Hyundai has revealed key engine details for the facelifted i30 Sedan, which is expected to hit Australian shores within the year. The announcement comes after the South Korean carmaker unveiled the facelift through a series of official images on its Korean website last week.
The updated i30 Sedan boasts sharper styling, and it is expected to face stiff competition in Australia from popular models such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Sedan, particularly if it comes with a new hybrid option. Currently, the i30 Sedan starts at $25,690 before on-road costs in Australia, but pricing for the facelifted model is likely to increase slightly across the range.
Known as the Avante in South Korea and the Elantra in most international markets, the i30 Sedan will come with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, a 1.6-litre hybrid, and a 1.6-litre LPG-injected engine. While the LPG option is unlikely to make it to the Australian market, the absence of the entry-level 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine in the Korean market specs doesn’t rule it out for Australia.
Hyundai Australia has historically offered only the turbocharged version of the 1.6-litre engine, which delivers 150kW/265Nm in the i30 Sedan N-Line. In the Korean market, the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder engine delivers just 90kW and 153Nm of torque. The same engine will be used in the second-generation Hyundai Kona small SUV, which is also set to return to Australia.
The facelifted i30 Sedan’s hybrid option uses a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that generates 77kW/147Nm, paired with an electric motor that delivers an additional 32kW/170Nm, bringing the total power output to 103kW. The hybrid model uses a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and power is sent only to the front wheels.
On the inside, lower grade models of the facelifted i30 Sedan come with a 4.2-inch digital cluster and an 8.0-inch infotainment display. Higher-spec models boast dual 10.25-inch displays for driving information and the infotainment system, with satellite navigation available. However, the larger screen forgoes wireless phone projection, which is only available on the smaller screen in the Korean market. Other features include a wireless phone charging pad and a premium Bose speaker system on higher-grade models.
Artificial leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel come as standard on entry-level models, while natural leather seats with power adjustment are available on higher-grade models.
The facelifted i30 Sedan is likely to be a crucial model for Hyundai globally as Euro 7 emissions standards come into play. The i30 hatch is not sold in North America or Asia, with Europe being the strongest market, followed by Australia and New Zealand. It is expected that the sedan will become the only i30 model on sale in Australia by 2026.
