Hyundai introduces new entry point to i30

HYUNDAI Australia has introduced a new entry-level Go grade for its best-selling i30 small car that will kick the new-generation line-up off from $19,990 before on-roads - $960 less than the previous range-opening Active.

As previously reported by GoAuto, the new entry grade has been introduced to provide a shot in the arm for new-generation i30 following a sales slump that has seen it drop 22.6 per cent to the end of October compared to the same period last year.

In the i30’s previous generation, Hyundai regularly had retail offers of $19,990 driveaway with a free automatic transmission for the base Active, which made up approximately 90 per cent of the model’s overall sales at times.

Comparatively, the i30 Go will undercut the Ford Focus, Holden Astra, Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf while matching the cheapest version of its sister-brand Kia’s Cerato.

With a 120kW/203Nm 2.0-litre GDi petrol engine under the bonnet, the i30 Go will cost $19,990 for the six-speed manual or $22,290 for the automatic version with the same number of ratios.

Stepping up to the 100kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel CRDi powerplant blows pricing out to $22,490 for the three-pedal i30 that delivers 280Nm, and $24,990 for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that produces 300Nm of torque.

All four versions represent a $960 saving over their equivalent Active grades while still retaining seven airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights and reversing camera.

Debuting on the Go is Hyundai’s new 8.0-inch Apple Carplay, Android Auto and Bluetooth-compatible infotainment unit that forgoes the Active’s digital radio and satellite navigation.

Rear parking sensors and alloy wheels are also missing on the new entry-level grade with the latter replaced by 16-inch steel hoops.

Metallic/mica paint costing $495 is the only option available to the Go, while the new base i30 also falls under Hyundai’s capped-price servicing program that ranges from $259 to $409 a visit depending on powertrain and mileage.

Pricing for the remaining i30 grades – including Active, SR, SR Premium, Elite and Premium – remains static.

As previously mentioned, Hyundai has lost ground in the small car segment after the introduction of its new, and more expensive, i30 in May this year with sales down 22.6 per cent to the end of October.

While still third in the segment with 25,086 new registrations behind the Mazda3 (27,419) and Toyota Corolla (31,753) for the first 10 months of the year, Hyundai is likely to fall well short of its 2016 year-end total of 37,772 units that made it Australia’s third best-selling car.

2017 Hyundai i30 Go pricing*

2.0 GDi	$19,990
2.0 GDi (a)	$22,290
1.6 CRDi	$22,490
1.6 CRDi (a)	$24,990

*Excludes on-road costs