Hyundai · 2007–present

Hyundai i30

The Hyundai i30 is a small family car manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company since 2007. The i30 shares its platform with the Kia Ceed, available as a three-door hatchback (2012–2017), five-door hatchback, five-door estate and five-door liftback (2017–present), with a choice of three petrol engines and two diesel engines, either with manual or automatic transmission. The i30 was marketed alongside the fifth-generation Hyundai Elantra in the United States and Canada until the end of 2020. While initially the i30 wagon was sold as the Elantra Touring, in 2012 it was replaced by the i30 hatchback, carrying Elantra GT badging. The second-generation i30 was introduced in September 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Hyundai Avante (Elantra)

All Hyundai i30 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years → + Compare

First generation (FD; 2007)

The first generation Hyundai i30 was announced during 2006 Paris Motor Show by the Hyundai Arnejs concept. A handful of pre-series cars were completed in late 2006, with series production commencing in 2007. It was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007, and released during mid-2007 for Europe and Australia. It was conceived in Rüsselsheim, Germany, at Hyundai's Design and Technical Centre. The i30 named as safest imported mid size car in Argentina. The first generation i30 was officially launched in Malaysia in July 2009 where two engines were available: 1.6L (manual and auto) and 2.0L (auto only). i30cw. The i30cw (a.k.a. i30 estate) was released in South Korea at the Seoul Motor Show in 2007, and is marketed worldwide under slightly different names. This model also entered the North American market for the 2009 model year, as the Elantra Touring. It is a larger, roomier version of the i30 hatchback. The i30 cw's maximum cargo volume is 65 cubic feet (1,800 L). For the 2012 model year, the Elantra Touring wagon came with a 2.0-litre inline-four producing 138 hp (103 kW) and 136 lb⋅ft (184 N⋅m). The American EPA rates consumption at 23 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway (10 L/100 km and 7.8 L/100 km respectively). The Elantra Touring comes equipped with either a five-speed manual transmission without hill assist feature or a four-speed torque-converter non-manumatic automatic transmission. In Australia, at least, these have beam type rear suspension and not the independent link type found in the sedan. The Hyundai Elantra Touring was originally available in either Base or Limited trim, each offering a similar level of equipment to its Hyundai Elantra sedan counterpart. Later the model names were changed to GLS and SE, with the SE being the more eq

Second generation (GD; 2011)

Hyundai unveiled its next generation i30 at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The new i30 was designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and offers a choice of four engines with a total of six power options and CO2 emissions below 100 g/km due to an upgraded 1.6-litre diesel unit. The next generation i30 went on sale in Europe early in 2012, as a five-door hatchback. It is produced in Europe at the company's manufacturing facility in Nošovice, Czech Republic. It was launched in South Korea since October 20, 2011, and it is the second model under Hyundai's Premium Youth Lab brand. The new Korean spec i30 is offered with a 1.6-litre Gamma GDi engine and a 1.6L VGT diesel engine. The second generation i30 became available in the United States in the summer of 2012 for the 2013 model year, as the Hyundai Elantra GT, replacing the Elantra Touring nameplate. It made a premiere at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, along with the new Hyundai Elantra Coupe, featuring the same 1.8-litre Nu MPI engine as the original Elantra MD sedan. In 2014, the 1.8L is replaced by the 2,0L Nu GDI engine, due to critics' opinions that the 1.8-litre wasn't sporty enough for the GT moniker. Available in a single trim level, the Elantra GT offered several different option packages which added additional features. A glass panoramic roof is available as an option. In Malaysia, the second generation i30 was previewed during the 2013 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show and officially launched in March 2014. For Malaysia, the i30 used a 1.8L engine and a torsion beam setup for the rear suspension. i30 Estate. An estate, or wagon, version of the second-generation i30 was premiered at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. This model is also known as the i30

Third generation (PD; 2016)

Hyundai unveiled the third generation i30 at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The car introduced a new design language for the brand called "Cascading grille". It is launched for North American market in 2017 as 2018 model as Elantra GT. For the 2019 model year, for European markets only, Hyundai standardized the i30 Fastback front design, for all i30 versions. (Excluding the i30 N-line and i30N models) The Hyundai i30 Fastback replaced Elantra in EU markets where it was being sold until Autumn 2017, where it was being presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Fastback. === N-Line === Elantra GT. In some markets, the third-generation Hyundai i30 Hatchback is sold as the Hyundai Elantra GT. In the U.S., the Elantra GT is available in two distinct models: Elantra GT and Elantra GT Sport. The base Elantra GT is powered by a naturally-aspirated 2.0L inline four-cylinder (I4) engine that produces 161 hp (120 kW) at 6,200 rpm, and 150 lb⋅ft (203 N⋅m) of torque at 4,700 rpm. This engine is shared with the standard Hyundai Elantra Sedan. The performance-oriented Elantra GT Sport, in addition to replacing the standard rear torsion-beam suspension with an independent suspension, is powered by a turbocharged 1.6L I4 engine that produces 201 hp (150 kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 195 lb⋅ft (264 N⋅m) of torque at 1,500-4,500 rpm. This engine is the same engine as equipped in the Kia Forte Hatchback SX Turbo and the Kia Soul Exclaim (!) Turbo. Transmission choices for the Elantra GT are a standard six-speed manual transmission, or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. Transmission choices for the Elantra GT Sport include a standard six-speed manual transmission, or an optional seven-speed Dual Clutch automatic (DCT) transmission. "Drive Mode Select" is standard on cars equipped with either th

i30 Sedan

The Hyundai Elantra (CN7) is sold as the i30 sedan in Australia, leveraging the use of the widely known "i30" nameplate there.

Motorsport

A TCR racing version of the i30 N has been raced by various customer teams since 2017. Gabriele Tarquini and M Racing-YMR won the 2018 World Touring Car Cup titles with the car. Tarquini's teammate Norbert Michelisz won a further drivers' cup in 2019. A version of the i30 was developed for Next Generation Touring Car regulations for competition in the British Touring Car Championship, with its debut coming in 2020. This version of the car was titled the "i30 Fastback N Performance." The BTCC version of the car saw success, with Tom Ingram driving the car to the drivers' championship in 2022 and 2025.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Hyundai i30

Manufacturer

Hyundai

aka

Hyundai Elantra Touring (North America, 2008–2012), Hyundai Elantra GT (North America, 2012–2020)

Production

2007–present

Model years

2009–2020 (North America)

Class

Compact car/small family car (C)

Body style

3-door hatchback (2012–2017), 5-door hatchback, 5-door estate, 5-door liftback (2017–present)

Layout

Front-engine, front-wheel-drive

Related

Hyundai Elantra, Kia Ceed, Kia Forte

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q482604CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_i30CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375363372 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024_Hyundai_i30_Wagon_Auto_Zuerich_2024_DSC_6744.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander-93 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/cars/i30Link only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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