Hyundia i30 CRDi Auto

Another first for me this week; this time my first chance to spend time with a Hyundai. Like everyone I have watched their rise with interest as the cars on offer have gradually improved to the point that they are now considered credible alternatives to conventional European offerings. Their rise was boosted somewhat by the heinous Scrappage Scheme in 2009 but I try not to hold that against them.

So what have I got to play with today? Well it’s a Hyundai i30 Active 1.6 CRDi 110ps Diesel Automatic to give you the full title. On the road for a mere £19,575 including the optional metallic paint. The list of standard equipment is extensive though with rear parking sensors, cruise control, voice activated  Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls, 15" wheels and electric windows all round. That is a lot of kit. Remember also that Hyundai offer a 5 year unlimited warranty. This makes the i30 an appealing package on paper; but what’s it like to drive?

From the front

Firstly, you have to be able to live with the styling. The design doesn’t lack direction; indeed it is very easy to see what they were hoping to achieve. Unfortunately they got carried away trying to convey their intentions and the finished product is far from pretty particularly at the slack, fish faced front. Exaggerated swage lines confuse the front and rear from the side too.

Focusing on the detail was better than looking at the whole car

Inside is a similar story where the cheaper materials used becomes abruptly apparent. I can appreciate the credentials of the dash design but in practice it is unsightly. It does score highly on practicality though with plenty of cubby holes and storage bins. The stereo display was a good size with a crisp display but operation required dedication thanks to the myriad of buttons and dials. Once sorted though it was fantastic. The sound quality was amazing for a car of this class; so much so that I completed my journey with music playing much louder than normal just so I could appreciate the wattage on offer.

Busy cabin

If you think there are too many buttons on the dash, wait until you take hold of the steering wheel. I’ve never seen anything like it. Cruise, trip, phone and stereo all get their own set of buttons - I counted thirteen! Rarely do you have to take your hand off the wheel though. I liked it. The leather rim of the wheel was a disappointment in comparison as the leather is more plastic and rubber than cowhide. Nevertheless the seats offered immense support and were let down only by the central armrest which can’t be adjusted in the fore and aft direction.

On the go the Hyundai is also a competent partner. The automatic gearbox lacked the seamless changes of a DSG but it wasn’t far behind. Acceleration isn’t back breaking but more than sufficient and I found it to be one of those cars that will gather speed without you noticing. The brakes are more than up to the job of hauling her up as well. Where the i30 really falls down though is when you approach corners. Safe and predictable understeer is the order of the day with a complete lack of fizz from all of the driving experience. More of a super tanker than a jet ski. There is a button to change the steering feedback but I can’t say I noticed any difference between Comfort and Sport and besides which, altering the weight of the steering doesn’t gloss over the fact this isn’t a well sorted chassis. Another button hidden down below the steering wheel turned off the Eco mode and unlocked some more horses but again, didn’t transform the car into fire breathing, adrenalin racing hot hatch.

Nicely detailed lights

I am perhaps being highly critical. It is unrealistic to expect all cars to offer high levels of feedback and put driver enjoyment first (or even in the top ten). Only the Fiesta really manages to do that. What really knocks the Hyundai down is the complete lack of character or charm.

I can say though that I fully understand the appeal of the Hyundai. Extended warranties, extensive equipment lists and reasonable performance combine to make a compelling prospect for those not looking for driver thrills.

Vauxhall Meriva Turbo

Vauxhall were one of the first to enter the mini-MPV market back in 1999 with the Zafira, a car that boasted 7 seats without being the size of a van. It was a massive success and is now on its third incarnation. In 2002 it was joined by the Meriva which was, unlike the Zafira, little more than a Corsa in a tall hat. A new and improved version was launched in 2010 which shares parts with the Astra and Zafira. This is a compact-MPV that offered tangible benefits over a standard hatchback. A choice of petrol and diesel engines are available and today I am driving the 1.4 petrol.

Practical and cool

The styling is unmistakably Vauxhall and whilst not pretty, I do like it. The car does a good job of hiding its size and slab sided nature. I particularly like the flick in the swage line on the rear-hinged rear doors. Unfortunately, the B pillar remains unlike its arch rival, the Ford B-Max. Tested here in SE trim it is an unassuming car littered with neat styling touches.

Just a badge

Inside is heavily influenced by the Astra which means there are no surprises but unfortunately all of the usual complaints. I’ve mentioned it before, but why do Vauxhall insist of fitting buttons for features that the car doesn’t have? Between the front seats is a cavernous storage bin with several layers and the ability to slide the cupholders back and forth. Its pointless, quite ugly and feels cheaper than a clearance Fisher-Price toy. Ambient lighting abounds from the centre console, footwells and the door bottoms - a high class touch. SE trim brings the panoramic sunroof which lightens the cabin no end but can’t be opened which is a little frustrating. The seats offer the biggest range of adjustments in class and I found them comfortable and hampered only by the central armrest which was too small and lacked sufficient adjustability.

Wide access

Under the bonnet lies a 1364cc 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing a formidable 138bhp and 200Nm of torque. What this means is that this timid people carrier will dash from 0-62mph in 11 seconds and on to 117mph. I certainly didn’t test either of these figures but I would have thought they were quite pessimistic. The car seemed to have an undying thirst for speed and was more than capable of keeping up with traffic. On more than one occasion I surprised myself and other road users with the sudden turn of speed from the squat box on wheels. The downside of course was the dismal fuel economy. £50 over 300 miles would suggest around 30mpg but who cares? With only one badge on the boot reading TURBO giving away the potential hot rod in front the Meriva makes a compelling Q car.

Needs a big parking bay for full effect

The boxy and practical styling necessary to keep others unsuspecting (I think this was designed as a Q car from the get go) means the car is top heavy with a soft and lumbersome approach to corners. The totally inane steering doesn’t help matters one bit either. Every corner is taken with a certain degree of faith in your ability to guess where the wheels are pointing and if any adjustments are needed mid-turn. Corners also highlight how inadequate the chassis is for the power it is trying to handle. It was hard to escape the feeling that this was a wholly inappropriate engine for this car.

Wide opening doors are hard to close

But who said that was a bad thing? What makes fast cars exciting is that they excite you. They challenge the driver every step of the way. I am not suggesting the Meriva can hold a candle to a Ferrari F40 but it is much more enticing to drive than it ought to be. It’s a highly addictive and fundamentally flawed package. I’m amazed anyone buys one at all but Vauxhall have to commended for building it. 

Longing for the open road

Kia Cee'd Sportswagon

In recent years Kia’s reputation has come on leaps and bounds. Known previously for their outdated and lacklustre models Kia and Hyundai are now regarded by many as a viable alternative to some of the more established car manufacturers. I must admit to being sceptical. I know it can happen, just look at Skoda and the unprecedented progress they have made in the past 20 years, but in my experience Korean cars have always left me feeling short changed. So how will this run out Kia Cee’d fare?

Unassuming face

 Firstly we must mention the elephant in the room that is the stupid name. I appreciate the effort to be different but a car name with an apostrophe in it is just plain silly. There isn’t anything you or I can do about it so I will try my best to approach this car with an open mind and ignore the surplus grammar on the tailgate.

Economical & dynamic - bold ambitions

Visually the Cee’d is inoffensive. I don’t think there are any particular talking points that make you sit up and take notice but perhaps more crucially there isn’t a part of the car that makes your eyes hurt. Everything slots together quite agreeably. Those split rear side windows provide particularly good vision over your shoulder too but the rear window requires constant cleaning on a wet day as it gets dirty far too easily. On such an occasion the screen wash spills out from the top of the window too and runs all down the tailgate. This not only looks messy but means you get wet hands if you happen to want to open the tailgate shortly afterwards. That aside, the Cee’d is a nice looking car for the discerning motorist.

Simple lines

Step inside and things take a turn for the worst. As you open the door you’ll notice numerous safety stickers on the side of the dashboard. These may be a legal requirement but they lower the tone and other manufacturers seem to manage just fine without them. You then catch a glimpse of the fuel cap release under the driver’s seat. It looks, and feels cheap and nasty and really sets the tone. Elsewhere Kia has made the automotive cardinal sin of using shiny plastics on big flat surfaces. It looks terrible. The seats offer no lateral support whatsoever and it took several adjustments before I finally felt remotely comfortable behind the wheel with cramp having developed in my leg in the mean time. The arm rest is fixed so is totally useless and the dials remind me of those cheap clocks found in Poundland. Still, at least you get USB and aux inputs along with Bluetooth connectivity which can be operated using the steering wheel controls or the myriad of buttons on the dashboard. Don’t ask me how though, for this is the only car I’ve ever come across where I wasn’t able to change the sound settings or connect my phone via Bluetooth. Too many buttons and far, far too complicated.

Nasty fuel cap release - a hint of things to come

The glowplugs are particularly efficient so you can get underway quickly and forget about the lacklustre surroundings. Now, things begin to improve again. The engine is rather noisy but it was quite a pleasant noise for a diesel which rises steady up to a concerto at 3,750rpm – the perfect time to change gear. Wind noise is obtrusive and there are plenty of rattles from around the cabin on this 30,000 mile example. The gear change is smooth and allows you to harvest all of the engine’s power to maximum effect. The suspension rides well and holds the car nicely through the bends with the steering providing decent feedback.

Not somewhere you would choose to be

There is no getting away from the budget intentions of the Cee’d. Whilst it looks okay and drives pretty well, the interior really lets the package down. I’ve driven some downright cheap and cheerful cars and loved them for what they are but the problem with the Cee’d is that it tries to hide its routes. It desperately wants to be one of the big boys and whilst it has seen the moves they pull, it’s plimsolls and tattered shorts just don’t give the extra spark needed.

Still some road left to travel for Kia

Buying a Kia could be considered the practical choice. For the price a Cee’d provides good space and performance and the 7 year warranty is real bonus, but you’ll always be reminded that it isn’t a more expensive car and this going to bother you massively just as it bothers Kia.