Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Family hatchback rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP in 2012 (90% adult occupant protection), with a 378-litre boot in the five-door and 528 litres in the estate. The first 1.6 GDI petrol engines are reported to use excessive amounts of oil, sometimes up to the replacement of the engine block; the 1.6 CRDi diesel is prone to clogging of the particulate filter and EGR valve in urban use. Prefer a car with a complete service book, with the oil level checked, or one used on the open road if it is a diesel.
- Reliability
- 4.0/5
- Indicative prices
- €6,000 – €11,400
- Monthly cost
- €345
- Euro NCAP
- 5/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 1.4 MPi 100, 1.6 CRDi 110.
1.4 MPi 100
✓ RecommendedPetrol · Manual · 100 hp · 6.0 L/100 km · 139 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1
100 hp petrol, the entry-level version; no specific fault was reported in our sources.
1.6 GDi 135
Petrol · Manual · 135 hp · Crit'Air 1
1.6 direct-injection four-cylinder with 135 hp. An automatic gearbox is also available. Subject to excessive oil consumption reported in the early years.
1.6 CRDi 110
✓ RecommendedDiesel · Manual · 110 hp · Crit'Air 2
1.6 diesel with 110 hp (260 Nm). Sensitive to short trips (particulate filter, EGR).
1.6 CRDi 128
Diesel · Manual · 128 hp · Crit'Air 2
1.6 diesel with 128 hp and 260 Nm, offered from 2012 to 2015. The same precautions as for the 110 hp apply.
Market prices
€6,000 – €11,400
Indicative range: 2012 to 2017, yearly medians of 66 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).
Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Excessive oil consumption and cylinder wear on the 1.6 GDI
Severity 2/3 · CostlyFor the 2012-2016 i30 GD fitted with the naturally aspirated 1.6 'Gamma II' GDI, oil consumption of more than 1 litre per 1,000 km and knocking noises when cold are reported, attributed to scratches on the cylinder walls; the repair may require an engine rebuild or the replacement of the engine block. A Lithuanian used-car guide places the risk on the earliest engines, before the 2015 update. No recall is listed on the Australian site consulted. Check the oil level and the history.
- Versions
- 1.6 GDi 135
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Clogged particulate filter and EGR valve on the 1.6 CRDi
Severity 2/3 · CostlySeveral used-car guides state that the 1.6 CRDi clogs (particulate filter and EGR valve) when it only makes short urban journeys: loss of power, engine warning light. A Spanish source places EGR clogging from around 80,000 km in urban use. One garage states that replacing the particulate filter becomes unavoidable if the clogging is advanced.
- Versions
- 1.6 CRDi 110, 1.6 CRDi 128
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Hyundai i30”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €148 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €90 |
| Maintenance | €35 |
| Depreciation | €72 |
| Total per month | €345 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Insurance: brand average, as no average is published for this model.
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (petrol)€148
1.4 MPi 100 version: combined consumption of 6 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
6 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €148
Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€90
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€35
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€72
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Hyundai i30 II — inspection checklist
Things to check
- 1.6 GDi: check the oil level when cold and ask whether abnormal oil consumption or knocking when cold has ever been noticed.
- 1.6 CRDi diesel: ask about the use (short trips or open road) and about particulate filter and EGR work.
- Ask for the complete service book and the oil change invoices.
- Try the car with a cold engine: knocking noises, engine warning light, loss of power.
- Check the air conditioning and electronics work, and the wear on the tyres and brakes.
Questions to ask the seller
- How much oil does the car use between oil changes?
- Has the particulate filter or EGR valve (diesel) been cleaned or replaced, and what sort of journeys is the car usually used for?
- Do you have the service book and all the invoices?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ford Focus
IV · 2018–2025
- Price
- €10,800 – €20,000
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
Volkswagen Golf
VII · 2012–2020
- Price
- €7,200 – €18,800
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Electric
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Škoda Octavia
III · 2013–2020
- Price
- €9,495 – €18,900
- Reliability
- 2.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel
Photo: Herranderssvensson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Renault Mégane
IV · 2016–2023
- Price
- €9,500 – €23,900
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0
Toyota Auris
II · 2012–2018
- Price
- €8,500 – €15,000
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kia Ceed
III · since 2018
- Price
- €13,075 – €26,490
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Hyundai i30 II (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What Euro NCAP rating does the Hyundai i30 II have?
Five stars in 2012, with 90% for adult protection and 90% for child protection, according to the Euro NCAP report. The Tourer estate also achieved five stars, according to Fleet News.
What is the boot size of the i30 II?
378 litres in the five-door (1,316 litres with the rear bench folded) according to Carbuyer and L'argus; 528 litres for the estate according to Caradisiac and Caroom.
Which engines were available for the i30 II in France?
Petrol: 1.4 with 100 hp and 1.6 GDi with 135 hp; diesel: 1.6 CRDi with 110 or 128 hp, according to Fiches-auto and Auto-data. The facelift in early 2015 added a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox on the 1.6 CRDi 110 and 1.6 GDi 135, according to L'argus.
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