07 July 2016
David MorleyCompact wagon was a big hit for those looking for a traditional practical car.
2013 Hyundai i30 TourerAt the launch of its new Levorg station-wagon recently, Subaru coined the expression `SUV rejecter' to describe car buyers who simply neither want nor need a high-riding SUV when a conventional station-wagon or hatchback would do.
Even though the car market in this country and in many others seems obsessed with the SUV right now, it's equally true that there are plenty of SUV rejecters out there.
So what are their options when it comes to practical second-hand cars?
A conventional hatchback is one way to go, but if you're the pragmatic sort (which is why you've turned your back on the fashionable SUV in the first place) then a small station-wagon makes all kinds of sense. And when you look around, there are a few about, but one of the best in a second-hand sense is the Hyundai i30 Tourer which was launched here in 2013, just a few months after the updated i30 hatchback line-up.
While the Tourer bulked out the i30 range, it also effectively replaced the previous generation i30 CW which was more of a crossover vehicle than the more conventional Tourer. Although it sported a shorter wheelbase, the Tourer was bigger in every dimension than the CW, although it was 65mm lower thanks to Hyundai's decision to ditch the slightly SUV stance of the earlier model.
Available in two trim levels, the i30 Tourer kicked off with the Active model which could be had with a petrol 1.6-litre engine good for 99kW of power and 164Nm of torque. It could also be specified with a turbo diesel engine which – still at 1.6 litres – gave 94kW of power but, tellingly, a lot more torque; a total of 260Nm, in fact. That made the turbo-diesel the best engine to team with the six-speed automatic, although there was also a six-speed manual option.
The next step up the trim ladder was the Elite which gained some very worthwhile kit including sat-nav, dual-zone air-conditioning, a reversing camera, automatic lights and wipers and keyless entry and start. But all variants were well equipped for safety with every Tourer getting seven airbags including full-length curtain airbags, the full suite of clever braking and mandatory stuff like stability-control.
What we weren't really able to dig up was a whole lot of dirt on what goes wrong with the i30 Tourer. It seems that the vehicle is following the last few years of Hyundai tradition by being durable, solid and reliable, and that's great news for anybody considering a second-hand example.
We've heard of a few steering wheels that have shed their leather covering, but most of those were the previous model i30. Similarly, the interior trim can become scratched and second-hand pretty easily, and the silver, faux metal bits can lose their gleam. That's all the more so in a station-wagon which is often used to cart kids, dogs and pushbikes around.
We'd also be making a check of previous Hyundai trouble spots which have probably been addressed by now, but are still worthy of a quick peak.
They include sagging door rubbers and carpets that wear very quickly. Check the area under and around the driver's right heel for an idea of how the carpet is holding up.
Interestingly, the Tourer model was built at Hyundai's plant in the Czech Republic, reflecting the fact that small station-wagons are more popular in Europe than anywhere else. But that doesn't seem to have affected the build quality, and the Tourer appears to be pretty robust in most important ways.
The diesel engine, in particular, seems bomb-proof and that would make sense, because if you look at Hyundai's pre-Australian-market history, it has been a maker of small-capacity diesel for many decades. But it's always worth checking any diesel car (or any car for that matter) for a service record as the turbo-diesel in the i30 needs its share of preventative maintenance. It's not that the i30's engine has any deficiency, simply that as a budget car, it was often bought by people who applied the same principles of frugality to servicing.
But there's another reason for buying a car with a complete, up-to-date service record; the factory warranty. Hyundai's warranty cover is among the best in the business and at five-years, it often carries over to the second or even third owner if the car changes hands often enough.
The catch is that without a complete service history, there's no guarantee Hyundai (or any other car-maker) will honour that warranty if things go wrong. So don't assume that just because a car you're looking at is less than five years old (which all Tourers would be) that it will carry that factory peace of mind.
Our rating: 3/5Nuts and boltsEngine/s: 1.6-litre four-cylinder/1.6-litre turbo diesel
Transmissions: six-speed manual/six-speed auto
Fuel economy (combined): 6.9 litres per 100km (petrol)/5.8 litres (diesel)
Safety rating (courtesy of 
How Safe is Your Car - Vehicle crash test results and safety ratings | How Safe Is Your Car): 5 stars
Likes:Practical packaging.
A proper SUV alternative.
Diesel is effortless, frugal.
Good long-term prospects.
Dislikes:Petrol engine a bit flat.
Ride is not as refined as some.
Many have been used hard.
Watch for skipped services.
Competitors:Volkswagen Golf wagon – Classy and roomy, the Golf has the best road-manners of any of the little wagons and is a popular buy. Well made and lovely to drive. 4/5
Skoda Octavia wagon – Based on VW engineering, the Skoda drives well and feels like a quality product, Make sure any DSG car operates properly and has a service record. 4/5
Holden Cruze Sportwagon – Diesel or petrol engine options and a good size. Unlike other Cruze models, built in South Korea, not Australia. Prices axed in early 2014, so don't pay too much. 3/5
What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide):Model Year New NowActive petrol 2013 $25,190 $15,800
Active diesel 2013 $27,790 $17,300
Elite diesel 2013 $31,390 $19,400
Active petrol 2014 $27,240 $16,700
Active diesel 2014 $29,840 $18,200
Elite diesel 2014 $33,340 $20,900
Active petrol 2015 $27,240 $17,800
Active diesel 2015 $29,840 $19,400
Elite diesel 2015 $33,340 $22,300
2014 Hyundai i30 Active pricing and specificationsPrice $29,840EGC
Engine 1.6L 4Cyl
Power 94kW@4000rpm
Torque 260Nm@2750rpm
Transmission 6 speed Sports Automatic
Fuel use 5.8L/100km
Source: Hyundai i30 Tourer used car review
