airbags, auto emergency braking, driver attention warning, speed limit assist, lane-keep assist, radar cruise, rear occupant alert THIRST: 3.9L/100km LUGGAGE: 474 litres SPARE: Space-saver Originally published as 'Mystifying indignity' of epic fuel saver
Canberra Times
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Canberra Times
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.5T review
In a smaller Hyundai, like an i30 or even a Sonata, the mass of the car doesn't have as big an impact on the way the gearbox gets power from the engine to the wheels. That doesn't mean it's easier to drive in low-speed traffic, but rather that it doesn't have to work as hard to get things moving.
Courier-Mail
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Feisty hot hatch that is one of the best drives you'll find for $55k
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News. Kylie Minogue transformed from the girl next door doing the Locomotion to sultry pop and indie stardom. This is the car which has achieved the same feat for Hyundai. Evolving from cheap runabouts to mainstream vehicles of all shapes and sizes, a couple of years before the pandemic took hold a fire-breathing version of the humble i30 hatch delivered a new persona. The i30N is unadulterated fun which has injected performance into the otherwise family-friendly portfolio. It's paved the way to N derivatives of the i20 and Ioniq electric car. Over the past five years the N products from Hyundai have developed a cult following. Not unlike the original Alfa Romeos and pre-China MGs. Nicknamed Nthusiasts, there are planned track days at some of Australia's best circuits where owners gather to test the limits of their prized possessions. Prices originally started below $40,000 when a manual transmission was the only option. Improvements have been made in recent years, along with the introduction of an auto box, while the cost has also escalated, with 2025 variants requiring $54,250 once on-roads are covered. It may sound steep, although close to a Subaru WRX, while it's a bargain compared to the Honda Civic Type R which is beyond $70k. Our family sampled the i30N Premium with a self-shifter, which is just under $60,000 on the road. What do you get? Some of the upgrades for 2025 deliver a much-needed modern edge, including the 10.25-inch digital driver instruments which matches the central infotainment touchscreen size. Other inclusions are dual zone aircon, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front bucket seats covered in leather and suede, satnav, three USB-C ports (two in the back) and shiny black finishes around the gear shifter External updates include a redesigned grille with red-accented intake inserts and red features on the side skirts – which also match the brake calipers. Trainspotters will also note the matt grey colour option for the 19-inch alloys, along with Hyundai's flat-style badging in matt black. Warranty coverage remains at five years and unlimited kilometres, even extending to untimed track days. Prepaid servicing is solid value with an average price of $377 if taking the five-year package. The 2025 Hyundai i30N starts from about $55,000 drive-away. How was the drive? From the moment you press the start button there is a sense of occasion. The throaty exhaust note is testament that the body kit and big brakes hidden behind the alloys shod with low-profile rubber are more than just for good looks. Straight line speed is quick at 5.3 seconds for the 0-100kmh sprint. Although that figure is no longer regarded fast up against a raft of performance EVs which hover around three seconds for the same task. But it's the sum of the i30N's parts which tell the story. Balance and confidence work hand-in-glove with twisty terrain best showcasing its ability. Fun is delivered in spades. Pirelli P-Zero rubber bites into the bitumen for rail-like prowess in the bends. Steering wheel N buttons offer changes in personality, with custom modes allowing for bespoke changes in suspension, stability control, exhaust sound and transmission settings (auto). There is also a 'N Grin Shift' button which delivers a 20 second boost to maximum power and torque. Fuel consumption varies depending on how much you enjoy that acceleration soundtrack. Our test saw the i30N drink more than 10 litres of premium unleaded for every 100km. Fun is delivered in spades when it comes to the Hyundai i30N. Would you buy one? Kel: Great looks and an even better sound, the i30N is a great blend of performance and practicality. Using comfort mode the ride wasn't too firm and the external styling isn't outrageous. Although being a mature mother and not one to push the performance envelope, it's probably not where I'd spend my $60k. Grant: While I may be even more mature (in age), I remember test driving editions of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru WRX. The i30N delivers that level of excitement which seems long forgotten. For those who love to drive, this is outstanding value for money. Love the exhaust note. Love the acceleration. Love the theatre. It's love and lust.
