Hyundai i30 — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Hyundai i30 overview
With 103,080 currently licensed in the UK, the Hyundai i30 is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the i30 5 stars in 2017, with 88% adult occupant and 84% child protection scores.
It has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £2,600 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £217/month or 35p/mile.
Theft risk is rated very low at 1.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
79.8%
95,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£217
est. annual total
New From
£26,000
Safety rating
Euro NCAP tested the i30 in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
88%
Child Occupant
84%
Pedestrian
64%
Safety Assist
68%
Safety recalls
There are 11 known DVSA recalls affecting the Hyundai i30. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/456
Driver-side Airbag (DAB) Inflator may not deploy as intended. This may result in a component entering into the vehicle occupant compartment.
Build dates: 2008-10-07 to 2009-06-03
R/2022/164
The subject vehicles may experience abnormal performance of the front right hand seatbelt pretensioner during deployment.
Build dates: 2020-05-25 to 2020-10-06
R/2021/261
Indirect tyre pressure monitoring systems may not comply with European regulations.
Build dates: 2020-06-09 to 2021-09-23
R/2020/059
When the vehicle is turned off if moisture enters the ABS module it could cause an electrical short.
Build dates: 2006-11-07 to 2010-12-14
R/2020/016
In the event of an impact on the lower part of the vehicle body the airbag may prematurely deploy
Build dates: 2007-05-03 to 2012-05-08
+ 6 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Reliability & MOT
Based on 95,000 MOT tests, the i30 has a first-time pass rate of 79.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The i30 is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Hyundai i30 are estimated at around £2,600 per year, or £217 per month.
Fuel
£1,100
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,050
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Fuel economy
The i30 achieves a combined fuel economy of around 52.3 mpg (42.8 mpg urban, 50.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| I30 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 52.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| I30 | PETROL | 52.3 mpg | 1.0L |
| I30 | PETROL | 52.3 mpg | 1.4L |
| I30 | PETROL | 47.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| I30 | PETROL | 47.1 mpg | 1.4L |
| I30 | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 50.4 mpg | 1.5L |
| I30 | DIESEL | 76.3 mpg | 1.6L |
| I30 | PETROL | 44.1 mpg | 1.6L |
Depreciation
Starting from £26,000 new, a Hyundai i30 typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £19,500 | −£6,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £16,600 | −£9,400 |
| 3 years | 56% | £14,600 | −£11,400 |
| 4 years | 50% | £13,150 | −£12,850 |
| 5 years | 46% | £12,100 | −£13,900 |
| 6 years | 43% | £11,250 | −£14,750 |
| 7 years | 41% | £10,550 | −£15,450 |
| 8 years | 39% | £10,050 | −£15,950 |
| 9 years | 37% | £9,550 | −£16,450 |
| 10 years | 35% | £9,050 | −£16,950 |
Theft risk
The i30 has a theft rate of 1.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
How common is the i30?
There are currently 103,080 licensed and 4,047 SORN i30s in the UK (107,127 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hyundai i30 reliable?
The i30 has a 79.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 95,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
How safe is the Hyundai i30?
Euro NCAP awarded the i30 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 88% for adult occupant protection, 84% for child occupant protection, 64% for vulnerable road users, and 68% for safety assist features.
How much does a Hyundai i30 cost to run?
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old i30 are estimated at around £2,600 per year (£217/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
Are there any recalls on the Hyundai i30?
There are 11 known safety recalls affecting the i30. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
Is the Hyundai i30 likely to be stolen?
The i30 has a theft rate of 1.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated very low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
How much does a new Hyundai i30 cost?
A new i30 starts from around £26,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
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