The Hyundai i30 made it appearance in KLIMS 2013, saw a few registered units on the road, then that's it. Sime Darby Hyundai looks extremely quiet recently, and most of Hyundai's models should be up for a facelift or model update soon. The new Sonata should be here anytime soon, unless again, the distributor's warehouse is still fill with the lots of unsold units. Remember years back when Oriental had the Sonata EF and NF in the same showroom even after make the latest model available. The i30 should be given a facelift by year-end or early 2015 since it was launched in 2011 as the 2012 model. This might be a reason for the wait, as one would not like to get a newly launch car and see it being obsoleted in barely a year.
If Malaysia ever get the i30, it would be equipped with the Gamma 1.6-litre (128hp/157Nm) or the Nu 1.8-litre (148hp/178Nm) engine, both mated to Hyundai 6-speed transmission. However, for a C-Segment hatchback, most probably only the 1.6-litre variant will be made available for a competitive pricing. The interior is very consistent with Hyundai, with a protruding center console, and a sporty dual-binnacle meter cluster. Leather gives the car an upmarket feel, but if the car were to use local made seat, it could be a disaster. Enter the Elantra's Nappa-covered seat, one could not feel the luxury aside, but lousy!
The best parts of the i30 are the panoramic roof and sporty wheels, and the probable pricing of below RM100k. Anything beyond the RM100k mark could start filling the warehouse instead of the road again. However, competitors in the C-Segment hatchback are rare, thus a well executed marketing plan could work!
